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

RS2831

Incident date

December 31, 2017

Location

الهلبة, al-Halba, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

35.567506, 36.782958 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians, reportedly both children, were killed and several other non-combatants were left wounded following aerial shelling of al-Halba, Idlib, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, local media reported.

While most sources reported one fatality, a few sources reported the death of two civilians, such as the Violations Documentation Center Syria (VDC), who said that the two victims were brothers and identified them as the sons of an Awad Ballan. The Facebook account Hibatu Allah identified one of the brothers by his first name. However, that source did not mention the death of the second brother.

Sources were conflicted in terms of culpability. Some attributed blame to the Syrian regime. For example, Fresh News reported that  “Al-Assad military aircraft carried out several air raids at noon today [Dec 31st]” , while the Violations Documentation Centre  apportioned blame to “the Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Meanwhile, several sources, including Masar Press, Zaiton Mag and @AJArabic identified Russia as responsible.

The White Helmets added that a “fire broke out” as a result of a “huge raid” on the village.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hussien Awad Ballan
Child male killed
Son of Awad Ballan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Halba, Idlib, December 31st, 2017, that inflicted great damage upon the city (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Halba, Idlib, December 31st, 2017, that inflicted great damage upon the city (via @aalbrhawy)
  • The Civil Defence trying to extinguish the fire caused by the contested airstrikes striking in al-Halba, Idlib, December 31st, 2017, (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.


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
    1–2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2542

Incident date

September 26, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Raids targeting Jisr al-Shoughour and its outskirts killed and wounded an unspecified number of civilians, according to Smart News Agency. The source didn’t identify the culprit.

Researches have added various sources which prove generic Russian shelling in Jisr al shoughour on the 25th and 16th, with nothing specific to this raid.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2482

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

معرة حرمة, Maraat Harma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5497387, 36.5422624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were wounded and some possibly died as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Maarat Harma in southern Idlib according to local media.

Smart News Agency identified Russian planes as responsible but did not give an estimate of how many civilians were injured, only indicating that it was more than one by the use of the plural.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian warplanes launched an air strike targeting the outskirts of the town of Ma’ra al-Hurama and there was news of dead and wounded civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Maarat Harma village, Sept 20th 2017 (via Shamana news)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Maarat Harma village, Sept 20th 2017 (via Shamana news)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Maarat Harma village, Sept 20th 2017 (via Shamana news)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Maarat Harma village, Sept 20th 2017 (via Shamana news)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Maarat Harma village, Sept 20th 2017 (via Shamana news)
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeting the vicinity of the town of Ma'rahharma with two airborne rockets with space rockets'

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
    1 – 2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3707

Incident date

May 23, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة , Kafr Sajna, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in alleged Russia or regime raids on Kafr Sajna, local media reported.

According to Ariha Today, “a man and a woman were killed and four other civilians were injured in the town of # Kafarsjana in the southern countryside of Idlib as a result of raids by Russian warplanes”

But Idlib Media Centre pointed to the regime, reporting that “two civilians were killed and others wounded when regime military aircraft targeted the town of Kafarsajana, south of Idlib.”

Baladi said: “According to the correspondent of baladi  news in Idlib; the military aircraft of the regime forces launched a number of air strikes at approximately 9 am, targeting the town of Kafrsajna  rural Idlib South, killing two civilians and wounding others.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the May 23rd airstrikes on Kafr Sajna (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Injured civilians are placed in an ambulance after the May 23rd airstrikes on Kafr Sajna (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • The aftermath of the May 23rd airstrikes on Kafr Sajna (via Syria Civil Defense)

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
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3739

Incident date

May 30, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kfarouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians, including a child, were reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma, Idlib, May 30th, 2019, according to local sources.

Step News and Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that a father and a daughter had died in the bombardment. Meanwhile, Local Coordination Committee for Syria only referred to “wounded civilians”, and Smart News reported one fatality, as did the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights who said that a child had died from injuries sustained in a regime bombing. Smart News reported one civilian death and that “others were wounded”

Syrian Network for Human Rights recorded the victims of the attack as Zainab Bashar Al Hamad, and her father. Abu Othman and Mohammad Haboush on Facebook named the father as Bashar Al Hamad Al Daraawi from Dara’a and added that Al Hamad was “in the ranks of the Free Syrian Army” at the time of his death. According to Haboush, Al Hamad was injured in battle in Hama in 2015, leading to the amputation of his foot or leg, but continued to be involved in the armed movement. It remains unclear whether Al Hamad was on duty when he was killed alongside his daughter.

Qasioun News wrote that the regime warplane shelling destroyed the commercial market in the town. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that “Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes fired missiles near Al Rahman Mosque in Kfarrouma village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, severely destroying its building and furniture, on May 30.”

Local Coordination Committee for Syria referred to “successive airstrikes”, but did not positively attribute blame for the attack. Russia was named by Step News as the active belligerent, while most other sources attributed the strikes to the Syrian Regime. Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Bashar Al Hamad Abu Hassan بشار الحمد ابو حسن
Adult male with Free Syrian army, unclear if he was on duty when he was killed killed
Zainab Bashar al Hamad
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “A horrific video: the moment a man and a child were killed by intense air strikes by Russian warplanes targeting the village of Kfarouma in Idlib countryside” (via @aboalhodaalhoms).
  • Translation: “Several raids with Syrian warplanes resulted in martyrs, a number of wounded and massive destruction of civilian homes and commercial stores” (via @adlbhamam1985).
  • Translation: “Assad's planes shelled the town of Kfarouma in Idlib countryside intensively, destroying its market and burying a family under the rubble. 30 May 2019” (via Hadi Al Abdallah).
  • Translation: “A man was martyred due to intense air strikes by regime forces warplanes targeting Kafrouma village in Idlib countryside” (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteer and a young man looking for survivors underneath the rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • Civilians on the target site in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • Translation: “A little while ago: Civil Defense teams are trying to rescue those trapped under the rubble in the town of Kfarouma in Hama countryside. Orient News correspondent - Jamil Al-Hassan” (via @OrientNews).
  • Translation: “Bashar Al Hamad Abu Hassan, a beautiful martyr, he and his daughter, due to the bombing of my town. The martyr Bashar, a son of Dara'a, defected from the criminal regime and joined the ranks of the revolution against the regime. He continued his career and was wounded in the Hama battle five years ago, and his leg was amputated, but despite his injury, he continued her path against the tyrant/ Today, Dara'a and Kafrouma bid farewell to his son Bashar and his daughter, two martyrs, as a result of the shelling in the town” (via Mohammad Haboush).
  • Bashar Al Hamad Abu Hassan was killed alongside his daughter in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Mohammad Haboush).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer working at the target site after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).
  • Syrian Civil Defence at the target site after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).
  • Syrian Civil Defence at the target site after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).
  • Destroyed buildings after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).
  • Civilians and Syrian Civil Defence volunteers at the target site after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfarouma on May 30th, 2019 (via Macro Media Center).

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 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS533

Incident date

February 3, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center named one child, Isra Rabei Yehya, age 16, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Talbiseh.

Talbisa posted a video depicting her funeral, but did not say who was responsible, with the speaker in the video referring only to “manic bombing by warplanes“.

The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies listed Isra as a victim, as well as a man named Ahmed Kurdi. The Center reported that both were killed by “indiscriminate shelling” from Russian planes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Isra Rabei Yehya
16 years old male Named by VDC killed
Ahmed Kurdi
Adult male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Prayers are said over a civilian casualty following an alleged Russian airstrike on Talbiseh, Feb 3rd.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS597

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

داعل, Da'el, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.756529, 36.138453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and several more were injured in an airstrike on Da’el, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

According to Step News Agency, Russian warplanes carried out a raid on Da’el, killing one civilian and injuring a number more. Smart News Agency and Alaa Dael also said that Russia was responsible.

Daraa Martyrs named Mohammed Khamis Al-Masri and Badria Mohamed al-Hariri as killed in a Russian strike. These victims were also named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, however they blamed the regime, as did the VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Khamis Al-Masri
Age unknown male Listed by Daraa Martyrs killed
Badria Mohamed al-Hariri
Age unknown female Listed by Daraa Martyrs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A dead body following an airstrike on Da’el, Feb 12th.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2524

Incident date

September 22, 2017–July 25, 2019

Location

قريه الشميطية , Shumita village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.4710166, 39.9351239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Sept 25th Euphrates Post reported: “The martyrdom of Haj Mukhlaf Khalaf Al-Ahmad from the village of Al-Shmitiya, from the wounds he sustained as a result of an air strike that targeted the village a few days ago”.

This victim was also named by the Violations Documentation Centre, along with a second victim Mekhlef al Hamadi.

There were also reports that ISIS had downed a regime helicopter in Shumita around Sept 18th, though Euphrates Post said these were “completely untrue”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haj Mukhlaf Khalaf Al-Ahmad
Age unknown killed
Mekhlef al Hamadi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (10) [ 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (10) [ collapse]