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

RS3666

Incident date

May 6, 2019

Location

شنان, Shnan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child and a woman were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes near Al Tawhid mosque in the middle of Shnan village on May 6th, 2019, according to local sources. An unknown number of civilians was wounded.

Warplanes fired missiles near Al Tawhid Mosque in the middle of Shnan village in Jabal al-Zawiyeh south of Idlib, according to sources on the ground. The missiles reportedly damaged the mosque and killed two internally displaced civilians from Damascus; a child and a woman. An unknown number of others were reported wounded. Local sources claimed the attack was carried out with rockets.

Step and Baladi were among sources reporting the death of “a mother and her child”, while other sources only reported the death of a child. @EuphratesPost reported an unknown number of injured civilians.

Baladi News wrote that “a woman and her child were martyred, and several civilians were wounded by shelling, after targeting the farms surrounding the town of Shnan in Idlib countryside.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the building and furniture of the Al Tawhid mosque were partially damaged. Several sources reported that the incident took place around dawn or in the morning.

Whereas most sources pointed to Russia as the responsible belligerents, others reported that the Syrian regime had attacked the village.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

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

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Shanan, south of Idlib on May 5th (via Euphrates Post).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: “The martyrdom of the first child and the injury of others injured with the entry of the month of Ramadan as a result of raids by Russian warplanes with space rockets on the village of Shnan in Jabal al-Zawia shortly before” (via @EuphratesPost).

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2902

Incident date

January 16, 2018

Location

معرشمارين, Mar Shmareen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.615999, 36.720922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed, including one adult male, and several others were wounded in airstrikes which hit the vicinity of Mar Shmareenin Maarat al Nuuman, according to local media. All sources reported that Russian warplanes were to blame for the raids. However VDC reported that “Syrian government and affiliated militias” were to blame.

Sources were reported that “several” civilians were wounded, however no specific figures were reported.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleem Ahmad Saleem al-Ali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the aircraft which struck Mar Shmareen, 16th Jan 2018. (via Step News Agency)

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
    2
  • (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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS305

Incident date

December 23, 2015

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians – one woman and one female child – were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that two victims – a female child and a woman – died when Russian warplanes allegedly fired missiles on Hayyan, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “Russian warplanes went in 6 airstrikes on Hreta, Hayan, al-Mallah, and Asia areas in the northern countryside what killed a woman and a child.”

The Shaam News Network also reported death and wounded by as a result of attacks by Russian planes but did not state numbers killed and injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kawthar Haj Ibraheem
Adult female killed
Qamar Sharraq al-Zait
Child male killed

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
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hayyan (حيان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.32417, 37.05886. 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 December 18th-23rd 2016, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces… In Aleppo province, a Su-34 bomber made a strike on a command centre of one of the Ahrar ash-Sham illegal armed groups uncovered by UAVs. Direct hit on the building occupied by terrorists completely destroyed the facility.”

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
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2924

Incident date

January 20, 2018

Location

بجخاص, Bejghas, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.802778, 36.897647 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on Bejghas, according to local media. Both sources reported that Russia was to blame for the strikes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2940

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

مصطفى الشيخ, Mustafa Sheikh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.519135, 36.552968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as two civilians were killed and others were injured in airstrikes on Mustafa Sheikh, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids.

There is confusion over whether one adult male died or one child. No sources point to two civilian deaths, however some sources differed while reporting the age of the victim.

Additionally, local media reported that “others” were wounded, however this was unspecified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Iyad Ibraheem Bsais
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an airstrike struck Mustafa Sheikh, 28th Jan 2018. (via Ibrahim Zaydan)
  • Iyad Ibraheem Bsais, killed in airstrikes on Mustafa Sheikh, 28th Jan 2018. (via Osama Al Na’ssan)

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 child1 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS625

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and between 12 and 20 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra, according to local sources.

VDC named the victims, as did Syria Martrys who blamed a Russian strike. According to M_alhameeed one non-combatant died and 20 more were injured in Russian raids on the city.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Abdulrahman al Qayem
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abdul Rhman Khaled Ali Al Minshar
Adult male Listed by VDC, died from his wounds killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Adnan Abdulrahman al Qayem, supposedly killed in the attack. (via, Palmyra News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS657

Incident date

February 22, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians died in a raid on Palymra according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Syria Mirror mentioned Russian shelling on the city, but didn’t provide any further details.

The Syrian Human Rights Center named two victims.

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, Mohammed Al-Ghrayib died from injuries sustained in “regime shelling”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hassan Fawaz el Qayem
Age unknown male from Palmyra – he died from wounds “sustained two days ago by the shelling of the city”
Mohamed Mahmoud el Ghareeb
Age unknown male from Palmyra – killed “by the Russian bombing of the city some days ago”

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 (8) [ 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 from February 17th – February 29th.

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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS721

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her teenage son died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local sources.

The victims were named by Halab News – who blamed Russia – as Anas Ahmad Khatib and Fatima Khatib. Two additional sources, Allairamon Today and Anas Naif, also named them and said that Russia was responsible for their deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatima Khatib
Adult female killed
Anas Ahmad Khatib
Child male Son of Fatima Khatib killed

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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "God's mercy be upon you cousins. Martyrdom of Anas Ahmad Khatib and his mother due to Russian pounding (...) (via Anas Naif Facebook page)

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 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 (4) [ collapse]