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

Incident Code

RS061

Incident date

October 20, 2015

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian airstrikes killed at least 14 non-combatants according to multiple accounts.

The first strike at 1pm hit near a school and a field hospital in the town of Sarmin run by the Syrian-American Medical Society (SAMS.) A secondary strike or ‘double tap – captured on camera – shows an apparently deliberate attack on rescue workers clearing the streets.

Among the dead were a physiotherapist, a nurse and a ‘White Helmet’ civil defence worker Abdul Razak al-Aboud (see below.)

A witness named as ‘S M’ told the Syrian Network: “The first missile fell on a school and a hospital. The civil defense teams some paramedics and media activists rushed to the shelling site. The shelling caused material damages and some injures. However, 15 minutes later, another rocket was shelled in the exact same location. During the second shelling, I noticed a gleam like the camera’s flash and did not hear the plane’s sound. After that I felt that I was picked pushed upwards from the blasts’ power. Everything around me was white and dusty and I smell blood and gun powder. I thought that I had died. The attack resulted in the death of 17 individuals including civil defense members, paramedics and media activists.

Speaking to the Guardian, Dr Mohamed Tennari, the director of Sarmin hospital, “said his facility appeared to have been directly targeted and could no longer serve patients on one of the fiercest frontlines in the war.”

A Russian Defence Ministry spokesman brushed aside the allegations, claiming the Syrian-American Medical Society “has the same relation to medicine and doctors as the ISIL to the international Scouting movement.” However, an investigation by Amnesty International challenged satellite images which Russia said proved it had not targeted the field hospital: “Infrastructure that appears damaged or destroyed in footage immediately after the attack is seen intact in the satellite image presented by Russian authorities, indicating the satellite image is from before the attack.”

Four months after the event a man named by the VDC as Hsain Diab also died of injuries sustained in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hsain Diab
Adult male killed
Abdul Rahman Maari
Adult male killed
Abdul Razak al-Aboud
Adult male White Helmets rescuer killed
Musbah Qassas
Adult male killed
Mazen Ismael Aaref Haj Ali
Adult male killed
Mustafa Mohammad Burghosh
Adult male killed
Dr Hasan Ahmad Taj Eddin
Adult male psychotherapist killed
Abdul Kader Ebbo
Adult male killed
Ziad Meteib
Adult male killed
Khaldoun Mohammad Sawas
Adult male hospital guard killed
Mohammad Mustafa Sawas
Adult male killed
Mohammad Abdul Kader Sallura
Adult male killed
Abdul Razak Abo Tair
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 17
  • (13 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28–30
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • A White Helmet camera captures moment of 'double tap' strike on Sarmeen, Oct 20th 2015 via White Helmets
  • An image that depicts the shelling aftermath on one of the targeted schools (via SN4HR)
  • an image that depicts the shelling aftermath on Sermeen makeshift hospital (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    an image that depicts the injured members from the civil defense after they were targeted by alleged Russian warplanes. (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "The signs of destruction following the targeting of Russian planes of one of the schools in Sarmeen, Idlib. 20/10/2015” (via Step News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "The place of the massacre carried out by the Russian warplanes in Sarmeen, Idlib. 20-10-2015" (via Step News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "A video that depicts the moment of the second attack on the gathering of the civil defence members." ( (via civil defence in Idlib)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the civil defense member who was killed due to the alleged Russian shelling. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Kremlin confirmed carrying out strikes at Sarmin for October 20th-21st 2015, noting: “On October 19, the means of radio interception received information concerning the meeting of commanders of illegal armed groups operating near Sarmin (Idlib province). After additional check of the information through other channels concerning the time and place of the meeting, there was made a decision to make a strike on the meeting place of the militants’ commanders.“

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 17
  • (13 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28–30
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS093

Incident date

October 30, 2015

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

One civilian male was killed and several non-combatants injured “including women and children” following an alleged Russian strike on Talbiseh.

The man – named by Violations Documentation Center as Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf – was also shown in a graphic video depicting his body.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    photo of Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf (via VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the body of Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf (via SRG)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the body of Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf (via Talbisa h)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Talbisah (تلبيسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.840505, 36.72922. 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

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS128

Incident date

November 7, 2015

Location

حي خان العسل, Khan Al Assal (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.169667, 37.040255 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The White Helmets reported that one woman was killed and several other civilians injured following an alleged strike by Russian planes.

The event may be linked to the previous incident between Kafr Naha and Khan al Assal. The only woman as listed by VDC as killed in an airstrike that day was Halima Abid al Sleiman, who was reported to have died either in an Assad regime or Russian action.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Halima Abid al Sleiman
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Members of The White Helmets place a body in an ambulance, following an alleged Russian raid in Khan Al A'assal, November 7th (via The White Helmets)
  • Members of The White Helmets searching the place where an alleged Russian raid in Khan Al A'assal, November 7th (via The White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS161

Incident date

November 17, 2015

Location

الموحسن, Muhassan, Deir Ez Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.223690, 40.324379 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six or more non-combatants, including three children, were reported killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Mohassan. There were claims the death toll may have been as high as 10.

While most sources blamed Russia, the Syrian Network later reported that “government warplanes shelled Al Mouhassan city in eastern Deir Al Zour suburbs that is under the control of ISIL which killed 9 individuals including 3 children.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Marwan Hamoud
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Son Marwan Hamoud
Child male Named by VDC killed
Nephew of Mohammad al-Sayyad 1
Child male Named by VDC killed
Nephew of Mohammad al-Sayyad 2
Child male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (3 children1 man)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Muhassan (الموحسن), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.223690, 40.324379. 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

Russia confirms carrying out airstrikes in Dayr ez Zawr on November 17th 2015: “Today, from 5.00 through 5.30 a.m. (MSK), twelve Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carried out strikes at the ISIS terrorist facilities in Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (3 children1 man)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS194

Incident date

November 26, 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

One adult male civilian was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Qaryatain according to the Violations Documentation Center. Most other sources instead said both the Assad regime and Russian aircraft participated in the event.

Indicating the chaos on the ground, QNN6 reported: “Assad’s gangs, supported by Russia… are bombing the town of al Qaryatain with artillery and air raids  in order to control it amid violent clashes around the west of the city with Islamic State.” Damascus Now also reported airstrikes by both Russia and the regime. However pro-regime sites said the airstrikes were the work of the Syrian Air Force

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

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

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS226

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.964534, 38.036764 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike with more than 15 missiles on the road between Maskan and Kafrnasseh, Aleppo, according to the Shaam News Network.

Shaam also asserted that once ambulance rescue services arrived the planes struck again, injuring members of the White Helmets who attended the scene. All4Syria said 20 civilians were injured in the event.

The site Syria 2011 named the dead.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mohammed Alabso
28 years old killed
Khalil Haj Khalil Ripper
40 years old killed
Ali Ismail Junaid
27 years old killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS259

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

زغير, Zughayr, Deir Ez Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.503800, 40.015890 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven non-combatants were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Zughayr, according to the Shaam News Network and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the civilians died when an oil field was targeted by Russian warplanes. SNN put the death toll higher, at seven.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al-Wais
Age unknown Named by the VDC killed
Khodr al-Dahham
Age unknown Named by the VDC killed
Ameer al-Smayel
Age unknown Named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Zughayr (زغير), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.503800, 40.015890. 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

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS292

Incident date

December 20, 2015

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 43 and 73 civilians were reported killed and 70-170 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Idlib, according to multiple sources.

Al Jazeera posted a video from the main market on Al Jala’a street in which the reporter said 47 non-combatants were killed and 70 injured, in strikes by Russian warplanes. The correspondent said the street contained two schools, Al Ourouba school and a primary school, and that Russian planes were still circling the skies of idlib, despite a local truce agreed in the area. Al Jazeera English later posted a film by Nagieb Khaja which claimed the death toll had risen to 73.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian strikes targeted the Al Qoussour neighbourhood, the industrial area and the city centre. It initially said 50 died including women and children and that more than 170 were injured including critical cases, in six Russian raids targeting a party branch, residential buildings and the Department of School Books.

SNN added that there had been fears of repeated raids as the White Helmets attempted to evacuate the area and rescue bodies. A member of the White Helmets said the field hospital was full of casualties, that it had not been possible to identify them all, and that teams continued to search for survivors under the rubble.

A subsequent report by SNN said that a Sharia court had also been struck, killing in total more than 95 people and leaving hundreds injured.

One of the dead was named as Samir Sweden, an engineer and a prominent table tennis judge, who was killed when his home was hit. According to an obituary: “Engineer Samir Sweden, was born in the city of Idlib in 1960, he studied engineering in the city of Aleppo University, and founded 5 years ago the page Deaths in Idlib via Facebook, which was the most prominent reference and the most accurate in terms of counting the number of deaths [from the civil war] maintained on a daily basis.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially published a short report blaming the regime for the attacks and putting the death toll at 18. But a subsequent detailed report blamed Russia, and documented the death of 42 civilians, including a child and two women, and one armed man, plus 122 wounded. According to the report:

Three alleged Russian warplanes launched 6 airstrikes with 8 rockets on vital regions in the middle of Idlib city. The estimated region’s area is 1 Km2.

– Four rockets fell on a region called ‘the security region’ in Al Qusour neighborhood in Idlib. It included several government buildings like the military and air force security branches, the governor’s palace and Al Ba’ath Party building that was transformed by the armed opposition to a court and a prison that included 200 individuals who were .accused of different charges

-Two rockets targeted Al Jalaa’ nearby street which includes the city’s main market, a  warehouse for school books, and a high school

-Two rockets targeted a residential building behind Al Hayat Mosque.”

Mr Omar Abu Abdullah, a civil activist witnessed the shelling and told SN4HR: “At about 10 am, three Russian warplanes launched an air strike on Al Jalaa’Street next to Al Ourouba Female High School. I went to the shelling location and before I got there, the Russian warplanes launched another airstrike on the court’s building that was previously the headquarters for the ruling regime party. I was next to the high school and the civil defense members were trying to evacuate the injured people and transport the dead bodies. I saw great destruction in the school’s book warehouse building since it was near the high school. However, the massacre happened next to court’s building. I went there and saw the place completely destroyed. The smell of charcoaled bodies was all over the place and I heard distress sounds from the court’s basement where .the court’s prison was.”

Mr Mohamad Yehya, another civil defence member in Idlib city added: “The greatest number of victims was in the court which was almost completely destroyed. It took us two days to pull the victims’ bodies from under the rubble. During our rescue mission, the Russian warplanes launched another airstrike on us and shelled Al Sheikh Tholoth region There was a 17 year old young man who was trapped under the rubble. It took us 5 hours to reach him and pull him. The region targeted is vital as people go to the court to facilitate their paperwork. There are no military headquarters near that area that would justify the brutal shelling.”

Further testimony was given by Mr Sa’er, a local media activist in Idlib, who was close to the location of the attacks: “The shelling started at about 10 a.m. where two rockets fell on the city’s downtown next to the former air force security branch which killed a civilian and injured 5 others. I went directly to the shelling location and started to take pictures of the shelled site. The shelling was repeated in nearby locations with 7 more rockets. They hit the military security branch, the court and the school books’ warehouse. The court’s building was targeted twice and it witnessed the death of dozens of people. It was a three story building and it facilitated the …resident’s paperwork and documents like marriage, divorce, civil conflicts etc. Dozens of individuals go there daily in addition to the judges. There was a basement in the court’s building which included almost 200 prisoners. The initial outcome was 20 martyrs, 15 missing individuals and not less than 110 injured individuals. It was horrific. Dead bodies were scattered around the .place and hundreds others were calling for help from under the rubble. The court’s building belonged to the Al Fateh Army but judges, lawyers, employees and court security forces worked in it and there were no military headquarters next to it.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights kept one other name confidential due to search reasons – from  Hama – a member of an armed opposition group.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown from Idlib, Darkoush  killed
Age unknown from Idlib, Darkoush  killed

Family members (2)

Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown from Hama suburbs – Khattab town killed
Age unknown male young man (died December 22nd) killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown from Homs killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Adult male lawyer killed
Age unknown lawyer killed
Age unknown lawyer killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male killed
Adult lawyer killed
Age unknown from Idlib, Saraqibah killed
Age unknown male lawyer killed
Adult male lawyer killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown lawyer from Idlib, Ihrem town killed
Age unknown male from Idlib, Darkoush killed
Age unknown male from Idlib, Darkoush killed
Age unknown male from Idlib, Darkoush killed
Age unknown from Idlib, Kafr Sajneh killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown from Idlib, Ma’aret Msreen killed
Age unknown from Idlib, Ma’aret Msreen killed
Age unknown male from Idlib, Sermin city killed
Age unknown female her body was found under the rubble on 22 Dec 2015 killed
Age unknown male from Idlib, Ma’aret Msreen city – his body was found under the rubble on 21 Dec 2015 killed
Age unknown male from Ariha (died December 23rd) killed
Age unknown from Taftaneh (body recovered December 22nd) killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    43 – 73
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    70–170
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Moment of alleged Russian strike on Idlib, Dec 20th (via SNN)
  • A view of the smoke from an airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Moments after an airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Another image taken moments after the airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian trapped inside a car following an airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Damaged buildings in Idlib following an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • The aftermath of the airstrike on the ground in Idlib. (via, SNN)
  • A damaged car following an airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians are rescued from the rubble following an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Moments after the airstrike hit Idlib. (via, SNN)
  • A civilian being rescued from inside a damaged car. (via, SNN)
  • A car and some residential buildings, totally destroyed by an airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • The streets in the aftermath of the airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Chaos, as locals desperately try to find trapped or injured civilians. (via, SNN)
  • Part of the aftermath of the airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Smoke fills the sky moments after the airstrike hits Idlib. (via, SNN)
  • A damaged car from the alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Another image of civilians attempting to rescue trapped people from the rubble. (via, SNN)
  • Moments after the airstrike hit Idlib. (via, SNN)
  • A destroyed car. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    43 – 73
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    70–170
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]