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
243 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS4492

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 27th, 2020 radio reporter Muhammad Fawaz Hammoud was injured during an airstrike in Saraqib, outside of Idlib.  Hammoud is an employee of Radio Al-Kul.

In a post from Almodon, Hammoud was born in 1996 and is known as Asmar Aslan.  According to a report from The Syrian Journalists Association and specifically media activist Fayez Al-Daghim, the radio reporter was struck by shrapnel that impacted his body, head, feet, hands, and back. Al-Daghim went on to say that Hammoud was covering an airstrike when he was wounded, but his condition has stabilized. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the airstrike was carried out by fix-winged warplanes using Russian-made missiles.

The attack upon Saraqib and the wounding of Hammoud represents an increase in the targeting of civilian activists.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the strike was carried out by fixed-wing planes believed to be Russian with Russian-generated missiles.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Asmar Aslan
24 years old male reporter for Radio al Kul, from Saraqeb city injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Asmar Aslan, a reporter for Radio Al Kul, was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Saraqeb city on February 27th, 2020 (via SNHR).

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
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4485

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

احسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Russian warplanes struck the town of Ihsem in the southern suburbs of Idlib on February 26th, 2020 killing one civilian.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the man as Ahmad Yasin Hammoudi, and this was also reported by local sources, including a tweet from @Jabliat414.  Other local sources reported on the use of machine guns in this attack.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was the only source that attributed responsibility for the incident, blaming Russia.

A Facebook post from Ehsilgmail added that Ahmad was killed while traveling on the Ahsam – Deir Sunbul road.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Yasin Hammoudi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4483

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

أرنبة, Arinba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 26th, up to four civilians were killed by Russian airstrikes in the village of Arinba in the western countryside outside of Idlib. The four victims were members of the same family and included a husband, wife, and two children.

Local witnesses and sources, including a tweet from @mohmad_rasheed noted that the family was killed by Russian aggression in the village of Arinba. A collection of news agencies reported the story as well, including Al Jazerra, the Zaiton Agency, Al Bawaba News, Jesr Press, and the Baladi network. @ibraheem890 tweeted that the family was targeted by Russian warplanes and the family was removing “their belongings from their home”. Al Hadath reported that in addition to the four deaths, others were wounded, but no names were released of the dead or injured. Shaam News reported that the family was in a car specifically hit by Russian warplanes.

The village of Arinba was among many towns and cities giving refuge to internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the family killed in this Russian airstrike were attempting to leave Arinba when the strike occurred.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights and all other sources that reported on the incident described the planes involved as Russian fixed-wing warplanes.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Martyrs in the town of Arnabah in Jabal Al-Zawiya as a result of the air strikes of the Russian occupation.
  • "The opposition air traffic tracking observatory reported that Russian warplanes carried out raids on Wednesday morning on the village of Arnabah in Idlib countryside, northern Syria, which led to the killing of four civilians." Image posted by Radyodeal via Facebook

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
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4484

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

كفرعويد, Kafar Awaid, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed and at least 10 others were wounded in a bombing raid conducted at dawn targeting the village of Kafar Awaid on February 26th, 2020.

Local accounts, including a tweet from @hayanhababa described Russian warplanes striking homes and civilian areas, resulting in the deaths of five people. @seerij80 added that the Russian planes used vacuum missiles upon the target. The Zaitun Agency and Baladi News also reported the death of five civilians. Reba.rochelle stated that there were injuries accompanying the five deaths as well and @ShabhaPress reported five killed civilians and more than ten wounded in the town of Kafr Awaid, in the southern countryside of Idlib. The Violations Documentation Center documented the five deaths by Russian warplanes, and Shaam News reported that rescuing the victims was made nearly impossible as Russian planes bombed and destroyed many of the roads leading to Kafar Awaid. No names of the dead or wounded were released.

Shaam News stated that a car was specifically hit in the heavily civilian village of Kafa Aweaid.

Local witnesses and all reported news sources attributed the attack to Russian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4486

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

أبلين, Ableen, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Ableen, Idlib governorate, on February 26th, 2020, according to Shaam News Network.

Shaam reported that “Russian and Assad’s air forces launched dozens of airstrikes amid artillery and missile shelling, which led to the fall of four martyrs in the village of Arnaba, and five martyrs in the village of Kafr Awaid, and two martyrs in Ableen.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4488

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on several cities, towns and villages in Idlib governorate on February 26th, 2020, according to Shaam News Network.

Shaam reported that “Russian and Assad’s air forces launched dozens of airstrikes amid artillery and missile shelling” which led to “a number of wounded people in Idlib, Sarmin, Benish, Jisr Al Shughour, Kansfara, Nayrab, Afs, Qinas and Al-Barah, Alia Billion, Al Muzarra, Jouseph, Sufouhan, Kefir, Badama, Zarzour, and Al Barnas Farms.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4487

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

قرية بيلون في جبل الزاويه, Billion village in Jabal Al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four victims from the same family were killed by pro-Assad regime or Russian planes as an airstrike hit the town of Balion on February 26th. Information about the attack emerged on February 28th.

Numerous tweets reported the death of the four victims, including @syr_television, thethr Zaitun Agency, and Smart News put forth the same information that a man, his wife, and two children perished during a Russian airstrike in Balion. Kana posted that the family was originally from Kafranabel, but were internally displaced and settled in Balion. The Syrian Civil Defense volunteers removed the bodies on the 28th after civilians in the area discovered them.

The names and ages of the victims were not released.

Shaam News reported that local activists said the family were hit as they were attempting to move a motorcycle near the home where they were living.  Balion is a town replete with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and did not have military significance.

SMART and Step News Agency blamed Russia for the airstrikes, whereas Shaam mentioned both Russia and the Syrian regime.

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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4480

Incident date

February 25, 2020

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians from the same family, including a child and two women, were reported killed, and 12 others, including up to seven children and three women, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on Binnish in Idlib, Syria on February 25th, 2020. Edlib Media Center said the regime attacked Binnish with rockets.

Shahba Press tweeted that four individuals had been killed in an air strike against the city of Binnish, along with twelve civilians wounded. Images provided by the Macro Media Center captured the extensive damage done by Assad regime warplanes.  Prior to the confirmation of four victims, Halab Today TV tweeted that “Aleppo Today” described how a woman and two children were trapped under rubble. The death toll was later raised to four.

According to @abuhuzaifa_, the victims are Abdullah Abdul-Qadir Qutini aged 13, Abdel-Qader Anas Qutini aged 2, Samira Abdullah Makhzoum aged 50 and Safia Abdel-Moneim Makhzam aged 24. According to the same source, those are the child, brother, mother and wife of Anas Al Qutni, who lost his family in one day.

Shaam News said that four civilians died in Binnish after “Russian and Asadian air forces launched dozens of airstrikes amid artillery and missile shelling that targeted the Idlib on February 25th, 2020.”

A tweet from A Tumer_Turkmane described two of the victims as IDPs from Khan Sheikhoun. Abdul Latif Nasser, the director of the Civil Defense Center in Bunche, noted to Smart News that seven women and two children were among the twelve wounded civilians. Abu Hando, the director of the Civil Defense Center in Idlib reported that the dead were from the same family.

A Syrian reporter through YouTube described the attack as planes “unloading its full payload of missiles” upon homes and other civilian targets in Binnish. A similar depiction was given by a Freedom Press Reporter as well.

The Syrian Civil Defense formally announced that the air raid was carried out by Assad’s planes. This report was corroborated by local witnesses and news agencies, including Smart News, Shaam News via a YouTube video, and Shahba Press. However, various other local sources, including Syrian Reporter, attributed the airstrikes and the resulting civilian casualties to Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Abdul-Qadir Qutini عبد الله عبدالقادر قطيني
13 years old male killed
Abdel-Qader Anas Qutini عبدالقادر أنس قطيني
2 years old male killed
Samira Abdullah Makhzoum سميرة عبد الله مخزوم
50 years old female killed
Safia Abdel-Moneim Makhzam صفية عبد المنعم مخزوم
24 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (36) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of aristrikes in Binnish in Idlib, on February 25th, 2020. (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish on Feb 25th, 2020, and SCD volunteers seen responding to the incident. (via MMC)
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Damage to civilian houses caused by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, February 25th, 2020 (via EMC).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two children killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, Syria on February 25th, 2020. (via @abuhuzaifa)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two children killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Binnish in Idlib, Syria on February 25th, 2020. (via SNHR)
  • Anas Qattini lost his children, his wife, his mother and his brother by alleged Russian bombing of the city of Binnish on February 25th, 2020. (via @abuhuzaifa)
  • Airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Damage caused by Airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by Shaam News)
  • Damage caused by Airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by Shaam News)
  • Damage caused by Airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by Shaam News)
  • Damage caused by airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Damage caused by airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Damage caused by airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Rescue workers with one of the victims of airstrikes on the city of Binnish on February 25, 2020. (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • The first moments of pulling out the martyrs and the wounded from the rubble as a result of the Russian air strikes on the city of Binnish, east of Idlib Photography: Hamza Abbas (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • The first moments of pulling out the martyrs and the wounded from the rubble as a result of the Russian air strikes on the city of Binnish, east of Idlib Photography: Hamza Abbas (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • The first moments of pulling out the martyrs and the wounded from the rubble as a result of the Russian air strikes on the city of Binnish, east of Idlib Photography: Hamza Abbas (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • The first moments of pulling out the martyrs and the wounded from the rubble as a result of the Russian air strikes on the city of Binnish, east of Idlib Photography: Hamza Abbas (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)

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
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]