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
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS2386

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Location

ابو شهري, Abo Shahri, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and son were killed in airstrikes on Abo Shahri and the countryside in the surrounding vicinity. There were no reports of wounded civilians. 

All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes.

According to Baladi “Russian aircraft and aircraft launched intensive raids, targeting the town (Ma’adan) with rockets and explosive bombs, as well as targeting the eastern countryside about 100 air strikes.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Qais al-Khalaf al-Harami
Adult male father killed
Tamim Qais al-Harami
male son killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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

RS2962

Incident date

February 1, 2018

Location

الخواري, Al-Khawari, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

35.908657, 36.923332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Al Latamna Youth Group reported that alleged Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes in Al-Khawari, Aleppo, resulting in “martyrs and wounded civilians”.

Currently, no further information is 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2492

Incident date

September 22, 2017

Location

بنين الدير الشرقي, Banin and al Deir al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.711012, 36.640349 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian strikes on Banin and al Deir al Sharqi. Most sources said that missiles had been fired on Banin from Russian battleships.

Khaled al Waleed and Adam.sy said that three civilians had been wounded.

According to HNN, there were “martyrs and wounded in shelling by Russian battleships” – but the source didn’t provide numbers.

Violations Documentation Centre reported that a man died from his injures three days later. He was reportedly from from Deir al-Sharqi town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Khalaf al Hamoud
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Intensive air raids, believed to be Russian, targeted the towns of Kafarnabal, Deir al-Sharqi, Hass and Kafr Sajna"
  • Translation: "Watch a Russian air strike targeting the outskirts of the town of al Deir al Sharqi in southern countryside Idlib"

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
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS265

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

سبع و اربعين, Saba’a wa Arba’een, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.0811704, 40.6566453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian attack by helicopters on southern rural villages of Hassaka, according to Siraj Al Hasskawi, an activist from the region.

Hasskawi noted that if the helicopters proved to be Russian then this would be the first raid in the area since the announcement of Russian strikes.

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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russian position: Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3717

Incident date

May 26, 2019

Location

سفوهن, Sfwhen, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were reportedly killed in an airstrike on Sfwhen, Idlib, on May 26th.

Syrian Network for Human Rights claimed that “two civilians from the same family” were killed in the strikes, while Halab Today TV stated that “a young man was killed” in the attack.

Local Coordination Committees of Syria identified one of the victims as Muhammad Maarouf Al-Ismail, while Syrian Human Rights Committee said that a woman, Feryal Al-Ismail, was also killed in this incident.

While Syria.liveuamap did not positively attribute blame, referring to “cluster ammunition bombardment and air raids” on the town, two sources attributed the strike to the Syrian regime. Syrian Civil Defense made reference to the “Russian occupation of the cities and towns of rural Idlib,” as well as regime forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhammad Maarouf Al-Ismail محمد معروف الاسماعيل
male killed
Feryal Al-Ismael فريال الاسماعيل
female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civilian casualty as a result of the May 26th airstrike on Sfwhen, Idlib (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • Civilians and SCD volunteers gathered in the aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • Civilians gathering in the aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • A SCD volunteer on duty in the aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • An image taken in the aftermath of an airstrike on Sfwhen on May 26th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).

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
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS297

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

الشيخ مقصود, Sheikh Maqsod (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.236126, 37.150049 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians were reported killed and nine injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Maqsod, according to the Shaam News Network. SNN reported that Russian warplanes launched several raids which came after the signing of a ceasefire between  rebels and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units.

However all other sources blamed the Assad regime. Ana Press noted: “Regime aircraft this afternoon targeted the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood of Aleppo, killing two people and wounding others. The event is the first of its kind in two years, as the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood has not been subjected to shelling, or airstrikes – not even from the Russian planes, which intervened in the region recently, since the neighbourhood has for several years been under the control of Kurdish factions in the city of Aleppo.”

Hawar News also blamed the regime, saying that barrel bombs had killed three civilians including an unborn child. It named the dead as Adnan Sabri Jawish aged 56 years and 20-year old Silvana Mustafa who was pregnant.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Sabri Jawish
56 years old named by Hawar News killed
Silvana Mustafa
20 years old female pregnant named by Hawar News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Sheikh Maqsod following airstrikes on December 21st 2015. (via, Ana Press)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
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.”

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 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS329

Incident date

December 29, 2015

Location

الشيخ مسكين‎, Sheikh Miskeen, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.827948, 36.158664 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult civilian men named as Abdullateef Abdul Ghani al-Omari (pictured) and Kamal Al Khaswan were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Miskeen.

Smart News said the air raids were linked to a major ground offensive: “Russian occupation planes carried out dozens of air strikes on Tuesday morning at Sheikh Miskeen in the Dara’a countryside, in an attempt to provide air cover for the forces of al-Assad and his militias, which are trying to break into the city. Our reporter quotes the Syrian Commission for the Media as saying that Russian planes carried out 18 raids this morning targeting neighborhoods of the city, which led to massive destruction to homes and infrastructure, though there were no reports of injuries as yet.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullateef Abdul Ghani al-Omari
Adult male killed
Kamal Al Khaswan
Adult male killed

Summary

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

  • Abdullateef Abdul Ghani al-Omari, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 28th-30th 2015, Russa has stated that “In the course of last two days, since December 28, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 121 combat sorties engaging 424 terrorists’ objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Daraa, Raqqah and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS681

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

“Several” civilians were killed when Russian warplanes allegedly “carried out raids on the towns of Hraytan, Anadan, Kafr Hamra, MA’arat al Arteek and the region of Assiya,” according to the Shaam News Network.

The Violations Documentation Centre reported a man died from injuries sustained by Russian shelling on Hraytan. It did not mention a date but this is the closest known incident.

Multiple sources said Russia carried out strikes on Hraytan, though some others didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. According to Micro Syria, one civilian died and “a number” more were wounded.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussain Rahmo Abdulrahman "Hourah"
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (36) [ 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.

Summary

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