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

RS1916

Incident date

February 21, 2017

Location

حقل شاعر, Shaer oil field, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.896111, 37.945 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that Russian warplanes “launched missile strikes on Al Sha’er oil field, which resulted in the burning of three oil tankers, killing the driver and wounding two other riders”.

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
  • 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 specific strikes between February 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

RS2019

Incident date

March 24, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed and up to nine were wounded in an alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, local media reported.

Ahmed Khatib, a correspondent for the Mirror of Syria in Idlib, said that “warplanes carried out several air raids on the residential neighbourhoods and the popular market in the city of Khan Sheikhoun, killing one person and injuring eight others.”

Another source, @ahmadalsheiko, reported that the strikes were carried out by “S-24 warplanes”.

Most sources pointed to Russia as the responsible party while @SPRINGNOWTIME reported that both the Syrian regime and Russia were to blame.

Khan Shakhoun was most likely subject to two different attacks that day (or the morning of the 25th). The two incidents have been treated separately. Also see event RS2019a.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of residential areas in Khan Shakhoun in Idlib after being targeted by the contested airstrikes on March 24, 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Aftermath of residential areas in Khan Shakhoun in Idlib after being targeted by the contested airstrikes on March 24, 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Aftermath of residential areas in Khan Shakhoun in Idlib after being targeted by the contested airstrikes on March 24, 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)

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 March 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2289a

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the residential neighbourhood of Hamidiya, local media reported. There were no wounded civilians reported.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Abd al-Mutaleb al-Sayed( Abu Hamza), killed in an airstrike on Hamidiya, 17th June 2017. (via Abo Al Ward)
  • Ahmad Abd al-Mutaleb al-Sayed( Abu Hamza), killed in an airstrike on Hamidiya, 17th June 2017. (via DeirEzzor24)

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 June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2523

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

محمبل, Muhambal, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.784376, 36.468902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a girl, was killed and at least five others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Muhambal in Idlib governorate, according to local sources.

The “intensive air-raids” consisted of rockets.

Some sources did not mention civilian casualties but did confirm bombing in the vicinity.

One of the comments under the video shared by Baladi News, by someone called Mohammad al Sheikh says, “During these terrifying moments, I was with my wife and my son Khalil close to the site of targeting. After a year I say: “may god preserve the town of Muhambal safe, I am from Damascus but was treated brilliantly by the locals. We felt like we were among our people.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female From Mar'ayan village killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Salam al Shaghri, a girl killed in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Muhambal on September 25, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The moment airstrikes hit Muhambal, 25th sept 2017. (via Baladi News)

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
    5
  • 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

RS2964

Incident date

February 2, 2018

Location

الغدفة, Al-Ghadafa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6742, 36.79058 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and several others injured as aerial and/or artillery shelling hit the town of Al-Ghadafa, Idlib, local media reported – though it was unclear how to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Both Smart News Agency and Step News Agency reported that strikes believed to have been carried out by Russia killed one civilian.

Jsirtv mentioned that a total of three civilians were killed by regime shelling in several towns of Idlib on February 2nd, including Al-Ghadafa.

While the above reports were conflicting in terms of culpability, al-Quds news added to the confusion by reporting that “on the ground, Russian and Syrian warplanes launched rocket and explosive attacks on the village of al-Ghadfa.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (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 strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

R3211

Incident date

August 5, 2017

Location

بداما , Bdama, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was killed when a cluster bomb dropped in a previous airstrike exploded in Bdama, local media reported.

EdlibEMC said that the bomb was dropped by Russia, though the other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

It was not clear when the munitions was dropped.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male killed

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS214

Incident date

November 30, 2015

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center listed one unidentified adult female as having been killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the Bab al Neirab neighbourhood of Aleppo. Tweeting on the same day, the Syrian Documentation Centre reported that “An air raid by Russian warplanes on several locations in Al Neirab neighbourhood has led to human losses and injuries.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3724

Incident date

May 27, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’arat Harma, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma’arat Al Harma, Hama governorate, on May 27th, 2019, according to local sources. Another civilian was reportedly injured.

Smart News wrote that “on May 27th, warplanes bombed the town of Ma’arat Harma, near Idlib, with explosive barrels and naval mines, causing destruction of residential buildings and fires on agricultural land.”

According to several sources, such as Syrian Network for Human Rights, 65-year old Gharib Al Habib was killed in the airstrikes. Zaman Al Wasl reported that another civilian had been injured.

@IdlibPlus reported the use of barrel bombs. @omaralhaj15 wrote that “more than 13 military and helicopter raids targeted the town of Ma’arat Harma within one hour, causing great damage.”

While most sources, such as the Syrian Network for Human Rights, named the Syrian regime as responsible for the attack, Step News attributed the strike to Russia. Zaman Al Wasl blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Smart News Agency wrote that “Idlib province has been under heavy artillery, missile and air raids for weeks. As a result, hundreds of civilians have been killed and wounded, homes, public buildings and facilities have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

65 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The moment when explosive barrels were thrown at the town of Ma'ra Harma south of Idlib yesterday."
  • Translation: Martyrs on Monday 27/5/2019 in the province of Idlib. Ma’aret Harma martyr: Gharib Al Habib (via Idlib plus)
  • Translation: “A video showing the scale of the destruction caused by helicopter targeting the town of Ma'arat Horma in Idlib countryside, with dozens of explosive barrels” (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Translation: “Ma'arat Harma in Idlib” (via @MousaAlomar).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Gharib Al Habib was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Harma on May 27th, 2019 (via Ma’aret Harma News).
  • Translation: “Massive destruction and displacement movement in Maarat Horma, Idlib countryside, due to the regime’s shelling” (via JisrTV).
  • Translation: “Seven of the regime's helicopters drop explosive barrels on Ma'arat Al Harma, Idlib countryside” (via JisrTV).
  • Translation: “Huge destruction in Ma'arat Harma, Idlib countryside, due to aerial bombardments by the regime” (via JisrTV).

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