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

RS2194

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Step News Agency, “a woman was killed and several of her children injured following Russian raid targeting Kafr Zita in northern countryside of Hama.”

The Violations Documentation Centre also named one woman as killed by Russian forces.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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

RS2187

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

الركايا, al Rakaya village, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.501782, 36.577313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians – ‘mostly children’ –  were reportedly wounded in an airstrike on Al-Rakaya in Idlib Governorate on the 27th of April 2017. It is unclear which belligerent was responsible for the strike, as some sources blamed Russia while one other blamed the Syrian regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Civilians were wounded in Russian raids on the village of Rikaya and the outskirts of the village of Marzita in the countryside of Idlib'
  • Wounded children following an alleged Russian airstrike on al Rakaya village, April 27th (via SN4HR)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

RS2179

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

البارة, Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.68599, 36.54239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in al Bara, Idlib, according to a local media source.

Whilst other sources have reported that Russian warplanes conducted a strike in al Bara on this day, only one mentioned civilian harm.

Edlib Media Centre reported “wounded fall as a result of the targeting of the outskirts of the town of Idlib by Russian” warplanes.

It was not clear how many civilians were injured as a result of the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2188

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

التمانعة, al Taman’a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed and one other was wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Tamana in Idlib Governorate on the 27th of April 2017, according to local media.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

RS2177

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.555418, 36.573707 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma’ar Zita, Idlib, according to local media sources. 

The Shamna medical point was struck and four of the medical staff were killed, Halab Today reported.

There was a second strike after the hospital was struck, according to Al Jazeera. They reported that “Russian aircraft re-targeted the point again after the arrival of the ambulance and civil defence teams, leaving four of the ambulance crew dead”.

Ten others were wounded in the attack, Arab48 reported.

The medical point was rendered inoperable after the strike and eight ambulances were Nseverely damaged.

Two of the dead – an ambulance driver and a nurse – were killed in the second strike as they were trying to evacuate victims from the previous strike, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported.

The incident occured at 07:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
33 years old male Ambulance driver from Kafr Nabouda killed
24 years old male Nurse from Hama City killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Assad and Russia raid was quick this time, shelling civilians in Idlib and systematic targeting of medical centers in Marzita, now out of service.
  • Translation: watch aerial bombing targeting the medical point in the town of #Marzita in the countryside of #Idlib which lead to its destruction.
  • Translation: The death of four members of medical staff and the injury of others, as well as the destruction of the medical point in the town of #Ma'arzita in the countryside #Idlib as a result of aerial bombardment.
  • Translation: Russian warplanes launched air strikes centered on the medical point in the village of Marzita rural Idlib southern, the air strike wounded a number of civilians. Russian fighter jets also targeted the civil defense vehicles that were trying to rescue the people who were injured by the Russian air raids.
  • Translation: The military hospital of Deir al-Sharqiyah - the medical point burned in the town of Ma'arzita, rural Idlib.
  • Translation: Russian aviation targeted the Shamna medical point on the outskirts of the village of Marzita, leaving 4 martyrs and many casualties among the medical staff and the civil defense teams.
  • Translation: Double airstrikes targeted a medical point "shamna", near Kefrnabl in #Idlib countryside leaving 4 dead and puts it out of service. Big fires & destroyed fire vehicle during the work of civil defence teams.
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • Satellite imagery of the location of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • A wounded child in an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. (Via: SN4HR)
  • Saleh Rahmoun, born in 1984, an ambulance driver from Kafr Nabouda, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma'ar Zita, 27 April 2017. Via: SN4HR

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.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2189

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafr Sajna, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5261134, 36.5813398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes killed between one and two civilians and injured two others in Kafr Sanja in Idlib Governorate on the 27th of April. Multiple sources reported that one of the martyrs was a child, and one source identified the other civilian killed as the child’s father.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 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.

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 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.

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2185

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were reportedly wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sarmin in Idlib Governorate on the 27th of April 2017, according to local media.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was among the majority of sources pointing to Russia. It reported that “ suspected Russian warplanes fired two missiles on al Daraj Archaeologist Bath in the main market in Sarmin city in Idlib governorate northern suburbs, partially damaging its structure on April 27, 2017.”

In a subsequent post, SN4HR added that Russian jets “ fired 2 missiles near al Fardous Mosque”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on al Daraj Archaeologist Bath in the main market in Sarmin city, April 27th (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmin, April 27th (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmin, April 27th (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmin, April 27th (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmin, April 27th (via Step News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2178

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

دير شرقي, Deir Sharqi, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.603718, 36.738955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and “dozens” wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in Deir Sharqi, according to local media sources. 

The University Hospital in Deir Sharqi, which reportedly was used to primarily treat women and children, was struck.

The hospital was destroyed by the strike and taken out of service, according to Smart News, who put the injured toll at four civilians.

The three civilians that were killed were patients at the hospital, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported. They further noted that this was the third time in two months that this location had been targeted.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

12 years old female From Sinjar: Squiah Village killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three martyrs and dozens of wounded civilians, as a result of the targeting of military aircraft on University Hospital, south of the town of #Deir al-Sharqi, rural Maarra Al-Nu'man.
  • Translation: The extent of the destruction in the university hospital for children and women, in the village of Deir al-Sharqi, in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • Translation: Russian warplanes committed a horrific massacre this morning in the town of Deir al-Sharqi in rural Idlib, killing and injuring dozens of civilians who were taken to field hospitals.
  • Translation: The university hospital on the outskirts of Deir Sharqi, southern Idlib was destroyed after it was targeted by Russian planes.
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]