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

RS2651

Incident date

October 21, 2017

Location

الغبرة, Al-Ghabra, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.537778, 40.9125 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of three was killed – including a father, mother and daughter – and one other civilian was injured, following an airstrike on Al-Ghabra, local media reported. Sources either blamed Russian warplanes for the raids, or did not attribute any blame.

Deirezzor24 reported that there was extensive damage to property in the aftermath of the airstrikes. 

There are no more details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Naim Kafi Elias Al Matrood
Adult male killed
Wife of Naim Kafi Elias Al Matrood
Adult female killed
Child of Naim Kafi Elias Al Matrood
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Naeem Kafi Elias, killed in an airstrike on Al-Ghabra, 21st October 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Al-Ghabra, 21st October 2017. (via Euphrates Post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2824

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

تحتايا, Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5105879, 36.7138624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two airstrikes which hit Tahtaya killed three civilians and wounded another three, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes for the airstrikes.

Despite @AjamiNetwork reporting there were no civilian casualties, all other sources reported on civilian harm.

According to Baladi News, the victims were pulled out of the rubble by members of the Syrian Civil Defence.

Rozanafm News reported that these victims brought the overall death toll up for December 28th to 22.

Some sources reported that an unspecified number of victims were wounded, however the highest reported figure is three.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 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
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2483

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

خشام, Khisham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3020098, 40.2914143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, members of the same family, were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Khisham in the eastern suburbs of Deir Ezzor according to a local source. Step News Agency was the only source to report on the civilian harm and they identified Russian planes as responsible for carrying out the airstrikes.

The sources do not establish a clear date however, a number of other sources reported clashes on the 19th in the area.

Some graphic images published regarding the clashes in the vicinity y Moussa al Omar, shows the victims to have an a’amaq logo on their dog-tags, suggesting they were members of ISIL.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS252

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

كفر نايا, Kafr Naya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4201, 37.07461 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three children and a civilian man were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naya, Aleppo, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that three civilians were killed by Russian warplanes but listed all the victims as children.

The VDC named two victims and also included one Unidentified – child, male.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Aadel Assaf
Child male killed
Hussain Aadel Assaf
Child male killed
Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim Al Abed
50 years old male Named as the fourth victim by Syria 2011. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the destruction to the local area in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Syria2011)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of two children killed in Kafra Naya. (via, Mamoun al Khateeb tweet)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2892

Incident date

January 13, 2018

Location

كفر بطيخ, Kafr Batikh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.781729, 36.72122 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to four civilians were reportedly killed, and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes which struck the vicinity of Kafr Batikh. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for airstrikes.

Sources reported that RPGs were fired on the vicinity by SU 24 planes, which are Russian.

The event was described as a massacre, due to the high number of dead and wounded.

In addition, local media reported that as many as 20 shops and homes were destroyed in the raids. Members of the Civil Defence worked to dig victims out of the rubble in the aftermath of the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Hadi Al Abdullah)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Mu’az Al Shami)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Abou Al Souss)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batikh, 13th Jan 2018. (via @mohamad_msry)

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3736

Incident date

May 29, 2019

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019, according to local sources.

@NagiNajjar reported that “three civilian men were martyred as a result of an airstrike by the warplanes of the Assad forces on the outskirts of the town of Habit this morning, where Civil Defence men were able to pull their bodies from the target place and hand them over to their families.”

According to Shaam News Network, there were “four martyrs in Al Habeet from the same family”, while other sources cite three fatalities, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights states that “two civilians and a fighter” were killed in the attack. Anadolu Agency also reported the death of four civilians.

Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura identified the victims as Ismail Khaled Khanfoura, Mustafa Khaled Khanfoura and Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khanfoura.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria added that an unknown number of civilians was wounded in the strikes.

@MMCSYR2 reported the use of explosive barrels fired by regime helicopters. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that missiles were fired on agricultural land.

While most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the airstrikes, Halab Today TV pointed to Russia, whereas Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ismail Khaled Khanfoura اسماعيل خالد خنفورة
Adult male killed
Mustafa Khaled Khanfoura مصطفى خالد خنفورة
Adult male killed
Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khanfoura د محمد عبد القادر خنفورة
Adult killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the airstrikes on Al Habeet on May 29th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Translation: “Three civilian men were martyred as a result of an air strike by the warplanes of the Assad forces on the outskirts of the town of Al Habit this morning, where civil defense men were able to pull their bodies from the target place and hand them over to their families” (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on May 29th, 2019 (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Translation: “The town of Habit belongs to God and to Him we shall return. The martyr Ismail Khaled Khanfoura. The martyr Mustafa Khaled Khanfoura. The martyr Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khanfoura” (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019 (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019 (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019 (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2992

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and at least one child was wounded following alleged Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Saqba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Saqba was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

While HalabTodayTV reported two fatalities, other sources reported three and four. For example, the Syrian Press Center reported that four civilians were killed by one airstrike. SOHR also reported four victims, including one woman. Additionally, SOHR reported that “areas” of Sabqa was subject to aerial shelling, indicating more than one strike.

The only victim identified by name was the three-months-old child Ibrahim, the son of a White Helmet volunteer, Saaed, as depicted below, reported by Hadi Abdullah.

While no sources reported the number of wounded, the incident inflicted great damage on residential houses, and according to videos and photos, several civilians, including at least one child, were left under the rubble.

All sources besides Masrawy News reported about aerial shelling. However, because Masrawy News reported about both aerial shelling and missile attacks in eastern towns Ghouta on February 6th, it is possible that ground-launched weaponry also caused civilian harm.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. While most sources, including SOHR and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, identified the Syrian regime as responsible, Damascus Media Center pointed to Russia.

Meanwhile, LCCSY pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim
3 months years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • A White Helmet member carrying the body of his dead child, Ibrahim, who was killed by the contested airstrikes in Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Hadi Abdullah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence trying to rescue children from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Abu Alhuda Homsi)
  • The immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested airstrikes in Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Mohammed ALdaher)
  • The moment the contested airstrikes hit Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • The moment the contested airstrikes hit Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Child stuck in the rubble of his home following the contested airstrikes hit Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

RS476

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

الخريطة, Al Khareeta, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.70014, 40.79364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or more civilians including 2 to 3 women and one child were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Khareeta, according to three sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the victims died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Al Khareeta. Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently also put the death toll at three and reported that the attack was carried out by Russian warplanes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Subha Al Ali Al Hassan
Adult female named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Subha Al Mohammad al Sallouh
Adult female named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Mohammad Ali Al Shawwakh
Child male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2–3 women)
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district…The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2–3 women)
  • 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]