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

RS2065

Incident date

April 3, 2017

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians was killed, and others were wounded, in an alleged rocket attack in Hamouriya in Damascus, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. All sources blamed the Syrian regime, except the Step News Agency, who blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia. 

According to sources, one man was allegedly injured in the raid.

There were reportedly between four and six strikes with rockets, damaging civilian homes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The exact moments after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Hamouriya, 3rd April 2017. (via Ufuk International Relief and Development)
  • The exact moment an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid hit Hamouriya, 3rd April 2017. (via Omawi)
  • The exact moment an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid hit Hamouriya, 3rd April 2017. (via Omawi)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2263

Incident date

May 31, 2017

Location

عقيربات , Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly killed and others wounded in ‘intensive’ airstrikes on Akeirbat allegedly conducted by Russian and Syrian warplanes on the 31st of May, a local source reported to Smart News.

Rozana Radio, however, reported that there were no civilian casualties in the strikes that landed on the villages of Abu Habilat, Al Harrdana, Abu Hanaya and Hamada Omar in the area of Akeirbat.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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]

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
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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

RS2388

Incident date

August 15, 2017

Location

حسيا, Hasya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.410945, 36.758151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that “in the countryside of Hama, the Russian warplanes targeted several cars carrying displaced people is Hasya. There were reports of dead and wounded civilians amongst those struck.”

There are no specific numbers.

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

RS2558

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

كفرجالس , Kafr Jalis, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.976182, 36.613076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A five-month-pregnant woman and her unborn child were killed in airstrikes, likely by Russian warplanes, on Kafr Jaless on the morning of September 29th, a local source, the Smart News Agency, reported.

Smart also reported the wounding of other civilians as a result of the airstrike. According to one of the villagers, the targeted house had become home to displaced persons from Al-Saan, of which the five-month-pregnant woman was one.

Several other sources reported only the death of a woman and injury of several other civilians.

Ibrahim Yasouf  said that a woman and her six-month-old baby were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The martyrdom of a woman in the town of Kafarjas displaced from Hama ِAl Salameah as a result of the targeting of Russian warplane"
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafr Jalis, Spet 29th (via Idlib Lahza be Lahaza)
  • A dead child lies in the rubble following a strike on Kafr Jalis, Sept 29th (via Ibrahim Yasouf)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafr Jalis, Sept 29th (via Ibrahim Yasouf)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafr Jalis, Sept 29th (via Ibrahim Yasouf)

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
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3655

Incident date

May 4, 2019

Location

أرنبة, Arnaba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and two children of the same family were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Arnaba, Idlib governorate, on May 4th, 2019, according to local sources.

According to the White Helmets, “two children were killed and a child was seriously injured as a result of a military airstrike near a school and a mosque in the centre of the village of Arnaba in Jabal Al Zawiya. Immediately, the Civil Defense went to the site of the raids.”

The Syrian Network for Human Right wrote that “the child Majed Abdullah Al Ahmad and his sister An’am, aged respectively 10 and 20, were killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Arnaba village in Jabal Al Zawiya area in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on May 4.”

On May 5th, Hasan Al Ahmad wrote on Facebook that “the death of the child Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ahmad from the village of Aranba resulted into three martyrs [caused by] the Russian bombing that targeted the centre of the village yesterday.”

Local sources reported that the missiles, also described as rockets, caused damage to the Arnaba Primary School and the Omar Bin al Khattab Mosque when they struck near the buildings.

Whereas most sources blamed Russian airstrikes, TRT Arabic pointed to the regime while @HalabTodayTV blamed both Russia and the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ahmad ابراهيم احمد الاحمد
Child male died on May 5th of his injuries killed
An’am Al Ahmad
20 years old female sister of Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ahmad
Majed Abdullah Al Ahmad
10 years old male brother of An’am Al Ahmad killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Omar Bin al Khattab Mosque in Arnaba village in Jabal al Zaweya area in Idlib governorate was partially destroyed by an alleged Russian bombardment on May 5th (via SN4HR).
  • Alleged Russian missiles struck near Arnaba Primary School in Arnaba village in Idlib governorate and partially destroyed the building on May 4th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Destruction in the town of Arnaba south of Idlib, allegedly caused by a Russian airstrike on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction in the town of Arnaba south of Idlib, allegedly caused by a Russian airstrike on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood of one of the victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Arnaba south of Idlib on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction in the town of Arnaba south of Idlib, allegedly caused by a Russian airstrike on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Blood of one of the victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of town of Arnaba south of Idlib on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Translation: "The arrival of the civil defense teams at the site of the air raid in the village of Arnaba, which left two martyrs" (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Translation: "The arrival of the civil defense teams at the site of the air raid in the village of Arnaba, which left two martyrs" (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Translation: "Documenting the destruction of the Mosque of Arenba in Jabal al-Zawiya after being targeted by the Russian occupation aircraft" (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Translation: "The martyrdom of a woman and a child and the injury of others as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft town of Arnaba south of Idlib with rockets" (via Edli Media Center).

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS230

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

الناجية, Najieh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7894815, 36.2177181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male and one child died in an alleged Assad regime airstrike on Najeh, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

Radio Al Kul said one person died and three were injured – but instead attributed responsibility to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ziyad Fato
Adult male killed
Mohammad Khaled Bakour
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of adult male, Ziyad Ahmad Fato, killed on 4th December 2015. (via, Idlib Civil Defence)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Najieh (الناجية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7894815, 36.2177181. 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

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Idlib.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS263

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two male civilians were reported killed in either a Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Arbeen. The town’s local medical committee reported “Dozens of injured received by the hospital in Arbeen after the outskirts of the town of Arbeen, Zamalka and other eastern Ghouta towns were targeted by warplanes that are still targeting public places and civilians.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasan Maysour Shroosh
Adult male named by the VDC, who they said were victims of unspecified ‘warplane shelling’ killed
Mohammad Ziad al-Khateeb
Adult male named by the VDC, who they said were victims of unspecified ‘warplane shelling’ killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Medics tend to wounded from Russian or Assad regime strikes on Arbeen, December 11th 2015 (via Arbeen Medical Committee)
  • The exact moment that the alleged Russian airstrike fell onto Arbeen. (via, Baladi News)
  • The exact moment that the alleged Russian airstrike fell onto Arbeen. (via, Baladi News)
  • White Helmets run to the scene to rescue trapped civilians. (via, White Helmets)
  • White Helmets working on a patient inside a medical facility. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)
  • Graphic photograph of an injured man receiving medical help. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)
  • An injured man in Arbeen. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)
  • An injured child as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)
  • Graphic image of a seriously injured man. He is also covered in dust. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)
  • A graphic image of a man receiving medical treatment. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)
  • Another image of a member of the White Helmets helping an injured man. (via, The Medical Committee in the town of Arbeen)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Arbeen, for which the generic coordinates are: 33.538143, 36.364331. 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 is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3867

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed in an airstrike on Kafar Nabil as more than 10 aircrafts of the Syrian and Russian forces alternated bombing with explosive barrels and cluster missiles.

According to Edlib Media Center, the child was killed and others injured as cluster rockets struck a residential neighborhood.

Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that “Ahmad Mohammad Radwan al Damour was killed Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped tens of barrel bombs on Kafranbel city in Idlib.” Kafranbel live and Ahmed Al Haniny said he was an adult and “the third martyr and the last youth from the family of Ahmad Muhammad al-Damour during the course of the Syrian revolution.”

Macro Media Center specified that four others in addition to the child were injured, including a volunteer from the Syrian Civil Defense.

MMC posted pictures tagged: “The first moments of the targeting of the cities of Kafr Nabl and Hass in the southern countryside of Idlib with barrel bombs dropped from helicopters of the regime forces, which led to the deaths of martyrs and wounded civilians.”

@modar28 tweeted: “10 aircraft (Russian and Assad) bomb the city of Kafr Nabl with more than 25 airstrikes, in conjunction with the flight of reconnaissance aircraft to ensure the destruction of all neighborhoods and neighboring villages, and dozens of martyrs and wounded, most of them children, women and elderly.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mohammad Radwan al Damour
37 years old male son of Subhiyyah killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • Video covering the aftermath of an airstrike on Kafar Nabil on July 4th (via Hadi Alabdallah).
  • Smoke circling up from where an airstrike struck in Kafar Kabil on July 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction caused by an airstrike that struck in Kafar Kabil on July 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction caused by an airstrike that struck in Kafar Kabil on July 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destroyed street after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via @aboalhodaalhoms)
  • Destroyed building after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via MMC)
  • Impact of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via MMC)
  • People alking through rubble after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via MMC)
  • Man walking through street after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via MMC)
  • Bomb falling during Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via @mousakhaled1976)
  • Impact of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via @mousakhaled1976)
  • Impact of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via @modar28)
  • Destruction after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via @modar28)
  • Ahmad Mohammad Radwan al Damour, allegedly killed by Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil on July 4th, 2019 (via Ahmed Al Haniny)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (28) [ collapse]