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

RS2160

Incident date

April 23, 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

Eight civilians were killed – including two women and two children – and dozens were wounded, following an airstrike on Jisir Al-Shoghour, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes for the incident, however some remained impartial, and reported sighting an identified warplane.

Step News reported that the vicinity which was struck housed Internally Displaced Peoples.

Although there were highs of 24 reported wounded, some sources such as Alaraby aljadeed, claimed only several civilians were injured. 

Misir alarabiya reported that a bridge and some residential housing was struck in the raid. They added that there was considerable “destruction of many houses” and that “ambulances belonging to the civil defence teams took the wounded to field hospitals”. It was reported that “civil defence teams continue to remove rubble and rescue civilians”. 

ENN reported that “air raids by Russian warplanes with phosphorus bombs and missiles” struck Jisir Al-Shoghour.

The death toll was reportedly expected to rise due to the severity of some of the wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defence attempt to rescue civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 23rd April 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defence attempt to rescue civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 23rd April 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defence attempt to rescue civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 23rd April 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence)

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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2159

Incident date

April 23, 2017

Location

مجبينة, Majbina, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.205833, 36.979167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecific number of civilians were injured – according to local sources – in an airstrike on Majbina, Aleppo. Two out of three sources blamed Russia for the raid. HalabnewsNetwork reported “warplanes” were to blame. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

RS2158

Incident date

April 23, 2017

Location

أم توينة, Um Tuweyna, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.162942, 37.052336 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that Russian warplanes bombed Um Tuweyna, killing three civilians – including a child – and seriously wounding two others.

Smart reported that the village was controlled by the Islamic State.

There are no other details at this time.

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

Russia has not reported any 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

RS2157

Incident date

April 22, 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

A father was killed and his children were injured on an airstrike which struck their home in Lataminah, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some blaming the Syrian regime, others blaming Russia. The Syrian Network for Human Rights  blamed the “Syrian-Russian alliance”.

Civil Defence Hama initially reported that there were no injures reported. However, other sources reported that children were injured in the raids. 

Footage published shows the immediate aftermath, with injured children running from the ruins of their home.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

32 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment a parachute missile on the house of Mohammad Abdo al-Naesan "al-Ishani" and the surrounding area of Lataminah, 22nd April 2017. (via Mohammed Alhamwi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The exact moment after a parachute missile on the house of Mohammad Abdo al-Naesan "al-Ishani" and the surrounding area of Lataminah, 22nd April 2017. (via AJA Syria)
  • Just moments after a parachute missile targeted the house of Mohammad Abdo al-Naesan "al-Ishani" and the surrounding area of Lataminah, 22nd April 2017. (via Civil Defence Hama)
  • Just moments after a parachute missile targeted the house of Mohammad Abdo al-Naesan "al-Ishani" and the surrounding area of Lataminah, 22nd April 2017. (via Civil Defence Hama)
  • Mohammad Abdo al-Naesan "al-Ishani", killed in an airstrike on Lataminah, 22nd April 2017. (via VDC)

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 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
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2155a

Incident date

April 22, 2017

Location

احسم, Ihsim town, Al Zawiya mountain, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7205935, 36.555888 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed – including a child – and others were wounded, when un-exploded cluster bomb remnants from a previous strike detonated in Ihsim town, Al Zawiya mountain, Idlib, local media said. Only the Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes were responsible for the initial shelling; all other sources did not attribute any blame.

The shelling occurred in southern Idlib near the Lebanon boarder according to AMC.

Smart news reported that the bomb was an RPG, however Syrian Mirror reported it was an un-exploded cluster bomb.

The civil defence went to the scene and worked to secure it and transfer the victims to safety.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (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 attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (8) [ 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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (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 attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2156

Incident date

April 22, 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

A man, a woman and a girl were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in a airstrike on Akeirbat, according to sources on the ground. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

According to the Smart News Agency,  a Russian warplane struck the vicinity, “killing a woman, and wounding two others, including a child, their health is critical.” They noted that the victims were displaced from the eastern Homs countryside.

Step reported “Russian warplanes launch several raids around Akeirbat and the surrounding area in eastern Hama killing a girl and a man and injuring dozens.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ 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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2155

Incident date

April 22, 2017

Location

عابدين, Abidien, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4681522, 36.5376978 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as five civilians were killed – including four doctors – and others were injured, following an airstrike on a makeshift hospital in Abidien, local media reported.  Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some blamed Russia, whilst others blamed the Syrian regime. Alarabiya news reported that it was either Syrian or a Russian warplane. A local tweeted that they civilians were killed by “military raids”, not specifying the culprit. 

Al Jazeera reported that a Russian air strike that destroyed the Abidien hospital, using a missile with a high explosive which was used to penetrate the reinforced concrete. Allegedly another Russian warplane bombed the site again with a cluster bombs. It should be noted that the cluster bomb contains a large number of small bombs that are scattered in a large area.

Moaz Alshami reported that four doctors were killed. In addition, Halab tTday tweeted that medical staff were also injured, but did not specify how many. 

According to Alarabiya, as many as four people were missing, and that search operations continued under the rubble for hours. One source said that it took longer than 18 hours for searches to be completed. 

Smart reported that a child and her father and a number of medical staff were still missing under the rubble.

Baladi News reported that “rockets penetrated 10 meters of rock and arrived inside the hospital [which was located] inside a cave”.

SHRC published a concise report on the incident. “At 2:30 pm on April 22, 2017, warplanes believed to be Russian attacked [with] a high-impact concussion rocket that targeted the hospital.The shelling broke through the walls of the hospital, which is located inside a cave, resulting in a large explosion inside it, causing great damage to the equipment and medical equipment, and caused the disruption of the work of the hospital. The shelling also injured several people in the hospital at the time of the shelling, including two medical staff, ranging from light to medium wounds. The Idlib Civil Defence team continued to remove the rubble for hours. During the operation, the Russian-made warplanes bombed a location near the first target area at 5:10 pm with one rocket carrying cluster bombs. After about 24 hours of digging, the bodies of the three victims were recovered.” 

“The warplanes, which I believe to have been Russian, have raided the area with several air strikes, then shelled a rocket that caused a major explosion in the area and heard its voice from far away. The missile targeted the hospital located on the outskirts of the northern town, which was the last hope for us in the treatment of the cases of the southern countryside Idlib and the northern countryside of Hama after the cessation of hospitals Mercy, Maaram al-Nu’man and Karnabal surgical and the point of medical Kafarbanda work. The missile penetrated more than 10 meters of rock until it reached the hospital inside the cave, causing extensive damage to its internal construction and medical equipment, causing it to stop working completely. The destruction was great and the rubble removal process was very difficult and continued for a long time. There were a number of medical staff and the rubble, so we thought at first it was a massacre but thank God it was not. The Civil Defence team made tremendous efforts to remove the rubble and assist the wounded and wounded.” Testimony by Ahmed Bakour.

“Russian warplanes targeted the Abdin hospital, located in the southern countryside of Idlib after several air strikes with one concussion missile, which was able to leave the service after the massive destruction caused by the bombing, although the hospital is fully fortified as it is inside a cave. There was a time of ambulance operation, the time of the evacuation of the Civil Defence team. I saw them extracting a doctor from the rubble. I knew that the rest of the staff was still under the rubble and left the place before there were any casualties among the medical staff. I photographed the rescue and rescue operation carried out by the Civil Defence team but was not completed as the aircraft returned to the bombing again and bombed the place during the ambulance and lift the rubble. Their eminence confirms that the second bombing was a cluster missile.” Testimony by Fayyad Abu Ras.

Dr. Darwish, Syrian director of heath, reported that the hospital stopped work, depriving about 100,000 people of basic medical services, adding to the suffering of people in light of the escalation of aerial bombardment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adel Abdul Jabbar al-Saleh
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Members of the civil defence work to remove debris and dig civilians out of the rubble following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via Baladi news)
  • Satellite image of the vicinity, Abidien. (via SHRC)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via SHCR)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via SHCR)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via SHCR)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via RFS)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via RFS)
  • Remnants of shells in the aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via RFS)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via RFS)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via RFS)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via Idlib civil defence)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via Idlib civil defence)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via Idlib civil defence)
  • The White Helmets attempt to search for the missing following an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via Idlib civil defence)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Abidien hospital, Abidien, 22nd April 2017. (via Idlib civil defence)

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 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
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2154

Incident date

April 22, 2017

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family including three girls and a woman were killed, and 25 or more civilians were reportedly wounded, in an airstrike on Darat Izza, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some blaming the Syrian regime, while others blamed Russian warplanes. AMC did not attribute blame, but tweeted that a “military aircraft” struck the vicinity. 

According to Alkhaleej Online, there were as many as 11 raids on the vicinity. 

Orient News reported that many civilians were trapped under the rubble and the civil defence team were working hard to rescue people. Additionally, they reported the initial death toll was four, however there were varying degrees of risk, suggesting the toll would likely rise. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • A news bulletin reporting on the airstrike on Darat Izza, Aleppo, 22nd April 2017. (via Masr Alarabiya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Darat Izza, Aleppo, 22nd April 2017. (via Aleppo civil defence)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Darat Izza, Aleppo, 22nd April 2017. (via Aleppo civil defence)

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 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
    2 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • 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]