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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
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Incident Code

RS835

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died in an airstrike on Saraqib, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

LCCSY put the death toll at two, blaming Russian vacuum missiles.

Activists told the Shaam News Network that two warplanes hit Saraqib with six strikes using cluster bombs killing one civilian and injuring dozens more – though the source did not identify the warplanes responsible.

According to Smart, Russia carried out three raids with cluster bombs and rockets, striking a hospital and a school.

Syriannews desk said that Russia carried out six raids.

However, Alfkr4 and Arabi21 blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Raids on Saraqib with cluster bombs kills a civilian and wounded many others" (Youtube via Amjad bakir)
  • Documentation of cluster bombs, allegedly used by Regime warplanes on Saraqib (via Arabi21)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS964

Incident date

July 1, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Heavy airstrikes on Hraytan – which local sources blamed on either Russian planes or Syrian regime helicopters – killed two named children. According to the Syrian Observatory the town was also attacked with artillery.

One local source, Syrian Press Center, said that “Russia and the regime carried out 40 raids, and threw 30 explosive barrels, 45 gas cylinders, and more than 200 artillery rounds and missiles in Hraytan.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Shahad Ahmad al Hilou
15 years old killed
Mohammad Ahmad al Hillou
11 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage of a missile strike on the city of Hraytan (via hretancity)
  • Photos of strikes hitting the city of Hraytan (via @sweat_1111)

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.

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 children)
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS996

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an airstrike which was reported to be both Russia and the Syrian regime, one child was alleged killed. The incident took place in Kafra Hamra.

The Syrian Newsdesk blamed Russia for “five raids” which not only killed a child, but also left 12 “seriously wounded”. Syrian Pulse, however, reported that there were more than 15 Russian raids on the area.

A pro-regime news page claimed that Russia carried out “more than 200 raids in Kafr Hamra, Hraytan, Hayan, Anadan and Asia”. Another pro-regime news page added to the list with “Kafr Hamra, Hor, Babis and Maarat Al Arteek” and also openly blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

Halab Today and other local news sources reported explosive barrels were thrown down by helicopters – a weapon known to be used by the regime.

Syriatwitte put the death toll at two and also documented the use of explosive barrels.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Haj Ibrahim
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Helicopters with explosive barrels targeted Kafr Hamra in the Northern countryside of Aleppo on July 12th 2016, killing a child. (via. Shero_Alo on twitter)
  • Footage of material destructiuon in Kafr Hamra, in addition to scenes of child victims recieving medical treatment following suspected Russian and Regime strikes (Youtube via Thiqa)
  • Buildings in part demolished by alleged warplanes in Kafr Hamra (via Step)
  • A plume of smoke rises from the scene in Kafr Hamra where alleged Russian and Regime warplanes attacked (via Step)
  • Suspected warplanes attack in Kafr Hamra (Tweet by @Step_Agency)
  • Footage of a news programme in which host reports of civilian death in Kafr Hamra (Youtube by Jisrtv)
  • The White Helmets bury the child Ibrahim Haj Ibrahim after he was killed in alleged warplane attacks on Kafr Hamra (via Aleppo White Helmets) [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.

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
    10–12
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3113

Incident date

March 25, 2018

Location

حوش الصالحية, Hawsh Al Salihya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

34.7133253, 40.7575607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that an unspecific number of civilians were killed and wounded in air and artillery strikes on Hawsh Al Salihya, local media reported. The source blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

Activists said the “raids were accompanied by rocket and artillery bombardment and the explosive barrel of the regime’s forces.”

There are 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ 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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4057

Incident date

August 20, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

35.6477913, 36.6591881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a child, were reported killed in airstrikes on Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, on August 20th.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee documented the death of Rami al-Jarak as a result of Russian bombing of the city of Ma’arat al-Numan.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that “two men” were killed “in a Russian airstrike on the city of Maaret al-Nu’man”.

Meanwhile, Step News reported “the Russian bombing of a young man and a girl” in Maaret al-Nu’man, and the “extraction [of] four alive people from the rubble, including two children.”

A tweet from @baladinetwork identified civilians as being injured in the airstrikes and @MasarPressNet reported “others wounded”.

A tweet from @5gP1Jkp586yOnsP alleged that Russian warplanes used “high-explosive missiles” on the city of Ma’arat Al Nu’man and a tweet from @wseemalkade identifies barrel bombs as being used. A video posted by @FSLA2011 shows the moment that the airstrikes were launched, which occurs during the nighttime, and in the video you can hear the explosion from the impact. @mhamad_hamod tweeted that the sounds from the explosion would be heard in the far north of Idlib.

All sources attributed the attack to Russian forces or did not identify who was to blame.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Rami al-Jarak
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1173

Incident date

August 20, 2016

Location

Adwan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.885938, 36.503749 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or more civilians including two women died and up to 50 more were wounded when cluster bombs were dropped on Adwan, local media reported.

The majority of the sources – LCCSY, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and ENN – blamed the regime.

Idlib City News put the death toll at one, but most sources said two people died. According to SN4HR, both fatalities were women.

ENN was among several sources that said as many as 50 non-combatants were wounded.

However, SMC and Baladi blamed Russia for dropping the cluster munitions.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dalal Mohammed Saad
Age unknown female named by VDC killed
Ahmed Al-Futtaim Kurdi
Age unknown female named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded children receive medical care following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Adwan. (via, Baladi-news)

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 August 20th – 31st 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
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1303

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

جزمتي, Jazmati neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196287, 37.199106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, LCCSY, reported an unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Jazmati neighbourhood.

@naifaleidi and @HalabTodayTV also reported Russian strike on Jazmati but made no mention of civilian harm.

No further details are currently available.

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 attackers
    Russian Military, 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
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1465

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and five more were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Sukkari neighbourhood, according local media.Halab News put the death toll at one and blamed Russia. Smo-sy and @ALAMAWI were among other sources that attributed the event to Moscow.

The Smart News Agency reported that “two civilians died and five others were wounded Sunday morning [Aug 16th] in an air strike on the al-Sukki neighborhood in Aleppo, according to activists from Smart.”

A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplane responsible for the attack.

Radio Harafm commented that civilians were burned and trapped under the rubble suggesting fires were involved. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (12) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

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