Russian Military in Syria

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

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS1675

Incident date

November 24, 2016

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

Local media reported that airstrikes (possibly also artillery) struck an area near a school in the city of Hamouriya, Damascus, killing and injuring several civilians, including a high number of children. Reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Several civilians (between one and two) were reportedly killed by the strikes. LCCSY reported that: “a child was martyred following Russian raids with vacuum missiles on the town of Hamouriya in eastern Ghouta.”

As many as 12 civilians were reportedly wounded. @abomaherdomair put the number at 10, most them children, adding that an airstrike hit a residential building “near children’s schools”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights named the school as Basheer Abdul Jawad Primary School. The source added that the building was “rendered inoperable” following the strikes.

Al-Jazeera’s correspondent reported “two dead and dozens wounded in an air and artillery bombardment by Syrian regime forces on the cities and towns of Douma and Kafr Batna and Harsta in the countryside of Damascus.” The source added that the bombing hit a primary school “after the exit of students, causing great destruction”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of an injured, or killed, civilian, which was associated with the contested strikes targeting Hamouriya, Damascus (via @Baraa_Abdul tweet)
  • The immediate aftermath in the city of Hamouriya, Damascus, after being hit by the contested airstrikes (via Ahmad aldemashqi)
  • The contested strikes targeting the city of Hamouriya, Damascus, reportedly killed and wounded several children (via @abuyassrhomms tweet)
  • The contested strikes inflicted heavy damage on the city of Hamouriya, Damascus, (via @Qasioun News Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The contested strikes targeting the city of Hamouriya, Damascus, reportedly killed and wounded several children (via @abomaherdomair tweet)
  • The Civil Defence rescuing wounded civilians from under the rubble following the strikes, that struck the city of Hamouriya, Damascus (via @SyriaCivilDefetweet)
  • Basheer Abdul Jawad Primary School in Hamoria, Damascus was reportedly hit by the contested airstrikes and was left completely destroyed (via SN4HR)

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1556

Incident date

November 9, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى , Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed, and several more wounded, in alleged Russian airstrikes which struck Urma al Kubra, Aleppo. Most sources attributed the blame to Russian warplanes, others did not identify who was responsible. 

The majority of sources said that cluster bombs were used during the raid, with @shahed_alep reporting the sighting of rocket propelled grenade launchers.

Additionally, Alwan News reported that “Russian fighter jets carried out a massive bombardment with cluster bombs and phosphorus shells” on many villages including Urma al Kubra. 

Footage published by Thiaq News Agency shows the raids to have occurred at night, with no specific time reported by any sources.

The incident occured during the night.

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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the exact moment an alleged Russian airstrike struck Urma al Kubra, 9th November 2016. (via Thiqa News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces had carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2005

Incident date

March 22, 2017

Location

الطيبات, Al Taibat, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.805, 36.27791 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and others wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Taibat, Idlib – according to local media sources.

Smart News reported that two “unknown people” were killed in the attack. This was corroborated by both LCCSY and Syrian Network for Human Rights, both of whom reported that Russian warplanes were responsible for the attack.

Syrian Network for Human Rights later reported that one of the civilians killed was a media activist “from Mazzin village in al Akrad Mountain, Latakia governorate, eastern suburbs, born in 1995″.

Several sources mention a number of civilians being wounded, but none indicate exactly how many.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

22 years old male killed

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 attackers
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Hadi Emad Bekdash, a media activist, was killed in an airstrike on Al Taibat - March 22nd, 2017. (Via: SN4HR).

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between March 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 attackers
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2152

Incident date

April 21, 2017

Location

الركايا, Rakaya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.501782, 36.577313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed and as many as seven more were wounded – including women and children – in an alleged Russian airstrike on Rakaya, local media reported. Two out of three sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid, while Kaes Idlby did not attribute any blame. 

According to Syria Mirror, residential areas and “vital centres” were caught up in the bombardment and partially destroyed.

Rocket propelled grenade launchers and cluster bombs were reportedly used in the raid.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an airstrike hit Rakaya, 21st April 2017. (via Kaes Idlby)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

RS1988

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Location

سوحا, Soha village, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two people were killed and a further two were injured in what was ‘likely’ a Russian airstrike in Soha village in eastern Hama Governorate on March 19th 2017, according to one local source, the Smart News Agency. The attack was reportedly carried out within ISIS territory, and killed a man and his wife – and wounded two members of ISIS

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–1 women0–1 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–1 women0–1 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Incident Code

RS2195

Incident date

April 28, 2017

Location

خربة قيس, Kherbit Qais village, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.0387, 36.52418 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and a child died following alleged Russian airstrikes in the village of Kherbit Qais in eastern Idlib, according to sources on the ground.

Warplanes launched two raids at dawn, according to local sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (6) [ 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)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2318

Incident date

July 3, 2017

Location

الطابية جزيرة, Tabiya Jazera, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.279167, 40.311111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and another five were wounded as alleged Russian warplanes carried out an air raid on an oil refinery in the village of Tabiya Al-Jazyra, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

All sources reported that the two victims were working at the oil refinery and that the strike was carried out by Russia. For instance, Smart News Agency cited an activist on the ground who said that the “warplanes were likely to be Russian”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

RS3597

Incident date

March 9, 2019

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that one child died and five members of his family were wounded in alleged regime or Russian artillery or airstrikes on Saraqeb. Additionally, an adult male was also reported killed on this day.

According to Halab Today TV, “since yesterday [March 9th], the city of Idlib has been subjected to Russian air strikes targeting medical facilities including Al-Hayat Hospital, and the blood bank [and emergency services] in the city of Sarqib. Civil defense centres and residential areas have also been attacked”.

@yasinaboraed reported a strike by both the regime and Russian on a civil defense centre, while @gH8ytDcQWj5RrrY noted that “planes destroyed the obstetric hospital in Saraqib” – and that casualties were expected. A report by Amnesty (below) also noted these attacks on vital medical facilities.

According to @YusufAd37777161, the family of the dead child (Ahmed Mahmoud Ameen) were originally “from the town of Al Nahla near the city of Jericho” and had then moved to Saraqeb. Five of them were wounded; Ahmed himself died.

A number of other sources said that a lawyer, named Hussein Al Dahir Abu Yamen, was also killed – and blamed rockets and artillery fire.

Amnesty reported on this latest incident – and the ongoing bombardment of the area: “In Saraqeb, on 9 March, Syrian government forces dropped four munitions in an aerial attack that struck al-Hayat hospital, a blood bank, an ambulance response unit, and Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets – all located within 100 meters of each other – according to four witnesses.

“The witnesses said that the explosions caused serious damage to the structures and injured a staff member from the ambulance response unit. The al-Hayat hospital was shut down after the attack and patients in critical condition were transferred to other nearby hospitals while others were sent home, residents said.

“Witnesses told Amnesty International that two civilians – a 25-year-old man and a child – were killed on the same day in aerial attacks on residential neighbourhoods around 150 meters away from another field hospital. They said the escalation in attacks on residential and other civilian buildings in the past few weeks had displaced half of the population to the outskirts of Saraqeb into the farming fields or close to the border with Turkey.”

The UN Commission of Inquiry referenced events in Saraqib  on this date in its September 2019 report:

“For example, on 9 March, between approximately 6.40 and 8.30 p.m., government forces carried out an aerial attack in northern Saraqib, launching four missiles, which caused damage to Al-Hayat women’s and children’s hospital, a blood bank and an ambulance response unit providing services to approximately 80,000 residents. Al-Hayat hospital was included in the United Nations deconfliction mechanism and the pro-government forces were aware of its coordinates at the time of the attack. One witness described that, at around 6.40 p.m., a first missile struck a residential area in the vicinity of the hospital, killing one man and one girl. Minutes later, a second missile hit a blood bank in northern Saraqib, located some 300 metres from Al-Hayat hospital, damaging vital equipment and medical supplies and rendering the building unusable for at least four days.

Approximately 20 minutes later, in anticipation of further attacks, patients at Al-Hayat hospital were transferred to an underground shelter, in which they remained for 30 minutes before being evacuated. During the evacuation, between 7.00 and 8.00 p.m., a third missile struck the main entrance of Al-Hayat hospital, damaging a generator and vital medical equipment. Some 15 to 30 minutes later, a fourth missile struck an ambulance response unit located less than 1 kilometre from Al-Hayat hospital, damaging its walls and windows and injuring a male staff member (see annex II for a detailed description of a series of other attacks).”

The incident occured at 18:40:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Child male killed
Adult male injured
Adult female injured

The victims were named as:

25-30 years old male Reportedly a lawyer killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the aftermath of an alleged regime strike on Saraqeb March 9th.
  • 'Photos from the city of Sarakib after being targeted by the war planes and the martyrdom of a child.' (via @IdlibPlus)
  • 'Photos from the city of Sarakib after being targeted by the war planes and the martyrdom of a child.' (via @IdlibPlus)
  • 'Photos from the city of Sarakib after being targeted by the war planes and the martyrdom of a child.' (via @IdlibPlus)
  • 'Photos from the city of Sarakib after being targeted by the war planes and the martyrdom of a child.' (via @IdlibPlus)
  • 'The moment when the Assad regime and the Russians bombed the headquarters of the Civil Defense in Saraqib.'
  • 'Moments of the bombing of Russian air space missiles on the city of Saraqib in the eastern suburb of Idlib'
  • A child killed in a strike on Saraqeb, Mar 9th. The image was originally published by the now suspended twitter account @ss678xTx. However, Airwars has archived the picture.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic image of the child Ahmed Mahmoud Ameen, killed in shelling on Saraqeb, March 9th. Five members of this family were reportedly wounded in the same strike.
  • Ahmed Mahmoud Ameen
  • The obstetric hospital in Saraqib, reportedly destroyed by Russian and regime warplanes on a March 9th (via @gH8ytDcQWj5RrrY)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded children from Ahmed Mahmoud Ameen's family - and the dead body of Ahmed Mahmoud Ameen.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'Blood of martyrs, March 9th, Saraqib'
  • Smoke over Saraqeb, March 9th, following a strike.
  • Footage showing destruction in Saraqeb following the March 9th strikes.
  • Hussein Yamen al Daher, a lawyer, killed in alleged regime shelling on Saraqeb, March 9th (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of a strike on al Hayat Women and Obstetrics Hospital, Saraqeb Emergency System, the blood bank, March 9th (via SN4HR)
  • The body of Ahmed Mahmoud Ameen (via SN4HR)

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
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]