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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
1848 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

R4521

Incident date

June 24, 2023

Location

بسبت, Basbat, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Saturday June 24th 2023, an alleged airstrike by Russian armed forces hit a farm in the village of Basbat, in the countryside of Jisr al-Shughour, west of Idlib, northwest Syria, killing two civilians and injuring others.

Sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, @DeirEzzore twitter accounts, and Syria TV reported two civilians being killed by the airstrike on a farm, Abdo Mustafa Sino and his brother Osama Mustafa Sino. Syria TV and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights are the only two sources reporting an unspecified number of injured.

Enab Baladi News and @SyriaCivilDefe twitter account also reported that the attack took place on the farm where the two young brothers were located, in the village of Basbat in the countryside of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib. Shaam News added that the strikes were against workers harvesting the wheat crop.

In addition, the attack caused damage and panic in a densely populated neighborhood because of the effects of the recent devastating earthquake. Moreover, according to Shaam, the attacks from regime and Russian warplanes in the region escalated concurrently with the start of the last round of meetings in Astana. Additionally, Al Jazeera Mubasher and North Press Agency reported a statement by the Syrian opposition air traffic tracking observatory, which declared that the alleged Russian warplanes that attacked the village departed from the Hmeimim base in Lattakia at around 3pm.

The suspected attacker is alleged to be Russia, as reported by most of the sources including @SyriaCivilDefe twitter account, Al Jazeera Mubasher, and Al Araby, although responsibility has not been accepted explicitly.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdo Mustafa Sino عبدو مصطفى سينو
male killed
Osama Mustafa Sino اسامه مصطفى سينو
male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • White Helmet volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes in Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • White Helmet volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes in Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • White Helmet volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes in Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • White Helmet volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes in Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first moments of our teams' response to the Russian air raids on the village of Basbat in the countryside of Jisr al-Shughour, west of Idlib, today, Saturday, June 24, which resulted in the killing of two civilians (two young men), inside their farm.
  • Civilians from one family were killed as a result of Russian raids that targeted a farm in the village of Basbat in the western countryside of Jisr al-Shughour
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @Nidalhamo_d)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @Nidalhamo_d)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @Nidalhamo_d)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Basbat on June 24, 2023. (Image posted by @Nidalhamo_d)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4573

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one man was injured after alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian artillery shelling in the southern periphery of the town of Binnish, east of Idlib on October 5th, 2023.

On Facebook, Bunch Now alleged that there were “light injuries” amongst the civilian population, but multiple injuries were not reported elsewhere. Syrian Civil Defense reported that they checked the area the evening of the strike, and confirmed there were no more injured.

The strike also led to destruction of property—a school was damaged, and has been referred to as either the Ibn Khaldoun School or the Farid Qabbani School. It is possible that both schools were hit.

Identification of the belligerent is contested: while some sources attributed the  strike to regime forces or regime-affiliated militias, Abu Muhammad Binsh, in a post on Facebook, pointed to Iranian militia involvement, and a Facebook post from Coordination of the Syrian Revolution mentioned potential Russian collusion. Q Street Journal on Twitter/X reported that the belligerents were targeting “militant positions.”

Numerous sources described the artillery as “intensive” and “violent.” Another source, @rh_albasha, stated that the bombardment was of the type “considered the most violent.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Aziz Asmar
  • Source: Media office in Binnish
  • Source: Media office in Binnish
  • Source: @qstreetjournal

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS020 CS133

Incident date

October 6, 2015

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and a 46 year old male were reported killed during four alleged Russian strikes in the evening on Anadan. Another man was also named as a victim by VDC. Eyewitnesses described at least one secondary, or ‘double tap’ strike.

A local medic told Qassioun: “Between the afternoon and evening Russian planes carried out intensive raids on areas in the northern Aleppo countryside which led to dozens of injured and three deaths. One of the martyrs is a ten year old boy, a young man of 17 years old and a 40 year old man. The injuries are very serious.”

Smart TV showed footage of Russian aircraft which it said was filmed near Aleppo: “Spotted at 17:30 in the evening, for the first time, one of the Russian planes in the sky of the city of Aleppo on their way to carry out raids on the villages and towns of the countryside.”

And Ibrahim Kharfan, a rebel in the town, insisted only civilian areas were being targeted: “The Russians are claiming, along with the regime and all those supporting this rotten regime they are claiming they are targeting [military] bases. We are here in Anadan and everything you see here is civilian houses. All the bombing now is being directed at civilians’ houses.”

While there was near consensus that Russia was responsible, VDC continues to list both boys as having been killed in a US-led Coalition strike.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no strikes were conducted in the geographical area at the time.

The incident occured at 17:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Amin al-Sageer
Adult male He was 46 years old and VDC says he was killed due to Russian strikes killed
Amin al-Sageer
Adult male killed
Abd al-Rahman al-Sageer
Child male He was 10 years old and VDC says he was killed due to coalition shelling killed
Ahmad Othman Hamidi
Child male He was 17 years old and VDC says he was killed due to coalition shelling killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children2 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A video reporting four alleged Russian raids on the town of Anadan on, 6th October 2015. (via, The Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Footage reporting that Russian planes targeted Anadan in Aleppo for the first time, 6th October 2015. (via Arabs in Turkey)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of one of the children, Abed Al Rahman al Sageer, killed in the raid on Anadan, 6th October 2015. (via, VDC)
  • News bulletin reporting that 4 Russian raids on Anadan had caused deaths and injuries. One eyewitness reports that two brothers were killed in the raid. [Via: Al Aan news]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Although Russia reported 20 combat sorties for October 6th 2015, no reference was made to strikes in Aleppo governorate. The Russian MoD also intimated that opposition forces were faking reports of civilian casualties: “It cannot be ruled out that now terrorists are intentionally preparing acts of provocation such as detonation of mosques in order to demonstrate fake photos and videos to indict the Russian aviation.”

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA244183
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 6, 2015, in Anadan, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2851/CS133 37SCA244183

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children2 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS052

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Location

عرفة, Arafeih, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.38178, 37.02376 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young boy named as Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem later died of his injuries, six days after an October 17th airstrike on the town of Arafeih. According to reports the child was injured by shrapnel in the original attack. And on October 31st, a civilian male named as Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha also died as a result of injuries sustained

The source of the airstrike was contested. While most attributed the attack to Russia, some news reports said it was the work of the Assad regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem
Child male Due to the Russian air forces shelling To a displaced camps on a camp of displaced people killed
Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha
Adult male As a result of a cluster bomb remnants of Russian shelling explosion killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • VDC names a male child Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem as a victim of a Russian strike on a displaced persons camp. (via VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arafeih (عرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.38178, 37.02376. 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 Hama governorate for both October 16th-17th 2015, and October 17th-18th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS085

Incident date

October 27, 2015

Location

أم ميال, Um Mayyal, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.39415, 37.40038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a contested event, four named women and men were reported killed in an airstrike at Um Mayyal. While Violations Documentation Center, the Syrian Network and others blamed Russia, the opposition Syria News Desk – which said three homes were destroyed in the incident – said the attack was the work of Assad regime aircraft.

The Syrian Network later published eyewitness testimony from Hassan Al Ahmad, manager of the Child Care Organization, who visited the site: “I was 1.5 km away from the shelling location and went directly to see what happened. I saw a group of young men from the civil defense trying to tell the crowds to leave the shelling site out of fear from being shelled again. The council was shelled previously and the schools suffered from great damage, and four young men were injured Our city is run by local civilian committees and is free of any military presence for any group as all headquarters were evacuated according to the residents’ demands. However, the Russian warplanes launched their airstrikes on civilians.”

The dead were later named.

The Syrian Network said four young men were injured in the attack – but made no mention of fatalities.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khlaif Shahoud al-Hekari
Adult male killed
Shahoud Khlaif al-Hekari
Adult male killed
Fatima Khlaif al-Hekari
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Dahlia
Adult female 52 year old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um Myal (أم ميال), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.39415, 37.40038. 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

The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Hama governorate on October 27th-28th 2015: “For 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 71 combat sorties engaging 118 terrorist objects in the Idlib, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Damascus and Lattakia provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS119

Incident date

November 5, 2015

Location

القريتين, Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.229890, 37.238245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An adult male civilian Abd al-Kareem al-Alawi (also known as Abo Moseab) was named as killed after an alleged strike on Qaryatain by Russian warplanes.

According to Radio Al Kul, Mr al-Alawi was one of two civilians who died: “The two martyrs are displaced from the neighbouring town of Maheen.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Kareem al-Alawi
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Al Qaryatayn (القريتين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.229890, 37.238245. 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 strikes in Homs governorate between November 3rd-5th 2015: “Near Tadmor (Homs province), a Su-24M eliminated a large fortified area of ISIS militants as well as a tank, an AA system ZU-23 and a mortar battery on their combat positions.”

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS153

Incident date

November 15, 2015

Location

الميسر, Myassar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1943476, 37.2082043 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed – an uncle and nephew – and two or more people injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the  Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo.

Local media activist Hassan al Ahmad posted an image of the dead boy with the comment: “This is how Syria’s children are being killed as if their blood is cheap. A child martyr died today in al Mayssar neighbourhood in Aleppo by the treacherous Russian planes.” The boy’s image was later used in a tweet relating to civilians allegedly killed in Raqqa.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the child killed in al mayssar neighbourhood in Aleppo

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

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 details of its Syria airstrikes for the period November 13th-16th 2015 inclusive.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS186

Incident date

November 21, 2015

Location

حي القصيلة, Qosaileh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19559, 37.16512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and six non-combatants, including two or more children, were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Qosaileh, according to The White Helmets and the Violations Documentation Center. The Halab News Network posted a video showing the destruction of houses and other buildings, as a team of White Helmets searched for survivors.

VDC has been named four victims, and additionally, the Syrian Human Rights Committee called the fifth victim as unidentified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Yahiya Hussein Mazik
Child male 4 years old killed
Abd al Rahman Hussein Mazik
Child male 12 years old killed
From al-Mzayek family 3
Adult male killed
From al-Mzayek family 4
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2–3 children2 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Rescuers examine scene of AN alleged Russian airstrike in Qosaileh, November 21st (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Qosaileh, Nov 21st (via @Mojahedaboaljod tweet)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of the alleged Russian airstrike on Qosaileh , Nov 21st

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirmed the following for November 21st-23rd 2015: “Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have performed 141 combat sorties engaging 472 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah, and Deir ez-Zor.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2–3 children2 men)
  • 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]