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

RS1969

Incident date

March 14, 2017

Location

ديرحافر , Deir Hafer, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.151494, 37.707842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians died and were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime strike on Deir Hafer, according to local media.

The Shaam News Network and LCCSY pointed to Russia, as did the Step News Agency who said that “several surface rockets” were used in the attack.

However, Aljazeera reported that “Syrian regime planes targeted the cities of Deir Hafer and the residents of the countryside of east Aleppo with number of air raids”.

 

 

 

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
    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]

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
    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

RS2184

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

سرجة,, Sarja village, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

‘Intensive air raids’ allegedly conducted by Russian warplanes resulted in the deaths of two sisters and wounded three other civilians in Sarja on the 27th April 2017, according to sources on the ground.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “The girls Aisha and Maryam Idris al Ashqar, from Sarja village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, were killed when suspected Russian warplanes fired missiles on the village on April 27, 2017.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child female killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (11) [ 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
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2412

Incident date

August 29, 2017

Location

عياش, Aayash, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.42022, 40.05303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians, hereof at least one woman, were killed and several more were wounded, local media reported, following alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes hitting the town of Ayyash, Deir Ezzor.

The female victim was identified by name by several sources and @Soheb Al-Haskawi added that she was the wife of Salem Rajwan. One source, JFLngo reported the death of two people following the strikes.

Additionally, most sources reported the use of cluster bombs. Jsirtv, for example, said  that “a woman was killed in the village of Ayyash in the western suburb of Deir al-Azur in an aerial bombardment of cluster bombs by the Russian occupation airliner”.

The majority of the sources agreed that Russia was behind the strikes, however, JFLngo reported that the strikes were carried out by the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Luaiba al-Fundi
Age unknown female wife of Salem Rajwan killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ 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 August 1st - 31st 2017.

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
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R1346b

Incident date

October 18, 2016

Location

قرية جديد عكيدات , Jadid Akeidat village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to Syria News Desk, “two civilians were killed and 12 others wounded, including three paramedics when Russian warplanes struck  residential sites and the only field hospital in the village of Jadid Ekadat”.

At least two other sources also blamed Russia for the event.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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

RS2472

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

عطشان, A'tshan, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.406297, 36.823819 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two nurses died following intensive strikes on the Shamna medical organisation in the village of A’tshan, according to local sources.

The attacks were attributed to both Russian and Syrian forces by different media outlets.

Both nurses were killed when bombs struck an ambulance near the village, activists told Smart News.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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]

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
  • 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

RS127

Incident date

November 7, 2015

Location

كفر جوم, Kafr Joum, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.11127, 36.95655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were reported killed and a number injured in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on the Al Dairi fabrics factory in Kafr Joum, Aleppo, according to the White Helmets and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The White Helmets reported that Russian warplanes had carried out several raids targeting the factory, leading to widespread destruction and a massive fire which teams from Aleppo worked to put out. The civil defence force sad the strike caused the death of several civilians working in the factory.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights did not report any deaths but said some factory employees were injured, adding that the factory had put out of service due to a fire which also burnt out several vehicles.

The factory had represented “the largest source of employment in rural Aleppo down to Idlib” according to Syria Direct, which said 13 civilian workers injured in a strike it attributed to “regime aircraft.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A member of the White Helmets attempts to put out a fire in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on the Al Dairi fabrics factory, Aleppo, Nov 7th (via White Helmets)
  • the aftermath image of an alleged Russian airstrike on the Al Dairi fabrics factory.
  • a video shows the fire in Al - Diri Textile Factory in Aleppo, Western Aleppo

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2854

Incident date

January 6, 2018

Location

مديرا , Madyra, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.544613, 36.3861 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Madyra in Damascus, according to local media.

Syrian Reporter and Alghad-alsoury put the death toll at two.

According to Shaam, “Al-Assad and Russian planes targeted civilian houses deliberately and directly in the eastern towns and villages of Al-Ghouta early morning [Jan 6th]”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male VDC blamed "Syrian government and its affiliated militias" killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (14) [ 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
    1 – 2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS159

Incident date

November 17, 2015

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A seven-year-old boy was reported killed and five of his family members injured, following an alleged Russian airstrike at Kafr Halab or nearby. A second child may also have died.

Location reporting for this event remains confused. Chicken sheds were reported destroyed and civilian deaths alleged at Kafr Halab; near Kafr Daryan; and in the Regiment 46 area.

Providing some detail, media activist Abu Ayyub Al Safrani told the Syrian News Desk that “Russian warplanes targeted a chicken shed inhabited by displaced families from the countryside south of Aleppo, killing a seven-year-old boy and injuring five members of his family.” Some were taken to Turkey for treatment due to the seriousness of their injuries he said.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense - Khan Shikhun Center directed a young man from the rubble as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reports carrying out cruise missile strikes in Aleppo governorate on November 17th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]