Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS040

Incident date

October 14, 2015

Location

تحتايا, Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.510050, 36.714110 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two non-combatant males were killed in an alleged Russian strike on Tahtaya and were later named by the Violations and Documentation Centre.

Syrian regime aircraft also reportedly bombed the town the day before, killing a woman and her daughter.

However according to Qasioun – which posted a video of the attack – the event was the work of Syrian regime aircraft which used a barrel bomb and exploding gas cylinders.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Mubarak
Adult male killed
Mohammad Taha al-Hussain
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Tahtaya (تحتايا‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.510050, 36.714110. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Idlib for October 14th-15th 2015: “The Russian aircraft performed 33 combat sorties from Hmeymim airbase engaging 32 ISIS infrastructural facilities in the Idlib, Hama, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces. The flight intensity of the Russian Aerospace Forces has decreased… Near Al-Atarib, Idlib province, Su-25 attack aircraft carried out strike against underground plant manufacturing high-explosive mines. The militants produced the mines in order to plant them at the highways of the region. The detonation of the explosives caused destruction of the target.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3634

Incident date

April 30, 2019

Location

عابدين, Abdin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians, including a woman, died and up to three others were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on Abdin, Idlib governorate, on April 30th, 2019, local media reported.

Local sources reported that a woman was killed and others were injured when Abdin, south of Idlib, was struck by rockets and artillery shells. Saray Arabic was among several sources putting the death toll at two civilians.

Al Souria reported two killed and three wounded in alleged regime airstrikes on Abdin and Arinbeh but did not specify how many civilian casualties fell in Abdin.

Mohamed Belass posted a video of an interview with Osama Al Shami, a resident of the village, who said: “The beginning was with rockets attack and suddenly the helicopters were present. It was a heavy blow and a bomb. There is a woman martyr and people fled from the shelling. It was painful and tragic.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights named Hala Fares Al Hazza as the killed woman.

Shaam News Network, who blamed both Russia and the regime, published two distressing videos of interviews with survivors. In the first video, a weeping woman says: “When the strike came, we were in the cave. All the members of the Rashidi family were in the cave, except my sister. The plane bombed us. My uncle says that my sister was hit by shrapnel. And they said she died.”

A man from the village says: “We were at home and we heard a helicopter. We ran away. The helicopter hit the house of Abdul Karim and my house and my son’s house.”

In the second Shaam video, a woman is running among the rubble of destroyed homes, crying: “Where are they?”

An older woman is then interviewed. She says: “I am an old woman who can not move, so I could not escape when the shelling came. There were two or three strikes around me and part of the house fell down, but my father-in-law came and drove me out of the rubble after the shelling ended.”

According to @Wesal_TV, several homes were destroyed in the shelling.

While some sources blamed Russia, others blamed the explosive barrels dropped from Syrian regime helicopters. Al Etihad Press reported that Abdin had also been targeted with sea-borne artillery.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hala Fares al-Hazza هالة فارس الهزاع
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Smoke circles up from the town of Abdin in Idlib after it was struck by alleged Russian airstrikes on April 30th, according to Syria.liveuamap.
  • Barrel bombs falls on Abdin, April 30th.
  • Translation: "Watch the Russian Asadi enemy demolish the houses of civilians over the heads of its inhabitants in the town of Abdin countryside # Idlib South"
  • The aftermath of strikes on Abdin, April 30th.
  • A resident of the village reported on the rocket attakc on Abdin village on April 30th (via Mohamed Belass).
  • Video showing a woman crying amidst the rubble caused by alleged Syrian or Russian airstrikes on Abdin on April 30th (via Shaam).
  • Video showing a woman running among the rubble of destroyed houses in Abdin after the town was struck by alleged Syrian or Russian airstrikes on April 30th (via Shaam).
  • Translation: "watch the shelling of the village of Abidin, south of Idlib, and the destruction it caused" (via Step News Agency).
  • Photo of alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on Abdin on April 30th, 2019 (via Arabi21).

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3718

Incident date

May 26, 2019

Location

حيش, Heesh , Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Two men were reported killed in an airstrike on Heesh, May 26th, according to local sources. They seem to be from the same family as they were identified as Abdullah Hani Hamoudeh and Hassan Hani Hamoudeh. They are originally from Soran town.

Three sources attributed blame to the Syrian regime, while Syria Civil Defense made reference to “the Russian occupation of the cities and towns of rural Idlib”, as well as regime forces.

Syria Civil Defense stated that “military aircraft of the regime forces targeted the international road near Heesh in rural Idlib, knowing that the road is taken by civilians and displaced persons fleeing intensive shelling in the towns and villages of Idlib and Hama.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that ” two individuals were killed as Syrian regime fixed- wing warplanes fired missiles on the vicinity of Heesh village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on May 26th.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdullah Hani Hamoudeh عبد الله حسان الحمودة
Adult male killed
Hassan Hani Hamoudeh هاني حسان الحمودة
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Attempts to recover the bodies of two men killed in an airstrike on Heesh, Idlib, on May 26th (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Attempts to recover the bodies of two men killed in an airstrike on Heesh, Idlib, on May 26th (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Attempts to recover the bodies of two men killed in an airstrike on Heesh, Idlib, on May 26th (via Syria Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Attempts to recover the bodies of two men killed in an airstrike on Heesh, Idlib, on May 26th (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • The two brothers killed in airstrikes on Heesh on May 26th. (via Abo Haydar Hamouda, their brother.)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victim who were killed in Heesh by airstrikes on May 26th, 2019. (via Omar Omar).

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS394

Incident date

January 15, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52815, 37.95495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians including one child were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Manbij, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one person died and others were injured in an attack by warplanes believed to be Russian. Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Son of Hasan al-Taha al-Hamdouni
Adult male killed
Son of Jomea Nebo
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3019

Incident date

February 11, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian men were killed and several wounded as Saqba in eastern Ghouta, Damascus was struck by aerial and artillery shelling, local media reported.

According to Jsirtv, Saqba was subject to “heavy air bombardment hit residential neighbourhoods,” which the Syria Civil Defence reported took place during the night.

While Zaman-al Wasl only mentioned one fatality, the remaining sources reported two victims, both named by Damascus Media Center.

Several civilians were also left wounded, hereof at least one woman as depicted in a video published by the Civil Defence.

While most reported aerial shelling, others, including Shaam News Network, reported that airstrikes were accompanied by  ground-launched missiles and heavy artillery shells.

Orient News and Saqba Revolution attributed blame to the Syrian regime, while LCCSY indicated Russian involvement.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Omar Ahmed Ahmed
Age unknown male from Zebedin town killed
Raafat Kojack
Age unknown male from Deir al-Asafir town killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The immediate aftermath of the contested shelling among wounded civilians, Saqba, Damascus, February 11th, 2018 (via Syria Civil Defense)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3835

Incident date

June 21, 2019

Location

الزقوم, Al Zakkoum, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, a Russian airstrike killed two in the village of Al Zakkoum and injured eight others. The two killed are originally from Kansafra according to local sources.

While Shaam News referred to martyrs, without making clear the status of those killed, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that  “two members of the rebel factions were killed,” along with “the injury of at least eight others.”

According to Smart News, the attack was carried out with rockets.

No other details are known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Al-Hassan محمد الحسن
19 years old male Multiple shrapnel injured
Nader Hassan Al-Mustafa نادر حسن المصطفى
25 years old male Head injury injured
Amer Najjar عامر نجار
20 years old male Head injury injured
Ibrahim Najjar ابراهيم نجار
22 years old male Break in the thigh injured
Abdullah Al-Mousa عبد الله الموسى
20 years old male Face injury injured
Ahmad Al-Ashqar أحمد الاشقر
26 years old male Face and chest injury injured
Ahmad Al-Shaman أحمد الشامان
Age unknown male killed
Adnan Al-Miskiya عدنان المسكية
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • One of the civilians reportedly injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al-Zaqoum in Hama on June 21st, 2019. (via Mohammad Najjar).
  • One of the civilians reportedly injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al-Zaqoum in Hama on June 21st, 2019. (via Mohammad Najjar).
  • One of the civilians reportedly injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al-Zaqoum in Hama on June 21st, 2019. (via Mohammad Najjar).
  • One of the civilians reportedly injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al-Zaqoum in Hama on June 21st, 2019. (via Mohammad Najjar).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The two civilians who were killed in alleged airstrikes on Al-Zaqoum in Hama on June 21st, 2019. (via Mohammad Najjar)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3870

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

حزارين, Hazarin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes struck the town of Hazarin south of Idlib. @IdlibPlus reported on resulting in “civilian casualties”, but did not provide any further details.

No further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS940

Incident date

June 26, 2016

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.958429, 36.711587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes killed up to two civilians including at least one child and wounded up to ten others in the city of Binish, local media said. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Most local sources reported the death of up to two children.

According to The Syrian News Network (SNN), “the bombing left one martyr, a child aged 10 years”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rigts (SN4HR) reported that “two children died due to government warplanes missiles fired on Binnesh city in Idlib governorate”.

According to an Idlib correspondent, who reported to Nabd News, the incident led to “the martyrdom of two children and injury of others”. Jsirtv said the victims were Palestinian.

Sources including SN4HR and LCCSY attributed the strike to the Syrian regime, while SNN and Halab News Network reported that the strike was carried out by Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Binish, which reportedly killed at leats one child on June 26th (via SNN)
  • Scene of the destruction at Binish following alleged raids (via SNN Facebook)
  • A fire engine attends the scene at Binish (via SNN Facebook)
  • The White Helmets at the site of alleged raids on Binish (via SNN Facebook)
  • A street in Binish following alleged aerial bombardement (via SNN Facebook)
  • Image of a chile rescued from the rubble following alleged "government warplane" attack on Binish (via SN4HR) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive)
  • "Warplanes launched several air raids on the towns of Craze and nudity surroundings western city of Idlib and 4 raids on the city Binnish In the countryside Idlib north and another raid on the town of Alhbit where the child was killed in the Binnish and 10 other injuries" (via Step News)
  • "a ten year old child killed following the Russian raids on Binsh" (Video by SNN Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]