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

RS3737

Incident date

May 29, 2019

Location

مصيبين, Masibin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Masabin, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019, according to local sources.

According to Shaam News, “the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Air Force carried out very heavy air raids and shelling” in a number of locations, leading to the deaths of two civilians in Masabin.

@SyriaCivilDefe and Anadolu Agency also reported two civilian fatalities. While the Syrian Civil Defence blamed the Syrian regime, Anadolu Agency pointed to the “Syrian regime and its allies”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3845

Incident date

June 25–26, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Shabab Al Latamina reported that two civilians were wounded in shelling in rural Idlib, near Khan Sheikhoun on June 25th. According to the source, “two wounded from the town of Al Latamina in artillery artillery shelling from the Russian camp on the perimeter of the city of Khan Sheikhoun.”

The source added that the following day, one of the wounded civilians died of the injuries the sustained in the attack. He was named Khaled Khalil Mubarak/Al-Mubarak.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that two members of the civil defense were killed when a Russian airstrike struck their car in the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on June 26th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Khalil Al-Mubarak خالد خليل المبارك
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khalil Khalil Al-Mubarak died of his injuries sustained days after an airstrike struck Khan Sheikhoun between June 25th and 26th (via the Shabab Al Latamina).

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
    1
  • (1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS730

Incident date

March 12, 2016

Location

ماضي, Maadi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.135086, 37.889174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maadi, Aleppo, according to local sources.

Ana Press reported that a Russian strike “resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians and massive destruction of the residential buildings”.

The victims were also named by Syrian Human Rights Committee and other sources.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yasmeen Abo Dan
20 years old female Named by VDC killed
Yousef Abo Dan
20 years old male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 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 (7) [ 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 for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS3142

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians were killed, and others were wounded, in napalm bomb strikes on the residential neighbourhood of Mesraba, local media reported.

Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the strikes, however the majority of source attributed blame to the Syrian regime.

Huge fires were caused as a result of the napalm, which resulted in material damage.

Most sources reported that only one victim was killed, however the Violations Documentation Centre reported that there were two unidentified adult male bodies at the scene.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The affects of napalm bombs on Mesraba, 2nd March 2018. (via @BassamJaara)
  • The affects of napalm bombs on Mesraba, 2nd March 2018. (via Alaa Al Ahmad

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
    1 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • 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

RS3159

Incident date

March 4, 2018

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and a child were killed and others were wounded in airstrikes on Kafar Zita, according to local media.

According to sources, “Amira Ahmed Hilal, the wife of Hussein Faraj al-Hussein (Khawada), who was injured by the bombing of the Russian warplane to join her child Maria”.

The source reported that “the martyrdom of a woman and her child and the fall of many of the injured as a result of raids by Russian airliner targeted the town of Kafrzita north of Hama”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mrs. Amira Ahmad al Hilal
37 years old female killed
Maria Hussein al-Hussein
Child female killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS988

Incident date

July 11, 2016

Location

Displaced persons camp near al Qali', al Sokhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a camp for displaced persons near al Qali’, al Sokhna, according to sources on the ground.

Sinn News, Shahba Press and Step News Agency all blamed Russia for the attack.

There are no reported numbers of those killed or wounded, but several sources do point to casualties.

According to the Shaam News Network, “martyrs and wounded fell by the raids of the Russian aviation which targeted civilians directly in Homs east.  Russian planes launched raids into Sukhna city and its environs, one hit a camp for displaced people in Kulaia area, and there were fallen martyrs and wounded.” Furthermore the source reported that “activists stressed that the bombing also caused the burning of three tents and a number of cars… there was an absence of revolutionary media from the region, as it is located within the controlled areas of state regulation.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A displaced persons camp near al Sokhna struck by alleged Russian attacks (via Sin news)
  • The effect of suspected Russian shelling on a displaced persons camp near al Sokhna (via@Syriafree339) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

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 July 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1052

Incident date

July 26, 2016

Location

‏كفر بسين‬, Kafr Bssein, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2709462, 36.9960522 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child died in Kafr Bssein, local media reported – though it was unclear who was responsible for the deaths.

According to Halab News, Halab Today and Syrian Press Center, an unidentified “man and a child” died in an attack using cluster bombs. The sources didn’t identify the culprit.

Some other sources also put the death toll at two but referred only to “warplanes”.

Madar Daily reported that Russia used cluster bombs on Kafr Bssein, while the Shaam News Network said that a girl died following Russian raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (7) [ 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 July 16th – 27th 2016.

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 child)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3254

Incident date

March 13, 2018

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

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on Hamouriya, local media reported. Sources lamed both Russian and Syrian regime raids for the strikes. There were multiple reports of barrel bombing.

Local sources said that cluster and phosphorus rockets were dropped by helicopters. There were as many as eight explosive barrels dropped onto the residential neighbourhood causing civilian casualties.

According to @haifaa_ahmad1, March 13th saw an “increase shelling with explosive barrels from the helicopter. Fourteen barrels were dropped, in addition to intensive artillery shelling with than 20 shells on residential neighbourhoods in the city since the morning until this moment.”

@syrianscene noted that “many civilians were injured in the targeting of civilian houses in the town of Hamuoria by Assad’s forces”.

Meanwhile, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported “the fall of martyrs and wounded civilians as a result of raids by the Russian warplanes on the cities and towns of Douma and Harsta and Kafrbna and bridges and Zamalek and Hamuria in Ghouta”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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]

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
    1 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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]