Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS171

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.37425, 36.6033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in an alleged Russian bombing of the town of Kafr Zita, according to multiple sources.

Syria News Desk cited local media activist Abdel-Rahman al-Ali was saying that “Russian jets targeted three raids north side of Kafr Zita, killing two people and destroyed four houses.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sheikh Bassam Qabalan
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Khaled Mohammad Mobarak “al-Shakhtour”
Adult male Named by VDC killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A video: Russian warplanes bombard the town of Kfar Zeita in the countryside of Hama (via Mahmoud Hamwi)
  • One of the people reportedly killed in the strike (via VDC)
  • One of the people reportedly killed in the strike (via VDC)
  • an image at the moment of the airstrike (The Syrian Revolution in Kafr Zita facebook post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit… 29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea.” No mention was made of Hama governorate.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2873

Incident date

January 9, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were reported killed and others were injured due to air and artillery strikes on Harasta. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia while one source blamed the Syrian regime.

Women and children were included amongst the injured, however no specific umbers were reported.

Baladi News specified that there were as many as 17 airstrikes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an air or artillery strike hit the vicinity of Harasta, 9th Jan 2018 (via Almayadeen)

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2920

Incident date

January 19, 2018

Location

معرةالنعمان, Ma'arat Nu'man, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed, including a woman and a child, in airstrikes on Ma’arat Nu’man, according to local media. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes.

Both civilians were unidentified.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment that airstrikes hit Ma'arat Nu'man, 19th Jan 2018. (via @Wesal_TV)

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
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS461

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Hayyan, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. The children were listed as having died on January 25th.

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes carried out air raids on the city of Mare` and Tal Rifa’at and the towns of Masagan, Ma’arasta al Khan, Mayer, Ihress, tal Jbeen, Tal Msseibin, Ratiyan, Hardtanin, Hayyan, Ma’arasta Al khan and Deir Al Zeitoun region,” adding that this led to the death of one person in Hayyan.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights – who published an image of a wounded child – helicopters belonging to the Assad regime dropped two barrels bombs on the town.

Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad al-Hayek
Child male killed
Yaman Ismaeil Hayek
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Injured civilians are rescued from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids, 26th January 2016, Hayyan. (via, North Media Institute)
  • An injured child in the aftermath of an alleged Russia and Syrian regime raid on Hayyan, 26th January 2016. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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

RS493

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were reports of “many victims” following alleged Russian raids on Hamidiya.

No further details are available at the present time. 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS557

Incident date

February 7, 2016

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Tadeef, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

These victims were also named by Halab News and the Syrian Human Rights Committee.

Shahba Press also said two non-combatants died in a Russian raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Kareem Obeid al-Hasan al-Obeid
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abdul Razak Obeid al-Hasan al-Obeid
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS3416

Incident date

April 25, 2018

Location

الهبيط , كفرسجنة, كفرنبل ,أرينبة, Al Habit , Kafar Sijna , Arinba and Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.491145, 36.497505 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died as an aerial bombardment on villages across southern Idlib decimated schools and hospitals, local sources reported.

Al Habit was one of the hardest hit by sustained heavy artillery fire, killing a man and woman.

Two children were injured in Kafr Nabil, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, as warplanes struck the village. Helicopters simultaneous dumped explosive barrels bombs on Kafr Sajna,  destroying a medical centre and the next door Tishreen school.

Mr. Khalid Al-Qassim, Director of the Khan Sheikhoon Educational Complex, told Step News that 500 students “were now without education as a result of the destruction of their schools.” The medical centre was evacuated following extensive damage to the building and equipment however no casualties were reported.

Sources on the ground reported the involvement of both Russian and Syrian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The moment the air force bombed the village of Kfar Idlib and destroyed a school (via Baladi News Network, April 2018)
  • Civil Defense teams worked to inspect the raids and rescue the injured (via Civil Defense, April 2018)
  • Civil Defense teams worked to inspect the raids and rescue the injured (via Civil Defense, April 2018)
  • Civil Defense teams worked to inspect the raids and rescue the injured (via Civil Defense, April 2018)

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3202

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians – a child and a member of the White Helmets – were killed and others were wounded in air and artillery and missile strikes on Saqba, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

@HalabTodayTV tweeted the “demolition of residential areas by air, artillery and missile attacks”.

A child and a member of the Syrian Civil Defence were included in the death toll.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Mohammad al Asas, a member of Civil Defense center 215, was killed as Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles Saqba city in Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus suburbs, on March 8, 2018.”

The strikes reportedly occurred in the morning.

 

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Maria Jum’a
Child female killed
Mohammed al-Assas
Adult male Member of the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Maria Jum’a, a girl killed in airstrikes on Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via Abdlateef Al Ahmad)
  • Image of the father of the girl Maria Jum’a saying goodbye to his girl before she was buried (via SN4HR)
  • The burial of White Helmets member Mohammad al Asas (via SCD Damascus countryside)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via SCD Damascus countryside)
  • The burial of White Helmets member Mohammad al Asas (via SCD Damascus countryside)
  • The burial of White Helmets member Mohammad al Asas (via SCD Damascus countryside)

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]