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

RS2940

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

مصطفى الشيخ, Mustafa Sheikh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.519135, 36.552968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as two civilians were killed and others were injured in airstrikes on Mustafa Sheikh, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids.

There is confusion over whether one adult male died or one child. No sources point to two civilian deaths, however some sources differed while reporting the age of the victim.

Additionally, local media reported that “others” were wounded, however this was unspecified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Iyad Ibraheem Bsais
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an airstrike struck Mustafa Sheikh, 28th Jan 2018. (via Ibrahim Zaydan)
  • Iyad Ibraheem Bsais, killed in airstrikes on Mustafa Sheikh, 28th Jan 2018. (via Osama Al Na’ssan)

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 child1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS625

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and between 12 and 20 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra, according to local sources.

VDC named the victims, as did Syria Martrys who blamed a Russian strike. According to M_alhameeed one non-combatant died and 20 more were injured in Russian raids on the city.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Abdulrahman al Qayem
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abdul Rhman Khaled Ali Al Minshar
Adult male Listed by VDC, died from his wounds killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Adnan Abdulrahman al Qayem, supposedly killed in the attack. (via, Palmyra News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS657

Incident date

February 22, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians died in a raid on Palymra according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Syria Mirror mentioned Russian shelling on the city, but didn’t provide any further details.

The Syrian Human Rights Center named two victims.

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, Mohammed Al-Ghrayib died from injuries sustained in “regime shelling”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hassan Fawaz el Qayem
Age unknown male from Palmyra – he died from wounds “sustained two days ago by the shelling of the city”
Mohamed Mahmoud el Ghareeb
Age unknown male from Palmyra – killed “by the Russian bombing of the city some days ago”

Summary

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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

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 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS721

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her teenage son died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local sources.

The victims were named by Halab News – who blamed Russia – as Anas Ahmad Khatib and Fatima Khatib. Two additional sources, Allairamon Today and Anas Naif, also named them and said that Russia was responsible for their deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatima Khatib
Adult female killed
Anas Ahmad Khatib
Child male Son of Fatima Khatib killed

Summary

  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "God's mercy be upon you cousins. Martyrdom of Anas Ahmad Khatib and his mother due to Russian pounding (...) (via Anas Naif Facebook page)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3935

Incident date

July 22, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafarouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged Syrian or Russian airstrikes struck Kafarouma, Idlib governorate, killing up to three civilians. An unknown number of others were injured.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime forces “dropped several barrel bombs on al Farouq al Gharbiya School in Kafrooma village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, partially damaging its fence, and damaging its building”.

@baladinetwork tweeted: “Civilians were wounded by the barrel bombing of helicopters on the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib”. @muhammad_salhab reported “a martyr and a number of injuries in the recent bombardment of the town of Kafarouma with barrel bombs”.

According to @MOHAMADJAPAS, a man and a woman were killed. @ShahbaPress also reported the death of a woman and another civilian, blaming the Syrian regime for the strikes.

According to Shaam News Network, “the indiscriminate shelling” killed two civilians. Baladi News reported that “Assad helicopter gunships carried out more than seven consecutive air raids on the explosive barrel on the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib, killing a man and a woman, and wounding others.” Orient News was the only source reporting three fatalities.

While most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the strikes, Shaam News Network pointed to both the Syrian regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped several barrel bombs on al Farouq al Gharbiya School in Kafrooma village in Idlib on July 22nd (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Translation: “Moments of the bombing of the town of Kafarouma in the Idlib countryside. Photography: Mohamed Hallaq” (via @AJA_Syria).
  • Translation: “Five helicopters take turns bombing the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib with barrels, explosive containers and marine mines” (via @syrian191124).
  • Footage of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 22nd, 2019 (via @abdalazezketaz).
  • Translation: “Zeitoun Agency: A part of the escalation of smoke as a result of the helicopter bombing of the regime's warplanes on the city of Ma'arat Al Nu'man and the town of Kafrouma in the southern countryside of Idlib” (via @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 type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3967

Incident date

July 27, 2019

Location

تلة الخضر, Telt Al Khouder, Latakia, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that two civilians were killed and that two others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Telt Al Khouder, Latakia governorate, on July 27th, 2019.

Smart News Agency documented “two killed and two wounded by the shelling of Russian warplanes on Tel Al Khouder north of Latakia.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1657 RS2668

Incident date

November 1, 2017

Location

البصيرة, Al Busayrah, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.15618, 40.42716 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two named civilians died and up to 23 others were wounded in an airstrike on al Busayrah according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame.

Baladi, Jisr TV and Sharqiya Voice all blamed the Coalition.

Euphrates Post reported “the martyrdom of the young man Abdul Muttalib Mohammed Hassan Al-Ali and the injury of his cousins: Abdul Qadir Taleb al-Hassan (critical injury), Yasser Abdul Samad Al Hassan and Abd al-Shafi Saleh al-Hassan. All casualties were the result of air strikes targeting the house of Abdul Samad Dawood al-Hassan”.

However 7al blamed Russia for carrying out six raids, putting the death toll at “two young people” and injury of 23 more.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aboud Talib Dawood Hassan Al Ali Ahmad Al Khalid
Adult male killed
The cousin of Martyr Abdul Muttali
Age unknown killed
Abdul Qadir Taleb al-Hassan
Age unknown male cousin of Aboud injured
Yasser Abdul Samad Al Hassan
Age unknown male cousin of Aboud injured
Abd al-Shafi Saleh al-Hassan
Age unknown male cousin of Aboud injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–23
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aboud Talib Dawood Hassan Al Ali Ahmad Al Khalid, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Busayrah, 1st November 2017. (via Deir free tweet)
  • A victim of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Busayrah, 1st November 2017. (via Euphrates)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of al Busayrah (البصيرة), for which the coordinates are: 35.15618, 40.42716

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 1st-2nd: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle. Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroying a fighting position and damaging a line of communication.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–23
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1092

Incident date

August 3, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian shelling killed two civilians in Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

According to Baladi News, a rocket was reportedly seen in the vicinity. Further to this, Smart News said that it was specifically a missile strike which killed two civilians and wounded six others.

A number of sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Hamdo Ramadan
49 years old male named by Halab News killed
Subhi Ahmed Ramadan
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Hamdo Ramadan, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • Subhi Ahmed Ramadan, killed in an alleged Russia raid. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between August 1st – 10th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]