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

RS2504

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

البويب, al Boueb, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

31.464395, 35.155867 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were injured in airstrikes against the village of al Boueb in the Shahshabo mountain in the western Hama countryside. Media blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

The “warplanes” which launched three raids on the vicinity were unidentified by some media. It was reported that the village “[is] inhabited by purely civilians working as shepherds. There are no more than 25 families in this village living in 15 houses.”

No specific estimate was given as to how many civilians.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2500

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

قرية الشيخ سنديان, al Sheikh Sundian village, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians were killed, including a family of three, and three others, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of al Sheikh Sundian, according to local media.

According to the sources that reported on the incident, Russian planes were likely responsible for carrying out the airstrikes.

Some sources such as SN4HR reported that four civilians were killed, whereas others put the figures at three. There were however five names published overall by local media, including VDC.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Sharifa Abd al Wahi Dico
Age unknown female from al Sarminia killed
Mariam abd al Wahid Dico
Age unknown female wife of Ahmad Jawdat Qarout killed

The victims were named as:

Abdel Hadi from al Qarqour Hama
Age unknown male son of Ahmad Jawdat Qarout killed
Mohammad Jawdat Qarout
Age unknown male from al Qarqour Hama killed
Ahmad Jawdat Qarout
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Jawdat Qarout, killed in airstrikes on al Sheikh Sundian village, 24th September 2017. (via VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim is taken from the scene in the aftermath of airstrikes on al Sheikh Sundian village, 24th September 2017. (via @allazkani95)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2501

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were killed, including a man and a pregnant woman, and five others, including three women and two children, were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes in the agricultural vicinity of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib, according to local sources.

A correspondent from the Civil Defence Centre Anas Diab told Smart News Agency that “neighbourhoods inhabited by displaced people” were struck by the airstrikes and Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the area hit by the airstrikes as Tal Ja’far farms.

Aalan TV reported that “a woman was killed and members of her family were injured following Russian raids on farmland near khan sheihoun in southern Idlib.”

Members of the Syrian Civil Defence were pulling injured civilians from the rubble, according to media. The wounded suffered from different degrees of severity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A news bulletin reporting on the strikes in Khan Sheikhoun, 24th September 2017. (via Aalan TV)
  • A child in the aftermath of airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 24th September 2017. (via Sada al Sham)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2505

Incident date

September 24–25, 2017

Location

قرية حير الصبي, Hayr al-Sabi near the town of al Dana , Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.213186, 36.770897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to seven civilians were killed, including a family of seven, and six others, including women and children, were injured in airstrikes against the village of Hayr al-Sabi near the town of al Dana in northern Idlib according to local activists. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia, while the others blamed the Syrian regime.

The date of the incident is contested. Step says 06:am on 25th, however, some tweets appeared night of 24th and others early on 25th. The first tweet was 9pm on 24th.

Some sources have only reported that a family of three was killed, including a mother, father and a son, however others put the numbers as high as seven.

An interview with one of injured residents ‘Abu Mahmoud’ goes as follows. “I heard a noise of a plane then a noise of a missile – I couldn’t hear the plane anymore- I was sure it was a missile. Most residents were sleeping on their roofs. It is an entirely civilian area there are no militants here. The result of the raid, as you can see, the house was totally flattened. There were about five injured and five martyrs.  In our neighbours house there were two people injured.”

An interview with another resident ‘abu Hussein’ goes as follows:, “This is my house. We suddenly heard a plane we looked up and the missile fell. These are civilian home there is no free army and no one else. It is civilian homes.”

Footage shows huge fires in the aftermath of the raid, which occurred at dawn.

The incident occured at 06:05:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Tayseer Ahmad al-Namer
Adult male killed
Ahlam Fares Shihadeh
Adult female killed
Ahmad Tayseer al-Namer
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Sayed Abu Sbeih)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Sayed Abu Sbeih)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Sayed Abu Sbeih)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Syrian Coalition)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Tuan Thuoc)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Ibrahim Yusuf)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Al Jazeera Syria)

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2509

Incident date

September 24–25, 2017

Location

نبع عين الزرقا, Ain al Zarqa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

33.234981, 35.929448 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed, including a woman, and five others, including two women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the Ain al Zarqa area of Jisr al Shougohur, according to local sources. Two of the women that were injured in the airstrikes were from the same family.

Local sources were conflicted as to when the strikes occurred and who was responsible for them. While Smart News Agency reported that the airstrikes were carried out Sunday night (September 24th), the post on Jisr al Shoughour Media Centre discussing the raids was published on September 25th but does not give an explicit date of the incident. Smart News Agency was also the only source to attribute the attack, blaming Russian planes, while Jisr al Shoughour Media Centre did not identify who was responsible.

A pro-regime source reported that “Warplanes now target the headquarters of the Ahrar al-Sham militia in Ain al-Zarqa in Drakush. Killing and injuring most of those inside the headquarters.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mays Mohammad Ali
Age unknown killed
Musa Mohammed Ali
Age unknown injured
Fatoum Mohammed Ali
Age unknown injured
Esraa Mohamed Ali
Age unknown injured
Issa Mohammed Ali
Age unknown injured
Ali Mohamed Ali
Age unknown injured
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2510

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Saraqeb, according to local sources.

A member of the Civil Defence in the city, Laith al-Abdullah, reported the incident and the casualty estimate to Smart News Agency, which was the only source to report on the incident. Smart News Agency also attributed the strike as likely to have been carried out by Russian planes.

It was reported by Step that there were more than three strikes on the vicinity.

Residential housing and a vegetable market were both struck and damaged during the raids.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the raids.
  • Footage showing the raids.
  • Image showing the raids.
  • Vegetable market damaged in the raid.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2495

Incident date

September 23, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians from one family were killed in air and artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. Sources all attribute the blame to Russia.

Two of the victims were women and one was a child. According to one source, this was followed by artillery shelling on the city during the funeral of the victims.

“Russian air strikes targeting a gathering of civilians living in tents east of Khan Shikhun city resulted in the deaths of two civilians and the wounding of a third seriously.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Najat Mohammad Al Darwan
Age unknown female killed
Shagila Yusuf al Darwan
Age unknown female killed
Umm Mohammed Yousif Al-Darwan
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Khairiya Yousef Al-Darwan
Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2496

Incident date

September 23, 2017

Location

بلدة تل مرديخ جنوب سراقب, Mardikh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81117, 36.79093 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian airstrikes on the headquarters of the Faylaq Al Sham in Mardikh town, south Saraqeb, killed at least two civilians and possibly injured dozens more, local media reported. Most of the sources reported the death toll among fighters of Faylaq Al Sham, but at least five civilians including four women were named as killed in the strikes, which also reportedly struck and wounded members of the  White Helmets as they attended the scene.

According to Edlib Media Center, the headquarters of the Faylaq Al Sham Corps was hit by the airstrikes. The Violations Documentation Centre listed the names of 33 “non-civilians” killed – alongside the names of five civilians. Sharif Sarmada noted “dozens of martyrs and wounded among Faylaq al Sham fighters who were killed when Russian aviation targeted their headquarters in the town”. Aksalser, meanwhile, put the number of “fighters” killed at 45.

Step reported that “more than thirty-five Russian air raids targeted the village of “Tel Mardikh” Saturday, September 23, and focused on the headquarters of the faction “Failaq al Sham “of the opposition forces, killing seven fighters “.

Syrianoor reported that there had been “dozens of martyrs and wounded, most of them civilians, who were killed in an air strike by Russian airliners this morning [Sept 23rd] on the village of Tal Mardikh”.

Zaiton said that  “a number of civilians were killed” and went on to add that a young man died and two members of the White Helmets were wounded while they tried to inspect the site.

Citing activists on the ground, Syrianoor added that “10 martyrs have so far have been killed by the Russian airstrikes that targeted the village of Tal Mardikh”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dharar Muhammad al-Shabib
Adult male Combat status unclear. He is named by Edlib EMC who do not give his combat status. VDC list a "Dirar Mohammad al-Mokhtar" as a non-civilians, so they could be the same man. killed
Moeawia Ibraheem al-Shbeeb
Adult male killed
Najat Mohammad al-Derwan
Adult female killed
Shagila Yousef al-Darwan
Adult female killed
Um Mohammad Yousef al-Darwan
Adult female killed
Majida Abd al-Rahman al-Othman
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians being pulled out the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Mardikh. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Image of an injured civilian being carried by a White Helmet following airstrikes against Mardikh on September 23rd, 2017 (via Edlib EMC)
  • The White Helmets are reportedly targeted when attending the scene of a strike in Mardikh, Sept 23rd.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of a strike on Mardikh, Sept 23rd are pulled from the ground.
  • Translation: "10 martyrs and dozens wounded, including 5 of the civil defense, as a result of the bombing of the Russian air force targeted the village of Tal Mardikh countryside # Idlib."
  • Translation: "Martyrs from # Darya killed today in # Idlib in the Russian bombing on the # Tel-Mardikh". Note: the combat status of these men is unclear.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]