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

RS2109

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

قسطون, Qastoun village, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.6856742, 36.3785648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported injured in airstrikes, thought to be Russian, on Qastoun village in Hama.

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
    1
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2110

Incident date

April 10, 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

Local sources reported that heavy shelling on Akeirbat in Hama killed as many as 34 civilians. One source attributed the airstrikes to Russian warplanes, while the other blamed the Syrian regime. 

The reports varied significantly, as one source reported 34 civilians were killed, including 11 children, while another source only reported that multiple civilians were injured.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    34
  • (11 children)
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    34
  • (11 children)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2111

Incident date

April 10, 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

Sources reported the Syrian Civil Defence were struck in a suspected Russian airstrike during raids on the outskirts of Jisr Al-Shoughour in western Idlib.

Three civilians were reportedly injured, including a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer. One source alleged the use of phosphorus bombs.

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
    3
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Injured member of the Syrian Civil Defense team after being targeted by an alleged Russian airstrike on April 10th 2017 (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Injured member of the Syrian Civil Defense team after being targeted by an alleged Russian airstrike on April 10th 2017 (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Fighter jet allegedly flying over the outskirts of Jisr Al-Shoughour on April 10th 2017 (via JMC).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS2106

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

كفرناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1656062, 36.9718334 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple airstrikes struck the towns of Ouweijal and Kafr Naha in western Aleppo, causing an unspecified number of wounded civilians. All sources attributed the strike to Russian warplanes.

Some sources alleged that phosphorus and cluster munitions were used. Multiple civilians were reported wounded and fires were caused. 

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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2112

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two consecutive airstrikes in Idlib city, believed to be executed by Russian warplanes, allegedly wounded two civilian women and caused significant damage to property and infrastructure.

The Idlib governorate had seen an intensification of bombardments in the days before, despite the announced truce previous December. 

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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2103

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

قرية اللج , Al Laj village, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.698703, 36.42736 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Activists of Smart News Agency reported that an unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in an air bombardment on the village of Al Laj. The source added that it was “thought to be Russian”.

Al Laj is a village in the eastern Homs countryside, and was controlled by 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
    1 – 2
  • 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

Unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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

RS2113

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

تل_الدهب , Tal Al Dahab, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.810278, 37.252222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two members of the civil defence were reported wounded in an alleged Russia airstrike on Tal Al Dahab.

The Smart News Agency reported: “The media official of the civil defence in the Jisr Al-Shughour district, Duraid Haj Hammoud, told the Smart’s correspondent that the raid targeted the village of Tal Dahab, wounding a civil defence member and civilians. Activists said this was likely to have been a Russian bombing.”

Step News Agency reported that two members of the civil defence were wounded, and also pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

RS2104

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

بلدة حور , Hour village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.88256, 38.17169 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported on the killing of a shepherd and his daughter due to multiple airstrikes in the village of Hour in western Aleppo.

Sources reported that the strikes were likely Russian, although some sources alleged they were launched by the Syrian regime.

Most sources reported the use of cluster bombs.

“Multiple” civilians were wounded and brought to medical facilities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Unknown.

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
    2–5
  • 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]