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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Russian Military
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Incident Code

RS2471

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabl, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6155094, 36.5471898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was injured in the city of Kafr Nabl as missiles struck a hospital, a local council building, and a civil defence centre, local sources reported.

The city was hit by three separate attacks with both Russian and Syrian forces reported to be involved. Flight analysis by the Syrian Archive identified a number of flights likely to be responsible for the attack – all of them Russian. However the organisation noted they may still have been operated by the Syrian air force.

Hand in Hand for Syria, a charity registered in the United Kingdom and run by British Syrians, operated at the hospital. One staff member told Smart News: “We were working on an emergency when the air strike took place but no one was injured. One girl was hit in the back as she was standing outside the hospital.”

The Civil Defense center was also stuck, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, damaging the building and three cars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Three cars at the Civil Defense were damaged in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Nabl, Sept 19th (via SN4HR)
    http://sn4hr.org/sites/news/2017/09/19/suspected-russian-forces-shelled-civil-defense-center-kafr-nobbol-city-idlib-governorate-september-19/
  • Destroyed local council building following an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Nabl, Sept 19th (via SN4HR)
    http://sn4hr.org/sites/news/2017/09/19/russian-forces-shelled-building-local-council-kafr-nobbol-city-idlib-governorate-september-19-russian-forces-shelled-building-local-council-kafr-nobbol-city-idlib-governor/
  • The Orient Hospital in Kafr Nabl
    https://www.facebook.com/Idleb.Health.Directorate/posts/1092123917557629
  • Images of the alleged Russian raids on Kafr Nabl, Sept 19th 2017.

Geolocation notes

Geolocation analysis of the Orient Hospital

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

RS2467

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

البوليل , Al Bouleil, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed as alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces bombed the town of Al Bouleil in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Azur, local sources reported.

Russian aircraft conducted the raids on residential areas, according to Alitihad Press, who said a total of five civilians died.  

Smart News reported the use of air strikes and snipers by Syrian forces in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

The son of Khalifa Al-Dawla
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2468

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

الطوب , Al Toub, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.1739486, 40.3728676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in air raids on the village of Al Toub, local sources reported.

Jisir TV attributed the deaths to Russian warplanes, however, Syrian air strikes and snipers were reported in the area by Smart News Agency.

No other details are currently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2469

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

قرية التح, Al Tah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.539525, 36.725383 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians including two women died while working at an obstetrics hospital in Al Tah as alleged Russian and Syrian warplanes bombarded the countryside of southern Idlib, local sources reported.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported one death; it stated: “Suspected Russian warplanes fired a missile on the al Rahman Charity Hospital – an obstetrics hospital – northwest of al Tah village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, killing a member of medical personnel and partially damaging it [the hospital], burning the eastern sector of it rendering it inoperable on September 19, 2017.”

Alternative sources on the ground said three were killed at Rahman Charity Hospital, including a nurse and a cleaner. Shahed Alep reported the death of three nurses.

The hospital’s deputy director, Taleb al-Ali, told the Smart News Agency that one of the nurses was killed immediately, and babies in incubators were wounded. Another nurse was also seriously wounded, while the hospital’s administrative director was injured – and one of his legs was amputated.

However Orient News only reported injuries: “Two nurses and several other civilians were injured today [Sept 19th], following the bombing of Al-Assad and Russia warplanes with surface-to-surface rockets aimed at the obstetric hospital in the town of Tah in countryside of Idlib”.

While most sources attributed the destruction to Russian warplanes, Orient News reported the additional involvement of the Syrian regime. Syrian Press Centre said it was an “unprecedented escalation” of violence.

The hospital was placed out of service due to the bombing and subsequent fire, Enab Baladi reported.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adel Kurd
Age unknown male Administrative director of the hospital injured
Fatthiya Khalid Al A’rnous
Adult female A nurse at the hospital killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The obstetric hospital was attacked with rockets, reportedly killing two nurses (via Enab Baladi )
  • More than 40 air strikes, allegedly hit villages and towns of southern Idlib on the morning of Sept 19th 2017 (via Syrianpc)
  • "Childrens' caskets turned into coffins," tweeted Omar Madaniah
  • Clouds of smoke billow fron Al Tah's obstetrics hospital following an airstrike on Sept 19th 2017 (via Syrian-coalition)
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes destroy hospital # Tah in Idlib and injures its medical staff and children who are inside'
  • Translatrion: 'The moment Russian aviation bombed an obstetric hospital in the village of Tah South Idlib'

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2474

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

كفرنبودة, Kafr Nbooda, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.429388, 36.49078 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly man was killed in Kfar Nbouda as more than seven rocket attacks bombarded the town, local sources reported.

A house collapsed killing the 75-year-old while his wife’s leg later required amputation. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported a second death in the town. They were the only media outlet to cite the involvement of the Syrian regime with most sources attributing the strikes to Russian forces.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “two civilians (a woman and her husband) killed in Syrian-Russian alliance warplanes missiles fired on Kafr Nbouda town in Hama governorate northwestern suburbs on September 20, 2017.”

The raids utilised vacuum and concussion rockets, according to Alitihad Press.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Abdo al-Sheikh "al-Hadoush"
75 years old male killed
Wife of Abdo al-Sheikh "al-Hadoush"
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Nbooda, Sept 20th 2017 (via Abdul Razak Alkhulaif )
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Nbooda, Sept 20th 2017 (via Abdul Razak Alkhulaif )

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2475

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and four children were killed in their home as alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces struck the town of Jarjanaz.

The death of a sixth civilian was also reported. Those killed included the woman’s grandson, according to local sources. At least five others were injured.

Three “space rockets” hit the town through the night, according to Step News. Akhbar News said the destruction of civilian houses and the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq mosque was due to rocket-propelled grenades.

Activists told Smart News that the house of Hossam Salama, a leader of the al-Ahrar-al-Sham Islamist Movement was damaged but he was not hurt.

The Civil Defense worked to retrieve the dead, transferring the wounded to the nearest medical point.

The incident occured after midnight.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Raids destroyed multiple buildings
    http://archive.fo/PDw0x
  • White Helmets in the wreckage
    https://twitter.com/SyrianCoalition/status/910482006928232450
  • A mother and four children died in their their home
    https://twitter.com/HadiAlabdallah/status/910456922117169153
  • Translation: 'Russian aviation targets residential areas in the town of # Jarjanaz countryside Idlib leaving martyrs and wounded'
  • Translation: 'The martyrdom of four children and their child after the Assad regime's flight targeting their home this morning in # Gergnaz countryside # Idlib'
  • Translation: 'Painful scenes of the horrific massacre committed by Russian airliners in the town of Jarjanaz in the countryside of Idlib'
  • Further footage of the aftermath of the strike on Jarjanaz, Sept 20th 2017.
  • A news report on the strike on Jarjanaz, Sept 20th 2017.

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2477

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shikhoun, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Khan Shikhoun, local sources reported.

The injured included a young girl and a woman, according to Zaman Al Wasl.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2478

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between zero and three civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Sarja in southern Idlib, according to local sources.

Some sources, including Step News Agency, reported that the airstrikes struck the local headquarters of Ahrar Al Sham and three of those injured were militants. Other sources did not mention that those injured were militants or directly referred to those injured as civilians, including the Revolutionary Forces of Syria.

The majority of sources, including Step News Agency and Aletihad Press, blamed Russian planes for carrying out the airstrikes against Sarja. However, conflicting reports were given by Al Araby and the Revolutionary Forces of Syria, which identified the regime as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]