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

RS2127

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

various locations, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian air raids, some of them with phosphorous bombs targeted the towns of Khan_shikhun, #Tremala, #Kafarsgana, and #Serja, south of Idlib, with reports of casualties.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The moment an alleged Russia raid struck Idlib, April 14th (via Hussein Alzeidi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2125

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

عقيربات , Akeirabat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Step News Agency reported: “Russian warplanes launched two raids targeting the vicinity of Akeirabat  in the eastern Hama countryside, resulting in civilian casualties.”

According to the Smart News Agency, “Three civilians, including a woman, were wounded by artillery shelling of the town of Aqrabat”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ 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
    Unknown
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2124

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

السخنة , Sokhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were injured in alleged Russia airstrikes on Sokhna, according to two local sources.

2baddiyy tweeted: “The Russian occupation aircraft targeted the city of Sokhna northeast of the city of # Palmyra with several raids causing the destruction of civilian homes and injuring a number of people.”

Step also reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded by Russian strikes in “the vicinity of the silos and the town of Sokhna”.

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 (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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2128

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

بصرة الشام , Basra al Sham, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.518102, 36.48006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media named one adult male as killed in an airstrike on Basra al Sham. Only the Violations Documentation Centre identified Russia as the culprit; the other two sources didn’t apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Also known as Abo Adnan killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • 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
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2123

Incident date

April 13, 2017

Location

مراط , Merat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.31407, 40.23865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded by an alleged Russian airstrike “by napalm bombs” on Merat, according to local media.

No further details are currently available.

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2122

Incident date

April 13, 2017

Location

السكرية و محميل , Sukariya and Muhmil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

34.471667, 40.911111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or five civilians, reportedly from the same family, died in an airstrike on Sukariya and Muhmil in rural Idlib, according to local media. All but one source blamed Russia.

Syria Mirror: reported: “Russian warplanes launched several air strikes with rocket-propelled grenades at communities in the village of Sukariya in the eastern countryside of the city of Jisr al-Shughur, killing four people and injuring a number of people, including serious cases, which indicate the high toll of victims”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at “five civilians from the same family including two children and two women – killed in suspected Russian warplanes”.

However, the White Helmets said that four civilians were killed from regime barrel bombs. White Helmets – regime barrel bombs

The Violations Documentation Centre named five civilians killed in Russian shelling. It says the victims were from Sukariya, but no mention is given on where they were killed, so it could be a different location.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Adult male killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the aftermath of an airstrike on Sukariya and Muhmil, April 13th (via JMC)
  • Translation: 'five civilians were killed by warplanes in Sukariya in rural Idlib and raids on the western and southern countrysides'.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: 'rescue operations in the village of al - Sukariya after a raid from the warplanes'.
  • Translation: 'The regime continues to bombard the cities and towns of the countryside Idlib! Four people were killed and several wounded after a bombing on the village of Sukariya in rural Idlib'.
  • The baby Bayan Ammar al Ali, killed along with her father and several members of her family in an alleged Russian airstrike on al Sukariya village in Idlib governorate, April 14th (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
    4 – 5
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2121

Incident date

April 13, 2017

Location

معرة التعمان , Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6477913, 36.6591881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and several others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, according to sources on the ground.

Step News Agency reported that “two civilians were killed and several wounded as a result of two Russian air raids on residential areas in the town of Ma’ra al-Nu’man in rural Idlib.”

Other sources mentioned one death – but also pointed to Russia as the culprit.

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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The moment an alleged Russian airstrike hit Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, April 13th 2017 (via MMC)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, April 13th (via Maara Now)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, April 13th (via Maara Now)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, April 13th (via Maara Now)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, April 13th (via Maara Now)

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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2120

Incident date

April 12, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور , Jisr al shoughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and two more wounded in up to 10 Russian strikes on Jisr al shoughour, according to local media. Sources reported the use of phosphorous, napalm, cluster bombs, and rocket-propelled grenades in the attacks.

According to Aljazeera, “civilians were killed and others were injured in heavy night raids by aircraft believed to be Russian. The warplanes used phosphorous bombs and rocket-propelled weapons on residential neighborhoods in the city of Jisr al-Shughour and its environs in rural Idlib. Activists said the shelling also severely damaged infrastructure and destroyed civilian property”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights added more detail, reporting that “suspected Russian warplanes fired two missiles near Walid Sha’aban High School in the al Shamali neighborhood in Jisr al Shoghour”.

Halab Now (a pro-Assad source) noted that “warplanes targeted the positions of Nasra Front in Jisr al-Shughur amid violent explosions in the area”.

 

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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Targeting the civil defense team in Jisr al - Shughour by the military aviation 12 4 2017'
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The remnants of a cluster bomb following an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The remnants of cluster bombs following an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The remnants of cluster bombs following an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)
  • The remnants of cluster bombs following an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr al shoughour, April 12th (via EMC)

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 (15) [ collapse]