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

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

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

RS2092a

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shoughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was reportedly killed and others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Jisr al Shoughour, according to local media sources.

Idlib Media Centre, who specified that it was a child that was killed, added that it was during three air raids by Russian forces on the city.

The raids struck the “Christian quarter” of the city, according to an Al Jazeera correspondent, who added that there was substantial damage to residential buildings in the area.

None of the sources indicated how many other civilians were injured in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (7) [ 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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2086

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

الزكاة, Al Zakat village, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3406492, 36.5770697 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media named 22-year-old Ahmad Khaled al Daher al Kaisouha as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Zakat village.

According to Hama News Centre, the victim died “due to his wounds sustained in a Russian raid on the village of al Zakat in northern Hama.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

22 years old male killed

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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Khaled al Daher al Kaisouha, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Zakat village, April 7th 2017 (via VDC)

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
    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

RS2090

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and two others injured in airstrike in Douma, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

Freedomraise News, who attributed responsibility for the event to Assad’s regime, detailed that “two rocket attacks were carried out at 4:30 pm today, the first hit the building adjacent to the office and the second hit the street opposite the office from the other side.” 

They added that the child, Amira Skaf, who lived in the neighbouring building and was no older than two years, had died during the shelling.

Enab Baladi News reported that two others were also injured in the raid.

The Violations Documentation Centre in Syria and the Local Development and Small-Projects Support offices were struck, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. SNHR reported that it was “Syrian-Russian alliance warplanes” that carried out the attack. 

The incident occured at approximately 4:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Child female Reported to be no older than two. killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A child, Amira Skaf, thought to have been killed in a contested airstrike in Douma, 7th April 2017. (Via: Obada Alshami)
  • A child, Amira Skaf, thought to have been killed in a contested airstrike in Douma, 7th April 2017. (Via: Obada Alshami)
  • Amira Skaf, reported to be no older than 2 was killed in a contested airstrike in Douma. 7th April 2017 (Via: Freedomraise)
  • Translation: Syria - Damascus countryside: See the location of air raids on the residential neighborhoods of the city of Douma in the eastern Gouta.

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 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)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2089

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

بداما, Bdama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured following an airstrike in Bdama, Idlib, according to local media sources. It is not clear who was responsible for the event, whilst the majority of the sources blamed Russia, one mentioned the Assad regime.

Step News reported that “Russian air force carried out a massive airstrike targeting the town of Bdama in the western countryside of Idlib”. This was corroborated by Idlib Media Centre who added that it was two civilians that were injured.

However, one source – @ahmad_haj_bakri, blamed the Assad regime for the event. In a tweet, he said: “In response to the American bombardment, the Air Force of the Assad gang is bombing three towns in the western town of Badama in the western suburb of Idlib.”

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
    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 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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2088

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were named as being killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al Latamna, Hama. 

The Violations Documentation Centre in Syria listed their deaths as a result of “warplane shelling” from “Russian troops”. The death toll included one child and one woman.

The only other known source that reported on this event was the Syrian Human Rights Committee in their daily report of human rights violations. With no further information given, it seemed as though they had used the VDC as their source, meaning that this event must be categorised as weak in Airwars’ methodology.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2087

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

حيش, Heesh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.549065, 36.644537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 civilians were killed and six others wounded following an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, according to local media sources – though it is not clear who was responsible for the event. Whilst most sources attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes, some mentioned Assad’s regime and others didn’t positively identify a belligerent.

Smart News, who placed the death toll at 16, blamed Russia for the attack, reporting: “Sixteen civilians, including children and women, were killed and wounded Friday [April 7th] when a Russian air force bombed the town of Heesh, 55 km south of Idlib, north Syria”.

Idlib Media Centre, however, had a more conservative figure and placed the death toll at nine civilian casualties. It also attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes who had used vacuum missiles.

The only health centre that provides free care in the town was struck in the raid, according to a correspondent for RFS Media, who also attributed responsibility for the event to Assad’s regime.

Anatolia News Agency were quoted in many of our sources saying that many of those killed and injured in this attack were displaced from other towns in Idlib and Hama.

The Civil Defence reported that of the six wounded in the attack, there were two women and one child.

There was some confusion over the time of the attack. Of the sources that suggested a time of day, those who placed responsibility for the event with Russia reported that it happened at dawn, whilst those who said that it was Assad’s regime reported that it was a night-time attack. It was therefore not clear whether these were two separate incidents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Adult female Wife of Basil Nasser killed
Adult female killed
Adult female Wife of Hamdu Abu Abu killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • (2 children5 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7 April 2017 (Via: Smo-sy)
  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7th April 2017. (Via: Shaam News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: The Syrian Civil Defense in Heesh, Idlib rescued the children from the rubble of their homes.
  • Translation: A warplane commits a massacre in the town of Heesh in Idlib
  • Jisr TV.
  • The aftermath of an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017 (Via: All4Syria)
  • Up to 16 civilians were killed in a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7th April 2017. (Via:All4Syria)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The rescue operations after a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017 (Via: SyrianPC)
  • The damage from an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017. (Via: RFS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Al-Assad and Putin planes kill more civilians, killing 9 civilians, including children, in the town of Heesh
  • Translation: A renewed Russian shelling on the countryside of Idlib - signs of a massacre in Heesh

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 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
    9 – 16
  • (2 children5 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2085

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

كفر زيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as seven civilians were killed, and seven civilians were wounded, following an airstrike on Kafr Zita. Sources were confused as to who was to blame, some blamed Russian warplanes, others the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) blamed the Syrian-Russian alliance. 

There was also confusion as to how many casualties there were in the incident. Step News reported that two people were killed. SN4HR reported “ at least 3 civilians (2 children and a woman)”. However, Smart news reported that as many as seven were killed. The Violations Documentation Centre named three fatalities, and Basel Darweesh named another victim. 

According to Alaan news, civilians were buried under the rubble. There were allegedly, according to sources, some serious injuries due to the extent of the residential damage. 

Syria-mirror reported that “rocket-propelled grenades” were to blame, which struck residential communities.

Sources claimed that the three civilians named by VDC were been displaced to Kafr Zita northern Hama from Halfaya. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an airstrike hit Kafr Zita, 6th April 2017. (via Al Jazeera)

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 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 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]