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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Russian Military
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Incident Code

RS2762

Incident date

November 23–24, 2017

Location

ابوحردوب, Abou Hardoub, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.853038, 40.637715 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and others were injured in air and artillery strikes on Abou Hardoub, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Local media reported that house of Oweid Al Dulan struck. He was killed as well as two members of his family

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Oweid Al Dulan
60 years old male killed
Khaled Slueiman Oweid Mohammad al-Dulan
Child male killed
Grandchild of Oweid Mohammad al-Dulan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Victims of the raids on Abou Hardoub, 25th Nov 2017. (via S.M.C.)
  • Victims of the raids on Abou Hardoub, 25th Nov 2017. (via S.M.C.)

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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1218

Incident date

September 4, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one child died and up to seven more were wounded in an airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Anapress Smart, Syrian Press Centre and Halab Today all blamed Russia.

However, Step News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards the regime.

Alwatan and Syrian News blamed both “Russian and Syrian warplanes”, as did the Shaam News Network.

According to Halabtoday, “Warplanes launched C5 missiles and used heavy machine guns to target the road between kafr Naha and Urma Al-Kubra in the western countryside of Aleppo”.

In a video published by Baladi, a witness says: “The suddenly warplanes targeted a civilian house which was was set on fire. Three people were killed including a woman and one of the victims lost his head.”

Several other sources said that civilian homes were completely destroyed in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of a civilian residence allegedly struck by Russian warplanes - according to the source four people died (Youtube via Baladi)

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 strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1779

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Ferdos, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Ferdos neighbourhood killed three civilians, local sources reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The incident was reportedly part of a larger aerial shelling of Aleppo, that in total killed and wounded “dozens” on December 8th 2016, Aletihad Press News reported. According to that source, the shelling of Al Ferdos led to three civilian fatalities.

@HalabTodayTV additionally reported that “the regime forces targeted the Al Ferdos neighbourhood in Aleppo, which has been besieged by more than 100 missiles and missiles since the morning [Dec 8th]”.

@HalabTodayTV (and several other sources) pointed to the Syrian regime. However, other sources attributed the event to Russia. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2080

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

الحور, Hor, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.88256, 38.17169 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and her two children were killed, and as many as four more civilians were injured, following an airstrike on the residential neighbourhood of Hor, Aleppo. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid.

Al Jazeera initially reported that “a girl and her mother were killed in the bombing” on Hor, however, later reports suggested it was a mother and her two children.

According to Syria News Desk, an entire family of four were injured in the strike on their home. 

Orient news reported that there were “four raids [with] vacuum rockets on the town of Hor, Aleppo”. They did not specify how many civilians were wounded.

Smart Mews reported that “A member of the Information Office of the Civil Defence in Aleppo, Ibrahim Abu Laith, said that Russian warplanes are likely to have carried out four raids on residential neighbourhood in the town of Hor (15 km west of Aleppo), the civil defence teams rushed to retrieve the mother and her two children from the rubble, others were injured”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (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 strikes between April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2153

Incident date

April 21, 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

Up to three civilians were killed, and others were wounded – including a child – following an air and artillery strike in Douma, according to local sources. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raids. Some sources blamed Russia, while most blamed the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the “Russian-Syrian alliance”.

In a video which was initially published by the White Helmets and republished by Douma coordination, members of the White Helmets rescued an injured man. The rescue party is then struck by another raid. One member of the team is seen holding a child.

Additionally, one source claims that the civil defence teams were specifically targeted by the warplanes.

A child was pictured as wounded in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the civil defence go to rescue a wounded man and encounter another airstrike. One man can be seen holding a child. Douma, 21st April 2017. (via Douma coordination)
  • A news bulletin reporting on Russian airstrikes in Douma, 21st April 2017. (via Jisir)
  • Members of the civil defence rescuing a wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. Douma, 21st April 2017. (via Halabtoday)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the civil defence rescuing a wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. Douma, 21st April 2017. (via SN4HR)

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 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
  • 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

RS2372

Incident date

July 28, 2017

Location

مراط, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.31407, 40.23865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and an unspecified number were wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes on Mrat town in Deir Ezzor countryside, local media reported.

Only two sources attributed their blame to Russia, while others did not attribute blame. One named “military aircraft”.

The strikes “targeted the house of Denous al-Besha’an” causing three civilian deaths, according to Freedierazourradio.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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]

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 July 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

RS2851

Incident date

January 5, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and dozens more were wounded in air and artillery strikes which hit Arbeen, local media reported. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids.

Baladi News was the only source to specify that three civilians were killed.

According to the Smart News Agency, an entire family was killed which led to the local council of Arbeen putting pressure on the international community to end Russian impunities, however no other source reported this.

As many as 70 raids were allegedly “targeted” at Harasta and Arbeen throughout the week, according to Anapress. Another source added that “The cities of “Harasta” and “Arabeen” on Thursday [received] more than 60 land-to-land missiles and more than 300 shells”.

Alsouriya News added that “Russian air force intensified its strikes on residential neighbourhoods targeting the towns of Hamuriya, Madera and the Arbeen and Harsta and Masara several raids, causing extensive destruction and a number of victims.”

Members of the Civil Defence took victims to a medical facility to receive treatment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 5th Jan 2018. (via Zamanalwasl)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians in a medical facility reviving treatment in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 5th Jan 2018. (via U.M.O erbeen)
  • Civilians in a medical facility reviving treatment in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 5th Jan 2018. (via SCDrifdimashq)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In an article published on January 30th 2018 Russia reported: ”crews of the Aerospace Forces of Russia had successfully performed 34,561 sorties. The Minister of Defence pointed out that the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, as well as the Su-24M, Su-34 and Su-35S short-range aircraft had proved to be efficient. The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers delivered 66 strikes by cruise missiles, and each eliminated the assigned target. The Minister of Defence also stated that Russian UAVs provided complete control over the whole Syrian territory. The head of the military department paid attention to the significant contribution to the achievement of the operation made by the Navy. The naval surface forces carried out 171 combat missions. The ships and submarines carried out 100 high-precision attacks with the Kalibr cruise missiles. For the first time, the aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Kuznetsov" participated in combat operations. Due to high professional skills of deck aircraft, 1,252 terrorist objects were eliminated.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3662

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

ترملا, Tarmala, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as 10 more were injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Tarmala, local media reported.

Several sources reported only one fatality, though it was widely reported that a man and his seven-year-old daughter were killed, and that the rest of the family got injured.

Other reports mentioned the deaths of a man and a woman. For example, according to the White Helmets, the strikes caused “the death of a man and a woman and the injury of two other children from the town of Tarmala in the countryside of south Idlib South.” The report added that  civilian homes had been targeted with “artillery shelling that originated from regime forces ”

Tarmala village in Idlib. Six others were reported wounded.

SY24 suggested that two children were killed and several others wounded, adding that a school and mosque were damaged. Several other reports said that a hospital in the town was struck and rendered out of service.

Smart News Agency put the death count at three civilians “including a woman and a girl with 10 others injured as a result of dozens of raids with explosive barrels fired by Russian and regime forces”.

Sada.pro noted: “On Sunday [May 5th], the local councils in both the towns of Tarmala and Homs south of Idlib announced in separate statements that the two areas were devastated by the continuing shelling of Russia and the regime.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled al Fahd
Adult male killed
Daughter of Khaled al Fahd
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Khaled al Fahd was killed along with his daughter in an alleged Russian airstrike on Tarmala village in Idlib on May 5th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Translation: 'A child and her father were killed by an air strike on the town of Tremala, south of Idlib, Syria'
  • An alleged Russian or regime raid hits Tarmala, May 5th 2019 (via Ebaa )
  • An alleged Russian or regime raid hits Tarmala, May 5th 2019 (via Ebaa )
  • An alleged Russian or regime raid hits Tarmala, May 5th 2019 (via Ebaa )
  • The aftermath of strikes on Tarmala, May 5th.
  • Aftermath of a barrel bomb attack on Tarmala, May 5th.
  • Translation: "Helicopter aircraft throws explosive barrels on the outskirts of the village of Tarmala in southern countryside Idlib"

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (40) [ collapse]