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

RS1760

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

حي السكري , Al Sukkari neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were reportedly killed during an alleged Russian airstrike on the al Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media sources.

Halab News reported that the two unidentified civilians were killed “following Russian enemy raids” on al Sukkari.

Whilst Step News Agency corroborated the fact that there were Russian airstrikes in al Sukkari on this day, they did not explicitly mention any civilian harm in this particular neighbourhood. They did, however, report that 30 civilians died “in the city of Aleppo from Russian aerial bombardment”.

There were no other known sources reporting on the incident in al Sukkari.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

RS2067

Incident date

April 3, 2017

Location

حي جوبر, Jobar neighbourhood, Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528874, 36.337967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an unspecified number of dead and wounded civilians in heavy strikes by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes on Damascus’s Jobar neighbourhood. Reports said that there had been as many as 40 airstrikes within just a few hours

Aljazeera: “Russian and Syrian planes have carried out dozens of raids on the Jubar district and other areas east of Damascus, including the eastern Ghouta, causing deaths and injuries”.

According to Sharf, “The Joubar neighborhood was subjected to a fierce and barbaric campaign by the Russian and Asiad enemy planes, which carried out more than 40 air strikes in a few hours, accompanied by a very heavy artillery and missile attack. This led to the deaths of a number of martyrs and wounded.”

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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Russia warplanes over Damascus' Jobar neighbourhood, April 3rd 2017 (via Jobar Media Centre)

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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2247

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than one civilian was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Akeirbat in eastern Hama, local media reported.

All sources that reported on the incident, including Aljazeera and Step News, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2263

Incident date

May 31, 2017

Location

عقيربات , Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly killed and others wounded in ‘intensive’ airstrikes on Akeirbat allegedly conducted by Russian and Syrian warplanes on the 31st of May, a local source reported to Smart News.

Rozana Radio, however, reported that there were no civilian casualties in the strikes that landed on the villages of Abu Habilat, Al Harrdana, Abu Hanaya and Hamada Omar in the area of Akeirbat.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (4) [ 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
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2388

Incident date

August 15, 2017

Location

حسيا, Hasya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.410945, 36.758151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that “in the countryside of Hama, the Russian warplanes targeted several cars carrying displaced people is Hasya. There were reports of dead and wounded civilians amongst those struck.”

There are no specific numbers.

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 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 specific strikes between July 1st - 31st 2017.

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

RS2558

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

كفرجالس , Kafr Jalis, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.976182, 36.613076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A five-month-pregnant woman and her unborn child were killed in airstrikes, likely by Russian warplanes, on Kafr Jaless on the morning of September 29th, a local source, the Smart News Agency, reported.

Smart also reported the wounding of other civilians as a result of the airstrike. According to one of the villagers, the targeted house had become home to displaced persons from Al-Saan, of which the five-month-pregnant woman was one.

Several other sources reported only the death of a woman and injury of several other civilians.

Ibrahim Yasouf  said that a woman and her six-month-old baby were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The martyrdom of a woman in the town of Kafarjas displaced from Hama ِAl Salameah as a result of the targeting of Russian warplane"
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafr Jalis, Spet 29th (via Idlib Lahza be Lahaza)
  • A dead child lies in the rubble following a strike on Kafr Jalis, Sept 29th (via Ibrahim Yasouf)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafr Jalis, Sept 29th (via Ibrahim Yasouf)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafr Jalis, Sept 29th (via Ibrahim Yasouf)

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
  • (0–1 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3655

Incident date

May 4, 2019

Location

أرنبة, Arnaba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and two children of the same family were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Arnaba, Idlib governorate, on May 4th, 2019, according to local sources.

According to the White Helmets, “two children were killed and a child was seriously injured as a result of a military airstrike near a school and a mosque in the centre of the village of Arnaba in Jabal Al Zawiya. Immediately, the Civil Defense went to the site of the raids.”

The Syrian Network for Human Right wrote that “the child Majed Abdullah Al Ahmad and his sister An’am, aged respectively 10 and 20, were killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Arnaba village in Jabal Al Zawiya area in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on May 4.”

On May 5th, Hasan Al Ahmad wrote on Facebook that “the death of the child Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ahmad from the village of Aranba resulted into three martyrs [caused by] the Russian bombing that targeted the centre of the village yesterday.”

Local sources reported that the missiles, also described as rockets, caused damage to the Arnaba Primary School and the Omar Bin al Khattab Mosque when they struck near the buildings.

Whereas most sources blamed Russian airstrikes, TRT Arabic pointed to the regime while @HalabTodayTV blamed both Russia and the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ahmad ابراهيم احمد الاحمد
Child male died on May 5th of his injuries killed
An’am Al Ahmad
20 years old female sister of Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ahmad
Majed Abdullah Al Ahmad
10 years old male brother of An’am Al Ahmad killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Omar Bin al Khattab Mosque in Arnaba village in Jabal al Zaweya area in Idlib governorate was partially destroyed by an alleged Russian bombardment on May 5th (via SN4HR).
  • Alleged Russian missiles struck near Arnaba Primary School in Arnaba village in Idlib governorate and partially destroyed the building on May 4th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Destruction in the town of Arnaba south of Idlib, allegedly caused by a Russian airstrike on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction in the town of Arnaba south of Idlib, allegedly caused by a Russian airstrike on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood of one of the victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Arnaba south of Idlib on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction in the town of Arnaba south of Idlib, allegedly caused by a Russian airstrike on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Blood of one of the victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of town of Arnaba south of Idlib on May 4th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Translation: "The arrival of the civil defense teams at the site of the air raid in the village of Arnaba, which left two martyrs" (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Translation: "The arrival of the civil defense teams at the site of the air raid in the village of Arnaba, which left two martyrs" (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Translation: "Documenting the destruction of the Mosque of Arenba in Jabal al-Zawiya after being targeted by the Russian occupation aircraft" (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Translation: "The martyrdom of a woman and a child and the injury of others as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft town of Arnaba south of Idlib with rockets" (via Edli Media Center).

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS230

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

الناجية, Najieh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7894815, 36.2177181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male and one child died in an alleged Assad regime airstrike on Najeh, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

Radio Al Kul said one person died and three were injured – but instead attributed responsibility to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ziyad Fato
Adult male killed
Mohammad Khaled Bakour
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of adult male, Ziyad Ahmad Fato, killed on 4th December 2015. (via, Idlib Civil Defence)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Najieh (الناجية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7894815, 36.2177181. 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 November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Idlib.

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 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]