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

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

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

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

RS2097

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

طيبة, Tayba, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

35.08831, 38.914261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three children were killed in an airstrike in Tayba, Dara’a, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether Russia or Assad’s regime were responsible.

Local media Facebook page, Mohammed Al-Rifaei, named the three children who died in the attack and attributed responsibility to Russian forces. 

Whilst most sources suggested that Russia was responsible – some, such as @kvrsmchs, reported that it was “military aircraft” which could point towards Assad’s regime being responsible.

Syrian Network for Human Rights did not positively identify the aircraft and reported that it was an attack by the “Syrian-Russian alliance”.

A number of civilians were also wounded according to Step News, however there were no other known details on the injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ola Ismail Ibrahim Mohammed
Child female killed
Mohammed Abdullah Qassem Khatib
Child male killed
Ahmed Abdullah Qassem Khatib
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Ambulance of children and women in the town of Taybeh after being struck by Russian aviation.
  • One of the three children killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Tayba, 8th April 2017. (Via: Mohammed Al-Rifaei)
  • One of the three children killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Tayba, 8th April 2017. (Via: Mohammed Al-Rifaei)

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
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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

RS2096

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

طريق السد, Sadd Neighbourhood, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.617834, 36.109486 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven to nine civilians, including two women and two children, were killed in an airstrike in the Sadd neighbourhood in Dara’a, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Seven civilians were listed in the Violations Documentations Centre with their cause of death recorded as “warplane shelling” from “Russian troops”. Two others were named in tweets from @Kvrschms, who also reported that Russia was responsible.

PanoramaFM reported that “ warplanes and helicopters launched intensive air strikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighborhoods of Daraa al-Balad and Al-Sad neighborhood” – it is known that explosive barrels were used by the Assad regime.

Syrian Network for Human Rights did not positively identify the warplanes and reported that the attack was from the “Syrian-Russian alliance”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ilham Salem al-Haek
Adult female killed
Hadel Ahmad al-Masri
Adult female killed
Tareq Ziad al-Masri
Child male killed
Muhammad Ziad al-Masri
Child male killed
Muhammad Ibrahem al-Masri
Adult male killed
Nawara Isam Dalloa
Child female killed
Imad Issam Dalloa
Child male killed
Asraa Mohammed al-Nuaimi
Adult male Displaced from Golan killed
Hamid Miri Al-Karad
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children2 women3–5 men)
  • 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]

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
    7 – 9
  • (2 children2 women3–5 men)
  • 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

RS2094

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

نصيب, Nasib, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.550502, 36.187213 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An eight year old child was killed in an airstrike in Nasib, Dara’a, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Most known sources for this event did not positively identify the aircraft.

Step News reported that “Russian aircraft intensified raids yesterday [8th]…targeting two villages in the town of Nasib”. However, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that it was the “Syrian-Russian alliance” who carried out the raid, leaving some ambiguity.

Local media reported that the young girl who died was eight years old.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ola Mus'ab al-Rifai
8 years old female 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The child, Ula Mousab Al-Refaie, was killed in a contested airstrike in Nasib, Dara'a. 8th April 2017. (Via: Daraa Martyr Center)

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
    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, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2093

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

اورم الجوز, Orm Al-Jouz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.790833, 36.565833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians were killed, including two women and seven children, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Orm Al-Jouz, according to multiple sources.

All of the known sources attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes or suspected Russian warplanes.

Qasioun News reported that “five raids with rockets and other cluster bombs” were carried out on Orm Al-Jouz. They stated that more than 19 civilians had died and dozens of others were in a critical condition.

Syrian Press Centre, who initially put the death toll at 14, reported that “the Russian warplanes launched several aerial bombardments of civilian houses in the town”

Up to 21 civilians were also wounded in the attack, according to Step News who added that a residential complex in which there was a number of shops was targeted.

Syrian Network for Human Rights detailed that a “RBK-500 cluster munitions incubator carrying ShOAB-0.5 munitions were fired by suspected Russian warplanes on Orm al Jouz town”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Seoud Ahmad Seoud
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Ahmad Seoud
Adult male killed
Nour Ibraheem Habo
Adult female killed
Obada Mohammad Zanklo
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Anees Kherbotly
Adult male killed
Fayez Thabet Kherbotly
Adult male killed
Fardous Fatima Habo
Child female killed
Hosain Salim Qrqanawi
Child male killed
Hasan Salim Qarqanawi
Child male killed
Mohammad Abdo al-Shati
Child male killed
Abdullah al-Gazawi
Child male killed
Mahmoud Sahloul
Adult male killed
Yousef Ahmad Qadi
Child male killed
Abd al-Rahman Gazawi
Adult male killed
Mostafa Khaled Zanklo
Child male killed
Mostafa Hosain al-Kheder
Adult male killed
Ali Mostafa al-Kheder
Adult male killed
Abd al-Wahab Nakouh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 20
  • (7 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    19–21
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Image of RBK-500 cluster munitions incubator carrying ShOAB-0.5 munitions fired by suspected Russian warplanes on Orm al Jouz town in Idlib governorate southern suburbs on April 8, 2017. (Via: SN4HR)
  • Translation: The bombing of the village of Orm al - Jawz
  • Translation: The massacre of the village of Orm Al-Jouz on 8/4/2017
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via:SyriaHR)
  • Rescue operations following an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • Damage from an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: Qasioun)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: Enab Baladi News)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: RFS Media Office)
  • Translation: The death toll of the massacre of Orm Al-Jouz in the countryside of Idlib to 19 martyrs
  • Translation: A picture showing a cluster munitions incubator shelled by the Russian forces on the town of Orm Al-Jouz in the village of Idlib on April 8.
  • Translation: Martyrs and wounded by Russian aviation targeting the town of Orm al-Joz in the countryside of Idlib
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: RozanaFM)

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
    14 – 20
  • (7 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    19–21
  • 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 (37) [ 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]