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

RS2107

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

دارة عزة , Dira’t Izza, Aleppoo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An alleged airstrike hit the village of Dira’t Izza causing severe destruction. Some sources attributed the strike to Russian warplanes, whereas others alleged they were conducted by the Syrian regime.

One civilian was reportedly killed. A total of 15 other civilians were reportedly injured. According to the Syrian Civil Defence team, they managed to pull four wounded civilians from under the rubble, including one woman and two children. 

There are no other known details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aleppo Civil Defense workers attempting to rescue survivors of an alleged Russian airstrike on April 10th 2017 in Dira't Izza, Aleppo, Syria (via Aleppo Civil Defense).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian is pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes, Darat Izza 10th April 2017. (via SCD)

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2101

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed and four injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Sarmin, Idlib, according to local media sources.

The head of the Centre for Civil Defense reportedly told Smart News that the Russians bombed the city with rockets using the “Sukhoi 35” aircraft, killing a woman and wounding four civilians, including three children.

The sources vary as to whether one or two civilians were killed in the strikes.

Step News Agency reported that “a child [was] killed and his mother and sister injured due to the explosion of cluster bomb remains [following] Russian raids,” however no other known sources for this incident mention child fatalities, only injuries. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hanadi Ahmad Hallak
Adult female Wife of Abdel Moneim Tawila killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: witnessed the Russian air raids and the subsequent destruction in the city of Sarmin, in the countryside of Idlib.
  • Translation: The destruction in the city of Sarmin as a result of air raids that led to the martyrdom of a woman.

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 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2102

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in an airstrike in Saraqeb, Idlib, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Almost all of the known sources that reported on this event, regardless of belligerent, noted that internationally banned phosphorous bombs were used.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Syria reported “a number of civilians were injured as a result of the raids of the Syrian regime planes targeting the city of Skeqeb in the eastern suburb of Idlib, and that there was destruction of buildings and property in the targeted areas.”

Step News Agency, who also reported that a civilian was injured in the attack, attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes.

The incident occured during the day.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: witnessed the Russian raids that targeted the town of Sarqeb in rural Idlib.
  • Translation: The first moments of the bombing from the Russian occupation aircraft in the city of Sarakib, using phosphorus bombs.
  • Translation: A Russian air force plane on Sunday evening struck the town of Sarakib in Idlib countryside with bombs containing white phosphorus, which is internationally banned.

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
    2
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2098

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were wounded in an airstrike in Kafr Zita, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Whilst most sources attribute responsibility to Russia, a tweet from @B.Alhamwi, stated that “Assad’s gangs” had struck Kafr Zita and wounded two children. 

Activists who spoke to Smart News about the attack detailed that one child was injured who had been caring for a sheep in a school garden, whilst the other was injured in his home.

Smart News added that the raid used “targeted cluster bombs”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (7) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2099

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Location

داعل, Dael, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.756529, 36.138453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and three injured in an airstrike in Dael, Dara’a, according to local media sources –  though it was unclear whether Russia or Assad’s regime were responsible.

The strike hit the field hospital “Nabd Houran”, which according to Alaraby provided medical services to over 100,000 people. One nurse was killed in the attack.

The sources were split when it came to attributing responsibility. Step News Agency among others blamed Russian warplanes. However, Smart News reported that helicopter aircraft threw several barrels of explosives – weapons that are known to be used by the Assad regime.

Syrian Network for Human Rights did not positively identify the aircraft and instead reported that the “Syrian-Russian alliance” was responsible for the raid.

 

The incident occured after midnight.

The victims were named as:

Munther Ali Yunus Al-Jamous
Adult male Nurse killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The destruction following a contested airstrike in Dael, Dara'a, 9th April 2017. (Via: Alaraby)
  • Munther Ali Yunus Al-Jamous was killed in an airstrike in Dael, 9th April 2017. (Via: Daraa Martyrs)

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2100

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Location

معرة النعمان, 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

Two civilians were killed and three others injured in an airstrike in Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, Idlib, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether the Assad regime or Russia were responsible.

All of the known sources that reported on this attack, aside from RFS Media Office, attributed responsibility to Russian forces.

Halab Today reported that one civilian was killed and three others injured – the only source to specify the number of civilians injured. AMC Aleppo also reported that one civilian was killed, however, all death tolls later rose to two civilians.

One of those killed was identified by Idlib Network News, whilst the other was only identified as a 50 year old man from the town of Karnaz, in the countryside of Hama.

RFS reported that “the Assad regime repeats its air raids on the towns and villages of Idlib using high-explosive and internationally banned bombs, from cluster and phosphorous bombs.”

A number of cluster bombs were also reportedly found in the town, according to RFS, and were later dismantled so not to endanger civilian life.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saeed Mohammed Matarmawi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2091

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed and others injured in an airstrike in Darat Izza, Aleppo, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Whilst most sources attributed responsibility of the event to Russia, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards the “Syrian-Russian alliance”, leaving some ambiguity.

Qasioun, who put the death toll at three civilians killed, reported that Russia was responsible for the attack and struck residential areas in the city.

Among those killed were a woman and her child, according to Orient News.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three civilians died and others were wounded Saturday morning when Russian warplanes bombed the city of Dara Azza in western Aleppo. Russian planes struck residential areas in the city with more than three concussions.

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
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2092

Incident date

April 8, 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

Two civilians were killed and the son of one of them injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media sources.

All of the known sources identified Russian warplanes as being responsible for the attack.

Most sources reported that one female civilian had been killed and her son injured, however, the Violations Documentation Centre in Syria had one other civilian listed as being killed from “warplane shelling” by “Russian troops” in Khan Sheikhoun on that day.

LCCSY added that the woman who died had been displaced from al Latamna in the Hama countryside. 

In total there were four raids on Khan Sheikhoun by Russian forces according to the source, Othman al-Khani.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Terkia Hasan al Dahrouj
Adult female killed
Mohammad Shaker Idrees
55 years old male Married killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 55 year old Mohammad Shaker Idrees was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Khan Sheikhoun. 8th April 2017. (Via: VDC)

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
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]