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

RS2043

Incident date

March 29, 2017

Location

جبل الشيخ, Jabal al Sheikh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

34.069166, 37.331346 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three people were killed in airstrikes against Jabal al Sheikh in the Aleppo governorate, local media said, It was unclear whether those that were killed were militants or civilians.

According to Halab Today TV, the airstrikes were carried out by Russia planes. However, only one source reported on the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • List of those killed in airstrikes on March 29th, 2017 - including Jabal al Sheikh (via Halab Today TV youtube)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2042

Incident date

March 29, 2017

Location

خضيرة, Khadira, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.074965, 37.843781 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a woman and child, were killed and another civilian was wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Khadira in the Akeirbat district of eastern Hama. The injured civilian was in serious condition at the time of reporting.

According to Smart News Agency, the airstrikes were carried out by Russian planes. However, this was the only source to report on the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

RS2039

Incident date

March 29, 2017

Location

دير الشرقي, Deir al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.603718, 36.738955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine named civilians, including up to five children and one woman, were killed and between 15 and 20 others were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the village of Deir al Sharqi. Sources that reported low casualty estimates, including the five deaths by Syrian News Network, acknowledged that these were the initial death tolls and many civilians were in a critical condition or still buried in the rubble, meaning the death toll was expected to rise.

A consensus emerged among local sources, with only one dissent, that Russian planes were responsible for the airstrikes against Deir al Sharqi. The majority of sources, including Baladi News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, attributed the airstrikes to Russia. However, Elkhabar News reported that both Russian and Syrian planes struck the tomb of the caliph and did not ditinguish which was responsible for the casualties.

According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, some of the citizens that were struck were gathered for a funeral and burial ceremony.

In addition, Syrian Press Center said that the airstrikes also struck a bread distribution center in a popular market. Those killed were both citizens of the village and displaced persons that had fled violence to settle in Deir al Sharqi. The airstrikes destroyed both the tomb of Caliph Omar bin Abdul Aziz and multiple civilian properties.

Local sources, including Elkhabar, reported that at this time, most areas of the Idlib province were under control of opposition factions and had experienced increasing escalation by the Syrian government forces. Following the airstrikes, civil defense teams removed the dead and injured from the debris and injured civilians were transported for medical treatment in neighboring towns.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

14 years old From Deir al Sharqi killed
8 years old From Deir al Sharqi killed
7 years old From Deir al Sharqi killed
75 years old From Souran killed
10 years old From Souran killed
18 years old From Souran killed
4 years old From Souran killed
70 years old From Souran killed
Age unknown From Souran killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Video of the damage caused by the airstrikes on Deir al Sharqi on March 29th, 2017 (via Step News Youtube)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children killed in airstrikes against Deir al Sharqi on March 29th, 2017 (via @MousaAlomar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of those killed in airstrikes against Deir al Sharqi on March 29th, 2017 (via Local Council in Deir al Sharqi Facebook)
  • Unexploded munitions from alleged Russian airstrikes on Deir al Sharqi on March 29, 2017 (via SOHR)

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
    9
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2041

Incident date

March 29, 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

Several civilians were killed and several others were injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the town of Jisr al Shoughour in the Idlib countryside, according to sources on the ground.

While local sources gave conflicting reports of who was responsible for the airstrikes, the majority of sources did not identify who was responsible for the airstrikes. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that regime forces carried out the airstrikes and the Syrian News Network attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes.

According to @AleppoAMC, the airstrikes were launched by troops stationed at Camp Goreen. In addition, it was alleged that both airstrikes and artillery were utilized against Jisr al Shoughour.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video of the destruction caused by airstrikes against Jisr al Shoughour on March 29th, 2017 (via Smart News Agency)

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 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2040

Incident date

March 29, 2017

Location

الحمبوشية بداما, Al Hamboushiya/Badama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians were killed and at least 14 others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Al Hamboushiya and the town of Badama in the western part of Jisr al Shoughour, local media reported. Most sources reported the death toll as two civilians while only the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated the death toll to only be one.

According to Jisr al Shoughour Media Centre, the air raids struck both towns and the roads that link them together. The consensus among local news sources, including the Local Coordination Committee of Syria and @EdlibEMC, was that Russian planes were responsible fo carrying out the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult From al Akrad mountain in the northern Lattakia countryside killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2038

Incident date

March 29, 2017

Location

زملكا, Zamlaka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians, including one to two children, were killed and at least 10 others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the city of Zamalaka in the Damascus countryside. The civilians killed include two child siblings, Omar and Mazan al-Gharbi, and a Civil Defense member, Sameer Mohammad Akram al Ghoush.

According to @alikrarrkar and @amer_almohibany, a residential area was hit by the airstrikes. Reports by most local sources did not identify who was responsible for the airstrikes. However, Syrian Network for Human Rights published conflicting reports that identified both “Syrian-Russian alliance forces” and Syrian regime forces as carrying out airstrikes against Zamalaka. Al Araby also reported that the Syrian regime forces were responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Child killed
Child killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male Civil Defense member born in 1967 killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the alleged Russian strikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via @MMisrNetwork)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the alleged Russian strikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via @MMisrNetwork)
  • Images of the destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via @MMisrNetwork)
  • Images of the destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via @MMisrNetwork)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of a victim of the airstrikes against Zamalaka on March 27th, 2017 (via Ahmad Iz Facebook)
  • One of the victims of the airstrikes, Qasem Al Hamwi, killed on March 29th, 2017 in Zamalaka (via Taj Soo Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of Omar and Mazan al-Gharbi, killed in airstrikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via Mahran al Qadi Facebook)
  • One of the victims of the airstrikes, Sheikh Zakari Noman, killed on March 29th, 2017 in Zamalaka (via Coordination of the Syrian RevolutionFacebook)
  • Video of the Syrian Civil Defense rescuing civilians injured in airstrikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via Syrian Civil Defense Youtube)
  • Civil Defense member Sameer Mohammad Akram al Ghous killed in airstrikes against Zamalaka on March 29th, 2017 (via SN4HR)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2037

Incident date

March 28, 2017

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6102782, 36.4810681 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and at least two others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against Al Fatira village in southern Idlib. All sources that named a culprit identified Russia as responsible while @EdlibNN did not blame anyone for the airstrikes.

Hamoud Al Awad described the victim of the airstrikes, Abdullah Fayez al Satouf, as a simple worker who had young children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image of Abdullah Fayez al-Satouf, killed in airstrikes against Al Fatira - March 28, 2017 (via Hamoud Al Awad Facebook)
  • Image of the explosion caused by the airstrike against Al Fatira - March 28, 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre Facebook)

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)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2035

Incident date

March 27, 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

At least one civilian, a child, was killed and others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against Douma in the Damascus countryside, according to sources on the ground.

Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including @Omar_Madaniah and @ahmadalqalmone, identified Russian planes as being responsible for the airstrikes. However, @SyriaPressorg1 attributed the airstrikes to the regime and the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to both regime and Russian as carrying out shelling on Douma.

Even as civil defense teams were attempting to rescue civilians from the rubble, missiles continued to strike the city of Douma. According to @Doumarevolutio1, and both airstrikes and artillery shells struck residential neighborhoods and led to casualties.

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)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of a children injured in the airstrikes against Douma on March 27th, 2017 (via Douma Medical)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of a children injured in the airstrikes against Douma on March 27th, 2017 (via Douma Medical)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of a children injured in the airstrikes against Douma on March 27th, 2017 (via Douma Medical)
  • Video of civil defense teams searching for victims as airstrikes continue to explode in Douma - March 27th, 2017 (via Youtube)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of the child Yusuf al-Masri killed in airstrikes against Douma on March 27th, 2017 (via @Omar_Madaniah)

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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]