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

RS2355

Incident date

July 20, 2017

Location

غنيمان, Ghneiman, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties, including children, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Ghneiman.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • 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

CS1316a RS2379

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

الخميسية, Al-Khamesiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.764585, 39.564181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A “number” of civilians were killed and wounded in an airstrike in al Khamissiya, east of Raqqa City – though it was not clear who was responsible. Some sources attributed responsibility to the Coalition, some to Russia and some to Assad’s regime.

Raqqa24 reported that there was “mass destruction” in al Khamissiya from Coalition aircraft – they did not however report any civilian harm.

The only known source that mentioned any allegations of civilian harm was Sound and Picture who stated that “a number of civilians were killed and wounded in Russian raids on a camp in the village”.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights placed blame on joint Russian forces and regime operations. They reported:

“Russian warplanes and aircraft of the regime carried out dozens of strikes with rockets and explosive barrels targeting the city of Muadan and the villages of Al-Khamisiyah, Jaber and Qubba al-Buhamd”.

Explosive barrels are weapons that are known to be used by Assad’s regime.

It was not clear how many civilians were killed or wounded in the attack.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ 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 specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

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.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV511575
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020
  • Aug. 1, 2017, in Al Khamesiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3140/CS1316a 37SEV511575

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 10 engagements against
ISIS targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed three ISIS well-heads.
• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS oil refinery.
• Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting
positions, two ISIS headquarters, an IED, an ammunition cache, and a fuel supply point.

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
  • 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, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2802

Incident date

December 17, 2017

Location

تل الطوقان, Tal Al-Toukan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.821223, 36.952171 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that two civilians were wounded in airstrikes which hit Tal Al-Toukan. All three sources blamed Moscow.

Step News Agency reported an unspecific number of “civilian casualties” – which could be dead civilians – however they were the only source to report this.

One local source reported rocket fire was used.

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
    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

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.


Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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

RS152

Incident date

November 15, 2015

Location

التمانعة, At Tamani'ah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed, and two men travelling with her badly injured when alleged Russian warplanes struck a car carrying displaced people on the road leading to Al Tamaanah in Idlib governorate. One of the men may later have died.

Smart News has published an interview with an eyewitness: “At 09:30 this morning exactly an air raid by Russian planes targeted the eastern road from al Taman’a hitting a civilian car carrying a woman and two other people which led to the death of the woman and the injury of the two men. One of the men lost his foot, and the other one lost his hand and had a neck injury. Here are the effects of the hit, it was a Sukhoi 93.”

“The Free Syrian Army reported that “In al Taman’a south Russian fighter jets carried out two air raids targeting with one of them a civilian car on the main road which led to the martyrdom of two people and the wounding of one other. Russian planes continue to circle the skies.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Remains of a vehicle after alleged Russian strike near x, 15th November (via SNN)
  • Civil Defense Altmanah recovered the martyrs and the wounded after the raid of the Russian aviation
  • In this video Al Jazeera report two incident and this includes the incident in At Tamani'ah which led to killing women and injured two men.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no details of its Syria airstrikes for the period November 13th-16th 2015 inclusive.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS185

Incident date

November 21, 2015

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.89044, 36.0399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two named civilians were killed in an alleged Russian and also claimed that the Assad regime was responsible for the attack on Da’ara Street in Nawa, Da’ara governorate.

The Violation Documentation Center in Syria named the two victims, and they were both from Kafr Shams.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed

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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged regime strikes on Nawa, Nov 21st (via ShaamNetwork S.N.N)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A photo of the corpse of Yehya al-Sadi (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia confirmed the following for November 21st-23rd 2015: “Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have performed 141 combat sorties engaging 472 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah, and Deir ez-Zor.” It made no mention of strikes in Da’ara.

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 (12) [ collapse]

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:

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

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]