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

RS1902

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were reportedly wounded during an alleged Russian airstrike on Jisr Al-Shoghour, according to local media. There were limited known sources for this event and it should be noted that only one source attributed responsibility to Russia.

Both AMC Aleppo and RFS North tweeted that one woman had been injured in an unidentified airstrike in Salhiyah, Jisr Al-Shoghour.

However, Idlib Media Centre reported that “Russian occupation raids have stepped up on the area around Jisr al Shoughour…injuring a woman and a man”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1901

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

درعا البلد, Dara'a Al-Balad, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.607961, 36.099127 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, Mohammed Nour – a reporter for Al Jazeera – was injured in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Dara’a Al- Balad, according to multiple sources.

Smart News reported that “aircraft likely to be Russian renewed raids on the neighbourhood of Daraa Al-Balad”. Whilst most sources also pointed towards Russia as being responsible for the event, some did suggest regime involvement.

However, some sources reported that “four barrels of explosives” were also dropped on Dara’a Al-Balad during the attack – a weapon that Assad’s regime was known to have used.

According to SMO news, “the aircraft carried out more than 11 raids on the districts of Daraa al-Balad.”

This event was part of a wider campaign by Russian and Syrian forces around the neighbourhoods of Dara’a this day, which reportedly killed between seven and ten civilians.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Pictures of the rising smoke from the neighbourhoods of Dara'a country in the city of Dara'a after being hit by Russian air raids today.
  • Translation: This is not the first time that our correspondent was injured in the coverage of the battles in the neighborhood of #Manshieh # Daraa_ Al-Ballad - when he was hit by a raid.
  • Translation: Media reporter Mohammed Nour, a reporter for Al Jazeera TV, was injured by the raid.

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
    Unknown
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1899

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

بصرى الشام , Basra al Sham, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.518102, 36.48006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of one adult male civilian (named below) in an airstrike on Basra al Sham.

Most sources attributed the strike to Russia – and published images showing widespread destruction in the town. Civilian homes and a school were among the buildings reportedly damaged.

However Aljazeera and several other sources reported that the regime had also carried out air and artillery strikes on Basra al Sham.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male VDC blames Russia for his death. killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The destruction of schools and civilian homes in the city of # Bosra al-Sham in the village of Dar'a al-Sharqi after being struck by Russian planes'
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Basra al Shamm Feb 17th (via Bosrapress)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Basra al Shamm Feb 17th (via Bosrapress)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Basra al Shamm Feb 17th (via Bosrapress)
  • More images of the aftermath of the alleged Russian strike on Basra al Shamm Feb 17th.
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes carried out seven air raids on the city of Basra until the moment'
  • Translation: 'watch the destruction caused by the Russian raids on Basra al Sham in Daraa'

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1898

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

أم المياذن , Um Almayathen, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.585547, 36.190245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and eight civilians (five of whom were named) died and as many as dozens more wounded in an airstrike on Um Almayathen, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Rasd only reported wounded civilians, putting the number of injured at three – and blaming Russia.

But Orient said that four civilians from one family had been killed by Russian warplanes.

However, Daraa Martyrs listed three males as killed by explosive barrels reportedly dropped by the regime.

According to SMO, “helicopters dropped four explosive barrels on the town of Umm Al-Mayazen, killing one woman and her two children, and injuring dozens of civilians.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pointed to both Russia and the regime, reporting “at least nine died, including three children and three citizen women, in the intense bombardment by Russia’s and the regime’s warplanes and helicopters, along with shelling by regime forces on areas in the towns of Um al-Mayathen, Bosra Sham, Tafas, Yadodeh”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male ' He was killed after he was hit by explosive shells on the town of Umm al-Mayan, a displaced Golani' killed
Adult male ' He was killed after he was hit by explosive shells on the town of Umm al-Mayan, a displaced Golani' killed
Adult male ' He was killed after he was hit by explosive shells on the town of Umm al-Mayan, a displaced Golani' killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male VDC blamed Russia for this man's death. killed
Adult male VDC blamed Russia for this man's death killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children1 woman5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'ussian raids on the town of #M_Mayanaan rural Daraa east'

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
    5 – 8
  • (2 children1 woman5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1897

Incident date

February 16, 2017

Location

النقير والركايا , An IDP camp, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.497644, 36.559668 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian warplanes used rockets loaded with cluster bombs on the towns of al Nakir and al Rakaya, targeting a camp of IDPs in the area and leaving a number of wounded among the IDPs amidst continuous shelling of the are for the last two days.”

Mozmjr0 and  Alikrarkaralso blamed Russia – though the Step News Agency said that Russia and the regime had carried out strikes.

 

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 (8) [ 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
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1896

Incident date

February 16, 2017

Location

قرية الكفير,, al Kfir village, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.043867, 36.37178 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Idlib Media Centre reported that there were “two wounded following Russian occupation raids on al Kfir village near Jisr al Shoughour in the Idlib countryside.”

According to Shaban Abukhaled, “Russian warplanes launched missile attacks on rural villages and towns of Jisir Al Shoghour in idlib countryside” – but the source made no mention of civilian harm.

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
    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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1895

Incident date

February 15–16, 2017

Location

صيدا , Saida, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named child died and dozens more civilians were wounded in alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on Saida, according to sources on the ground.

Omar Balkhi5  reported that a hospital in the town had been put out of service and that “dozens” of civilians had been wounded in a Russian strike.

According to Aljazeera, “a girl was killed and others were injured in Russian raids on the town of Saida in rural Daraa in southern Syria.” Aljazeera’s correspondent went on to add that “six field hospitals had stopped working because of the Russian raids heavily on the province of Daraa.”

However, Radio Alkul reported that the regime was responsible. According to “media activist Ahmed Al-Masalmeh  than 10 Syrian air strikes targeted the town of Naima in addition to three explosive barrels hitting the town of Saida, which resulted in a large number of wounded – with a number of people trapped under the rubble”.

Sky News also pointed towards the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child killed
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

RS1894

Incident date

February 15, 2017

Location

اليادودة, Al Yadouda town, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.674634, 36.055718 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in up to six alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Yadouda town, according to local media. Sources showed widespread destruction in the town and reported that a hospital had been taken out of service as a result of the raids,

Ara news reported: “Intensive air strikes resulted in the injury of several civilians, including women, and the destruction of the field hospital, which was put out of service. in the town of Yadouda”.

According to All4Syria on February 16th, “six hospitals have been out of service in the past 24 hours as Russian warplanes and helicopters attacked cities and towns of Daraa with more than 60 raids and explosive grenades, raising the number of raids and explosive barrels dropped over the past few days to more than 130″.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The destruction of the town of Al-Yadouda was caused by the Russian warplanes'.
  • Translation: 'The moment Al Yadouda was targeted with airstrikes'
  • Translation: 'Damage to residential buildings in the town of Al Yadouda as a result six raids, on 15-2-2017".

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]