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

RS4198

Incident date

November 25, 2019

Location

كفر سجنة, Kafr Sijna, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that one or two civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Sijna.

Edlib Media Centre said  that a “civilian was wounded following the targeting by Russian occupation aircraft of the town of kfrsjna southern idlib with Rockets.”

According to Shahba Press, Russian strikes on Kafr Sijna resulted in “civilian injuries”.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were responsible, with @MasarPressNet attributing the artillery shelling to regime forces.

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
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (9) [ 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
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4232

Incident date

December 4, 2019

Location

تل الطوقان, Tal Al Touqan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on the village of Tal Al Touqan, Idlib Governate on December 4th 2019, according to local media.

On December 4th, Smart News Agency quoted activists as saying an unspecified number of people had been wounded following a strike by regime warplanes in the vicinity of the village.

In a roundup of events that took place on December 4th, 2019, Shaam News reported that “Russian and Asad warplanes carried out very violent and air raids. Most of the raids focused on the cities, towns and villages located south of the international line “M4″ in the southern countryside of Idlib, as well as those in the western and eastern countryside of Idlib.” The village of Tal al-Touqan was one of the villages targeted according to the report.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (2) [ 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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4265

Incident date

December 18, 2019

Location

خان السبل, Khan As Subul, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man was reportedly killed and at least three civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Khan As Subul, Idlib governorate, on December 18th, 2019, according to local sources.

A number of sources, among them Facebook user Mohammad Alsafar, identified the victim as Atta Muhammad al-Hamdun. @oulaalassaad reported instead that one woman died.

Edlib Media Center (EMC) reported that “a man was killed and four others were wounded when the Russian occupation warplanes targeted Khan Al Sboul, south of Idlib, with rockets”. According to @zamanalwsl, only three civilians were wounded.

In another post, EMC stated that the wounded were civilians. Quoting an unnamed source in the field, Arabic RT claimed instead that the raids were targeting terrorist positions.

While some sources, among them Shaam News Network, blame the attack on both  “Russian and regime warplanes and helicopter” airstrikes, others blame Russian military solely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Atta Muhammad al-Hamdun عطا محمد الحمدون
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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

Sources (14) [ 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4297

Incident date

January 5, 2020

Location

الزربة, Al Zurba, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was reported wounded as a result of Russian forces attack with rockets, or Syrian regime forces attack with machine guns on Al Zurba town in Aleppo, Syria, on January 5th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Zurba Media office announced that Mahmoud Abdel Fattah Hammoud was wounded. The individual was an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) from the city of Deir al-Sharqi who traveled to the village of Al-Zurba.

The attacks upon Al Zurba struck civilian areas with attacks occurring at 3pm and 3:30 pm. The second strike at 3:30 resulted in material damage and the death of a cow according to @fawaz_jwaid.

While SMART said one civilian was reported injured and admitted to a nearby hospital, @ShahbaPress said that civilians were wounded in the attack, without knowing the exact number of casualties.

SMART Agency blamed both the Russia and the Syrian regime, while @ShahbaPress pointed to the Syrian regime as the perpetrator.

The incident occured between 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Abdel Fattah Hammoud
Age unknown

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
    Assad regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Civilian being treated for injuries following strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Damage, including the death of a cow, caused by strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Civil Defense volunteers sort through rubble following strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers sort through rubble following strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers sort through rubble following strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Zerba.media.office)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Zerba.media.office)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Zerba.media.office)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Al Zurba on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Zerba.media.office)

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
    Assad regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4329

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Location

شنطرة, Bshantra, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one child was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Bashnarta, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that a russian raid targeted the village at 12:42 PM, injuring the child Khaled Al Raslan. The Syrian Civil Defence in Aleppo stated that “a child, Muhammad Raslan, was injured when an air strike was targeted in Bashnartah village in the western countryside of Aleppo”. As all sources only reported one child being injured, it is unclear if these are two different victims, or if these sources reported on the same boy.

The assault upon Bahnatra continues the pattern of Russian airstrikes targeting civilians and the death of women and children. The continued killing of non-combatants have left a swarth of burned-out homes and destroyed villages. Images supplied by local sources, largely through Edlib Media captured twisted metal and still smoldering fires well into the evening. The Syrian Civil Defense also documented destruction to an industrial facility that resulted from the airstrikes.

A Facebook post from FSLA.Ovecs put the time of the strikes at 12:42pm and attributed them to Russia, in addition to the other local sources that also pointed to Russia as the responsible party.

SCD Aleppo furthermore posted photos of the damage of an industrial facility.

The incident occured at approximately 12:42 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khaled Al-Raslan
Child male injured
Muhammad Raslan
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Damaged building after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Destroyed building after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Damage in an industrial facility after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • SCD Aleppo documented the destruction of an industrial facility after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • SCD volunteer photographed by another SCD volunteer in the damaged industrial facility after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A building reportedly damaged in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A building reportedly damaged in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A building reportedly damaged in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A building reportedly damaged in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A building reportedly damaged in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A building reportedly damaged in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bshantra, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4370

Incident date

January 27, 2020

Location

الزربة, Al Zorba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One member of the Syrian Civil Defense was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Zorba, Idlib governorate, on January 27th, 2020, according to local media reports.

Russian warplanes carried out strikes against the western outskirts of the town resulting in the injury of a civil defense volunteer, according to Warrior.netw.

The Syria Civil Defense said: “The volunteer, Muhammad Al-Khatib, from the Civil Defense Center in Al-Zorba, was wounded as a result of an airstrike targeting the town, wounding him with shrapnel while he was on his way to work.”

@AmmarAlzeer reported Mr. Al-Khatib was wounded by shrapnel.

@BawabaHalap quoted a correspondent from Aleppo Gate saying a Russian warplane bombed the town and the surrounding area in the morning with six high-explosive missiles. Members of the Syrian Civil Defense transferred Mr. Al-Khatib to a hospital at Bab al-Hawa for treatment.

@jisrtv reported that Russian planes had used “vacuum missiles” in the strike.

Shaam News said both Russian and Syrian regime planes bombed the area on that day.

Out of the source that named a belligerent all but one said Russia was responsible for the strike.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Al-Khatib محمد الخطيب
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad Al-Khatib, a volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defense, is helped into an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Al Zorba, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020. (via Syria Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muhammad Al-Khatib, a volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defense, is helped into an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Al Zorba, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020. (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on town of Al Zorba, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020. (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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4385

Incident date

January 30, 2020

Location

مجدليا, Majdalia, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

SMART Agency reported from the Syrian Civil Defense that that seven civilians including a woman were wounded as a result of Russian forces airstrikes on Majdalia village in Idlib, Syria on January 30th, 2020.

No further details are available at the moment.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4430

Incident date

February 10, 2020

Location

كفر عروق, Kafr Arouq, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was reported killed and up to seven other civilians injured when allegedly Russian forces and Syrian regime forces targeted with airstrikes Kafr Arouq in Idlib, Syria on February 10th, 2020 according to local sources.

Initial reports from local sources said at least one person was dead and three wounded from the air strike. The Edlib Media Center and Shahba Press both later reported that a child had been killed and seven wounded, expanding upon a report from Halab Today TV which noted three injuries. No names were released.

Local resources reported seeing Russian warplanes using machine guns to specifically strike two different IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, with @pHYACwTTh0Bjbun naming one as Kafr Arouq camp while @abo_aljod84 identified Sheikh Idris camp as also being bombed. A tweet from @MohanadZain3 pointed out that the incident occurred on the road between the towns of Kali – Kafr Arouq.

According to @kalam_hor, the first air raids struck “the road of the village of Kafr Arouq – Qorqania near the “Al Widow’s camp” and the second air raids struck “the road connecting the villages of Kali and Kafr Arouq near the “fuel station”.

The majority of sources noted that Russian fixed wing warplanes were responsible for the strike while @ShahbaPress attributed the strikes to the regime.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • A child was martyred and civilians were wounded as a result of the artillery shelling of Sheikh Idris camp on the outskirts of the village of Kafr Arouk, north of Idlib. (Image posted by @abo_aljod84)

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]