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

RS2237

Incident date

May 14, 2017

Location

سوحا, Soha, al Silmiya district, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.000015, 37.401581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and his three year old child were killed and others were wounded  following an airstrike on Soha. Both sources blamed Russia for the airstrike.

According to the Smart News Agency, the vicinity was under the control of ISIS.

Additionally, those injured were in a serious condition and were transferred to hospitals.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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]

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 May 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

RS2283

Incident date

June 14, 2017

Location

اللج, Al-Laj, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.698703, 36.42736 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded and killed when warplanes struck a camp for displaced peoples in the village of Al-Laj, local media reported. All three sources blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes.

Women and children were reportedly included in the numbers of wounded and killed.

There are no other details at this 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
    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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2101

Incident date

April 9, 2017

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

Up to two civilians were killed and four injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Sarmin, Idlib, according to local media sources.

The head of the Centre for Civil Defense reportedly told Smart News that the Russians bombed the city with rockets using the “Sukhoi 35” aircraft, killing a woman and wounding four civilians, including three children.

The sources vary as to whether one or two civilians were killed in the strikes.

Step News Agency reported that “a child [was] killed and his mother and sister injured due to the explosion of cluster bomb remains [following] Russian raids,” however no other known sources for this incident mention child fatalities, only injuries. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hanadi Ahmad Hallak
Adult female Wife of Abdel Moneim Tawila killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: witnessed the Russian air raids and the subsequent destruction in the city of Sarmin, in the countryside of Idlib.
  • Translation: The destruction in the city of Sarmin as a result of air raids that led to the martyrdom of a woman.

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 specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2259

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

الخضيرة , Al-Khdeira, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.074965, 37.843781 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed in the village of Al-Khdeira in an ‘aerial bombardment’. It is unclear which belligerent was responsible for the airstrikes; the Syrian Press Monitor blamed the Russians, while the others accused the Syrian regime.

The identity of the victims remains unknown.

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
    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
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2401

Incident date

August 22, 2017

Location

غنيمان, Ghneiman, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.765484, 37.439517 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that civilians were killed and wounded in an airstrike “mostly likely to be Russian” in Ghneiman. The source did not specify the number of casualties.

There are no other details at this 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 (1) [ 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 not reported any specific strikes between July 1st - 31st 2017.

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 (1) [ 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

RS129

Incident date

November 7, 2015

Location

دير حافر‎, Dayr Hafir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.151494, 37.707842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A series of massive airstrikes on Dayr Hafir – allegedly by both Assad regime and Russian forces – led to some civilian casualties according to reports.

According to Shaam News, “Dayr Hafer was hit with more than 40 rockets launched by rocket launchers and more than ten air strikes in addition to helicopters throwing their barrels over the city.” The FSA said some civilians were killed and injured. And the Syrian News Desk reported that “A private source from Deir Hafer, who preferred anonymity, told the Office of the Syria News, which the regime forces shelled the centre and outskirts of the city with more than 40 rockets fired from launchers stationed in the vicinity of the neighbouring town of al Safira. Helicopters also fired two barrels explosive on Deir Hafer, prompting families displaced from the city to nearby villages east, for fear of the intensification of the pace of bombing them.”

The VDC named Abd al-Lateef Hout as one of two civilians killed – but said both died in regime shelling.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Lateef Hout
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Dayr Hafir, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.151494, 37.707842. 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
Official source

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last three days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 137 combat sorties engaging 448 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia, Raqqah, Hama and Homs provinces.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3385

Incident date

April 1, 2018

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’ret Harma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5497387, 36.5422624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Shaam, “Russian aircraft launched heavy air strikes caused the fall of martyrs and wounded in the cities and towns of Ariha and Khan Sheikoun and Urma Al Jouz and Al  Qanba and Kafr Lata and Hazarin and Hamdiyah and Ma’aret Horma in the southern countryside and the city of Jisr al-Shughour in the western countryside”.

However Idlib24 said that the regime was also carrying out strikes on the area at this time.

Only Shaam mentioned civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ 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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]