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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS398

Incident date

January 16, 2016

Location

معرسة الخان, Ma’arasta al Khan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.38032, 37.0744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ma’arasta al Khan, according to the Shaam News Network.

SNN said that 10 civilians were killed in airstrikes on the cities and towns of the northern countryside of Aleppo since Saturday morning: four in Ma’arsta al-Khan, two in Hayyan, two in Tal Rifaat and two in Tamoura, in addition to dozens wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “a number of civilians were killed by Russian airstrikes targeted Ma’arsta al-Khan in the northern countryside,” but did not give casualty figures.

Additionally, the White Helmets said that there were airstrikes on Ma’arasta al Khan, but only said they were carried out by “warplanes“. They published a video showing members of their team putting out fires on the Ma’arasta al Khan road.

The Qasioun News Agency published a video showing a “huge fire” following alleged Russian strikes.

Jisr Satellite Channel and Aleppo Countryside Ma’arasta Khan also attributed the incident to Russia.

However, according to Fresh Syria, the regime was responsible: “Four civilians were killed and several others wounded on Saturday morning, when regime helicopters dropped three explosive barrels on the village of ‘Mararasta Khan’ in the countryside north of Aleppo, according to our correspondent.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'The civil defence moving martyrs and wounded following raids by warplanes on the village of Ma’arasta Khan in the Northern Aleppo countryside.' (via, The White Helmets)
  • Huge fires as a result of alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids on 16th January 2016. (via, The White Helmets)
  • More footage of the fires which continued into the evening due to their scale. (via, Qasioun News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1520

Incident date

November 2, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians, including a child, were killed and up to nine more were injured from two aerial bombings of the city of Al Atarib. The strikes reportedly struck a bakery, a hospital, and several civilian houses, causing damage extensive enough to shut the hospital down.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a child and an old man were killed and others were injured, when warplanes bombed areas in Atareb town”.

The majority of sources credited the attacks to Russian warplanes but the Syrian Network for Human Rights and @NabaaSyria identified Syrian regime forces as being responsible.

Sources noted that the death toll was expected to rise due to some being in critical condition from the injuries they had sustained.

An image published by SN4HR showed the father of one of the victims burying his child, who was killed by the airstrikes. SN4HR also reported the use of cluster bombs in the attack.

According to a report by the Shaam News Network, “Activists said Russian warplanes struck the bakery in Al Atarib, the hospital and civilian houses with several missiles. This resulted in the deaths of three civilians, damage to the bakery and the hospital. Both facilities were completely put out of service.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yahya Ahmed Juwaini
Child child of Ahmad Juwaini, named by SN4HR and @24Aleppo killed
Ahmed Junaid Orabi “Abu Samir”
Age unknown male named by SN4HR and @24Aleppo killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (0–1 children0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–9
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Jwaini buries his child Yahya who was killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, 2nd November 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Some bread covered in the blood of a civilian who was killed by an airstrike which targeted a bakery by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, Al Atarib 2nd November 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Some bread covered in the blood of a civilian who was killed by an airstrike which targeted a bakery by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, Al Atarib 2nd November 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Some bread covered in the blood of a civilian who was killed by an airstrike which targeted a bakery by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, Al Atarib 2nd November 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that “Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces General of the Army Valery Gerasimov stated about the decision taken by the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu to set a humanitarian pause in Aleppo at 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on November 4 under the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief :“All attempts of insurgents to break through in Aleppo have not succeeded. Terrorists have suffered mass losses in manpower, armament and combat hardware. They have no possibilities to leave the city.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (0–1 children0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–9
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1939

Incident date

March 4, 2017

Location

خفسة, Khafsa, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2308082, 38.021965 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed and up to three wounded when airstrikes, believed to be Russian, struck Khafsa, Aleppo, multiple sources reported.

All the sources, who reported about the number of victims, agreed that four civilians were killed. The Syrian Network for added that all four victims were from the same family.

Some sources merely referred to “warplanes”, while the majority, however, attributed blame to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Martyrs' video listing, @1’15”, four unidentified victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Khafsa, March 4th.

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 strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS3689

Incident date

May 10, 2019

Location

كفر نبل, Kafar Nubul, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians including a child and one or two women died and as many as 20 other civilians were wounded in shelling on Kafar Nabil, according to local media. Sources blamed surface-to-surface missiles, cluster bombs and rockets for the civilian harm and were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were to blame.

The Step News Agency pointed to Russia, putting the death toll at two civilians. According to @abuhuzaifa_, “Russian occupation aircraft targeted the surgical hospital Sham in the city of Kafar Naibl with concussion missiles” – though the source made no mention of civilian harm.

But most reports attributed the attacks to to the Assad regime. The Smart News agency said that “a woman and a child” died and “more than 10 other civilians were wounded”. In a later post it said that “a man and a woman were killed”.

According to Smart, “One of the residents, Khaled al-Khalaf, said that cluster bombs targeted residential areas in the city center, killing two civilians and seriously wounding others. Fires broke out in residential homes and property.”

A report by the White Helmets named two victims: “A woman called Khayriya Al Baiyoush and a man called Mohammed al-Jawhar (displaced from Halfaia village) died and 20 others were injured when high-explosive rockets and cluster bombs were fired by regime forces on the southern town of Kafar Nabil.”

The White Helmets provided some additional details, noting that the attacks which “included cluster  bombs targeted most neighborhoods of the city at 2:15 pm. Some targeted the Grand City mosque, another mosque in the city, and the Al Noor residential complex.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khayriya Al Baiyoush خيريه الحبوش
Adult female killed
Mohammed al-Jawhar محمد الجوهر
Adult male killed
Mohannad Al Jawhar مهند أحمد الجوهر
Child male Unclear whether possibly the same person as Mohammad Al Jawhar killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • An alleged regime "surface-to-surface missile" strike hits Kafar Nabil, May 10th (via EMC)
  • An alleged regime "surface-to-surface missile" strike hits Kafar Nabil, May 10th (via EMC)
  • An alleged regime "surface-to-surface missile" strike hits Kafar Nabil, May 10th (via EMC)
  • An alleged regime "surface-to-surface missile" strike hits Kafar Nabil, May 10th (via EMC)
  • "Image showing remnants of a cluster munition was fired by Syrian regime forces missile launcher on Kafranbel city in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on May 10." (via SN4HR)
  • Russian raids on Kafr Nubul on May 10th, 2019. (via Enab Baladi).
  • Syrian regime attacks Kafr Nubul with rockets on May 10th, 2019. (Via @Sy24ria)
  • Syrian regime attacks Kafr Nubul with rockets on May 10th, 2019. (Via @Sy24ria)
  • Syrian regime attacks Kafr Nubul with rockets on May 10th, 2019. (Via @Sy24ria)
  • Syrian regime attacks Kafr Nubul with rockets on May 10th, 2019. (Via @Sy24ria)
  • A Syrian regime rocket fired on a children's playground in Kafr Nubul on May 10th, 2019. Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.
  • SCD volunteers putting out fire caused by a Syrian regime rocket on a children's playground in Kafr Nubul on May 10th, 2019. Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.
  • SCD volunteers putting out fire caused by a Syrian regime rocket on a children's playground in Kafr Nubul on May 10th, 2019. Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.
  • SCD volunteers putting out fire caused by a Syrian regime rocket on a children's playground in Kafr Nubul on May 10th, 2019. Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS281

Incident date

December 15, 2015

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including two children were killed in airstrikes on the Fardous neighbourhood, Aleppo, according to multiple sources – though it is unclear whether regime or Russian warplanes were responsible for the attacks.

The Shaam News Network reported that three non-combatants were killed in Russian airstrikes.

But the White Helmets suggested that the Assad regime may have been responsible, stating: “The crimes of Assad’s army continue and Al Ferdos neighbourhood in Aleppo has received its share of strikes this afternoon.”

The Violations Documentation Centre listed four victims as killed in Russian airforce shelling including 3 unidentified:

Unidentified 1 – child, male

Unidentified 2 – adult, female

Unidentified – adult, female

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Hsain Bsees
Child male named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets place the body of a wounded person in an ambulance following airstrike on the Al Ferdos neighbourhood, December 15th. (via White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians, including children, are lifted out of the rubble. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 15th-16th 2015, Russia reported that “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 59 combat sorties engaging 212 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah provinces… In the Aleppo province, a Su-24 bomber made a strike on an ISIS concentration of manpower and military hardware. Objective monitoring data confirmed elimination of not less than 10 militants and 3 automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS505

Incident date

January 29, 2016

Location

الموظفين, Al Mouwathafeen (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3316696, 40.1282287 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or four non-combatants died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mouwathafeen village, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights and others.

However Al Khabar TV reported that “three children from the Maslawi family, including two brothers, were killed by a mortar targeted the Al Mouwathafeen neighborhood.” Deir News Network also said the deaths of four civilians near the mosque were due to a mortar round.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Member of the Maslawi family 1
Child named by Al Khabar TV killed
Member of the Maslawi family 2
Child named by Al Khabar TV killed
Member of the Maslawi family 3
Child named by Al Khabar TV killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (6) [ 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.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS697

Incident date

February 29, 2016

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or four civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hamidiya, according to local sources.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said two homes were destroyed killing 2 adult males.The victims were also named by the Violations Documentation Centre. According to Alarabay, tens of other civilians were also injured.

All4Syria reported that Russia had carried out three raids on Hamidiya. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , along with some other sources, reported strikes on Hamidiya, but did not say who the “warplanes” that carried then out belonged to.

Damascus Centre for Human Rights listed an unidentified civilian from Aleppo as killed in the neighbourhood, while Syrian Human Rights Committee later named an additional victim who died from “wounds sustained in a Russian strike the previous month”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Ismail Al Kbeissi
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Mohammad Madad
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Jalal Hassoun Alawi
Age unknown male died from his wounds killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (19) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3141

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

بيت سوى, Beit Sawa, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.537531, 36.399937 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as four civilians were reported as killed, and others injured, due to air and artillery strikes in Beit Sawa, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids.

The raids struck a residential area, and killed as many as three children.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported “three martyrs, including one child, as a result of aerial bombardments, artillery and cluster rockets on residential neighbourhoods in the town of Beat Sawa and Masraba in eastern Al Ghouta.”

The only other details given by local media are that members of the Civil Defence were at the scene digging victims from the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ibraheem Fares
Child male killed
Hamzeh Ibraheem al-Fares
Child male killed
Sobhia Omer
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 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 (9) [ 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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 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 (9) [ collapse]