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

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

RS2171

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

معرشورين, Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.667511, 36.727252 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Ma’ar Shureen, Idlib, according to local media sources. 

In keeping with other known sources that reported on this incident, Zaitoun stated: “A martyr and a number of wounded in a town in the southern Idlib countryside were killed as Russian warplanes targeted the town with rocket-propelled grenades at dawn on Wednesday.”

Smart News and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights corroborated these details. SOHR reported that the target was rebel headquarters on the outskirts of the town.

However, Al Jazeera and Orient News raised the death toll to four killed and a number injured. Both of these reports stated that a funeral was struck. Orient News added that two of the four killed in this strike were children, whilst Al Jazeera added that a woman was among the dead too.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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]

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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

RS2172

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

الجانودية, Al Janoudia, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8839, 36.291466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya, Jisr al-Shughour, according to local media sources.

Media activist, Musab Ahmed Orabi, was among those dead. However, none of the sources were clear as to whether he was one of the five civilians killed or an additional death.

He was working with the Qatar Red Crescent team when the strike occurred, Enab Baladi reported. They further noted that Musab was “a famous actor who was known for his dramatic and cynical scenes of the Syrian regime and his president, Bashar al-Assad.”

According to RFS Media Office, Musab was injured by shrapnel in the abdomen. “He was taken to the hospital and died during an operation that did not last more than 15 minutes,” their report read.

A source from the Syrian Civil Defence told Alaraby that two members of the civil defence and five civilians were killed following three raids from Russian aviation.

Aleppo AMC tweeted that seven people were injured during the attack, including two members of the civil defence – but given the death toll in other sources, it is likely that this was in fact referring to fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Musab Ahmed Orabi
Adult male Journalist killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Media activist Musab Ahmed Orabi was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya. 26th April 2017. (Via: Enab Baladi)
  • Media activist Musab Ahmed Orabi was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya. 26th April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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

RS2173

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

جدار معراتا, Jidar Miraata, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647951, 36.811066 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least ten civilians were killed in an airstrike in Jidar Miraata, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who could not positively identify a belligerent, reported that the al-Jidar camp was targeted which killed ten people, including women and children.

The only other source to provide an estimated casualty toll, was the Syrian Civil Defence in Idlib, who stated that “tens” of civilians were wounded. They further reported that it was a result of regime forces using parachute missiles.

Alaraby news, among others, reported that Russian aviation was responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Martyrs and wounded in a Russian bombing that targeted the camp, "the wall of Maarata", east of the town of Tlemnes for the displaced.
  • Translation: Warplanes bomb the camp of Ma'aratah in the southern suburb of Idlib and kill its inhabitants and destroy the entire camp.
  • Translation: The Syrian Air Force bombed the outskirts of the town of Talmans in the eastern suburb of Idlib
  • Translation: The moment of the rocket attacks on the Ma'aratah camp in Telmans in the village of Idlib
  • Translation: Parachute missiles were used in an airstrikes by regime airplanes targeting a Displaced camp near #Talmins in idlib countryside , resulting in the wounding of tens of civilians. Civil Defence teams have rushed to pull out the casualties from the rubble and ambulance wounded . #syriacivildefence #idlib 26-4-2017
  • Images by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights show the damage in al-Jidar camp area near Maratah town in the eastern countryside of Idlib, after a massacre carried out by warplanes, it's not known whether they belong to Russia or to the regime forces, which targeted areas in the camp and caused the death of 10 persons including women and children.

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 April 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 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2174

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in an airstrike in Lataminah, Hama, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Hama News Centre reported that “Russian air raids targeted al Latamna hospital”; they added that it caused huge destruction to the hospital and injuring one member of medical staff.

A group of terrorists in a vehicle in the northern Hama countryside were apparently the “target” of the strike and a large number of them were killed, according to the source @RaedSyrian02. They noted that the strike was conducted by the “air force” which could mean the Assad regime. 

7al news reported that “more than five paratroop-type missile attacks targeted the town of Al-Latamneh (controlled by the opposition in the northern countryside of Hama), resulting in the destruction of more than 10 homes and other material damage.”

Media activist, Lyad al-Hussein told 7al that the regime’s forces “rely on the opposition areas in the countryside to protect the missiles with parachutes, because of their destructive ability.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Russian warplanes bombarded the surgical hospital in the city with concussion rockets, destroying large parts of it. The hospital was out of service and the civil defense rescue teams, in cooperation with the residents, remained in the hospital for four hours to be able to withdraw one of the medical staff.

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

RS2175

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

رسم العويد, Rasim Al Ouweid, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.073279, 37.042465 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed and two injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Rasim Al Ouweid, Hama – though only one known source has reported on this event.

According to Smart News Agency there were five civilian casualties from a bombardment of likely Russian warplanes.

Their local source told them “the aircraft bombed the houses of civilians in the village under the control of the “Islamic State”, killing three civilians, including a child and wounding two others, were taken to hospitals in the city of Deir Ezzor.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

RS2176

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in Jisr al Shoghour – though only one known source reported on the event.

Smart News Agency reported “activists wounded in warplane shelling believed to be Russian on the town of Jisr al Shoghour.”

It was not clear how many civilians were wounded in this attack.

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 (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 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2169

Incident date

April 25, 2017

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were injured in an airstrike in Douma, eastern Damascus, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The Facebook page, Douma Revolution, did not positively identify a belligerent but they reported that one of the injured was evacuated after “warplanes targeted residential neighbourhoods.”

Russian warplanes were “likely responsible” according to LCC-Sy, who reported that “several” civilians were wounded in the attack.

However, other sources such as @akhbar, stated that the strikes were likely conducted by Assad’s regime.

The only source to give an exact casualty count was Alaa Alahmad who reported on YouTube that two missiles caused four civilians to be injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: #Damascus_Countryside #Eastern_Alghouta The destruction caused by one of the air raids that targeted the city of Douma, in the countryside of Damascus with two missiles - resulting in four civilian casualties.
  • Translation: Wounded by airstrike, likely to be the Assad forces on the city of #east # Damascus

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 April 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]