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

RS3081

Incident date

February 24, 2018

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52034, 36.36494 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, the town of Hazza, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was struck by  air raids, possibly killing one civilian while wounding several, though it was unclear who was to blame.

SYR_REV_NEWS reported how unidentified warplanes “launched two raids” in Hazza, and it by others was reported that residential neighbourhoods were struck.

Only one source, Douma Revolution, reported that the strikes had resulted in a civilian fatality. The source tweeted that a civilian male was killed as his house was hit.

The remaining sources reported that the strikes had wounded several.

While most sources, including MasarPressNet and Smart News Agency, blamed Russian forces, the event remains contested as Step News Agency, for example, pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

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
    0 – 1
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1031

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

بني زيد, Bani Zeid, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.235135, 37.130699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman named Hasna’a Ali Danon, aged 55, was killed on July 22nd by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes in Bani Zeid, sources on the ground reported.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime for “artillery shelling” and “warplane shelling” on the neighbourhood. The reports claimed it caused destruction to buildings with no civilian casualties.

Halab News reported the named victim. Moreover, a local news source tweeted: “Russian warplanes shelled the Bani Zeid neighbourhood and Al-Atarib in the countryside of Aleppo with cluster bombs.”

Two pro-regime twitter feeds blamed both Assad regime and Russia for the raids, which reportedly included cluster bombs.

Multiple sources confirmed that attacks also took place in Al-Atareb, Bustan Al-Qaser, Castello and Handarat.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasna’a Ali Danon
55 years old female killed

Summary

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

  • Halab Today lists martyrs on June 22nd and says at 0’20” that Hasna Ali Danoun, 55 years old, died from Russian raids in Bani Zeid (via Halab Today)

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 July 16th – 27th 2016.

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 woman)
  • 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

RS1063

Incident date

July 29, 2016

Location

معرة حرمة, Maraat Harma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5497387, 36.5422624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian – either a doctor or a nurse – died and other medical staff were reportedly wounded in an airstrike on a hospital/medical facility in Maarat Harma, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

According to Zamanalwasl, “Assad warplanes shelled Ma’arat Harmaa, killing a civilian who was originally from Kafranbi”.

EMC and EdlibNN also said that the regime carried out strikes on the area.

Baladi, however, blamed Russia, reporting that “Russian warplanes shelled the edges of Ma’arat Harma, killing a nurse and wounding three people.”

HNN said that Russian warplanes struck a hospital, “killing a doctor and wounding the staff while rendering the hospital out of service”.

Sadaaltwhed and Syriamubashar also attributed the event to Russia.

But a number of other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 29th – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1112

Incident date

August 9, 2016

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1994732, 36.871233 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed by warplane rockets, according to Halab Today and VDS-SY. A further two civilians were also injured in the attack, according to the Smart News Agency.

Sources attributed the attack to Russian warplanes, and reported that fires broke out in civilian homes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male a displaced person from Aleppo 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 (13) [ collapse]

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4027

Incident date

August 14, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Sijna, Idlib governorate, on August 14th, 2019, according to local sources. At least two other civilians were injured.

Smart News Agency reported the “martyrdom of a civilian and three others wounded, as a result of the targeting of Khan Sheikhoun, Sheikh Dams and the town of Kafr Sijna, by Russian warplanes, helicopters and rocket launchers.”

Shabab Al Latamina stated that “two young brothers, Omar and Ahmad Khaled Al-Junaid, from Al-Latamina city, are injured due to the regime’s aerial bombardment on Kafar Sijna town of Edlib southern countryside.”

Meanwhile, Shahba Press tweeted “a civilian martyr and several wounded due to aerial bombardments by Assad’s Army warplanes targeting Kafr Sijna town of Edlib countryside.”

According to @HalabTodayTV, “a civilian was killed by airstrikes on the road to the town of Kafr Sijnah in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

@baladinetwork tweeted: “A civilian martyr in the bombing of the warplanes with C5 missiles around the towns of Kafr Sijna and Al Rakaya in the southern Idlib countryside.”

While most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the strikes, but Smart News Agency reported that Russian warplanes and helicopters had targeted the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1176

Incident date

August 21, 2016

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named civilian died and several more were wounded in shelling of Ghantou, according to local media. Most sources blamed the regime, specifying a mortar or rocket attack.

@MasarPressNet blamed the regime for firing mortars on the town, while @RadioAlKul said that regime artillery strikes were conducted. Other sources blaming the regime included LCCSY and RFS Media Office.

A number of other reports said that airstrikes had been carried out over the area – though the sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Bashar Mahmoud Assaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bashar Mahmoud Assaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • The destruction caused to civilian homes. (via, Ghantou hadath)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The burial of Bashar Mahmoud Assaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Ghantou hadath)

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 August 20th – 31st 2016.

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 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1468

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

الحيدرية, al Haydariya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2372814, 37.1923256 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian died and an unspecified number more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Haydariya neighbourhood, local sources reported.

According to Syrian Press Center, “the Russian air force on Sunday [Oct 16th] launched rock-based attacks on the neighborhoods of Haidariyah, Bab al-Nayrab, Sheikh Fares, Karam al-Tarab, al-Miser, Dahra Awwad, al-Jazmati, Al Qatana. There are dozens of people trapped under the rubble. Civil Defense teams are still searching for survivors under the rubble”.

A number of sources didn’t identify the warplanes that carried out the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1600

Incident date

November 17, 2016

Location

بلدة العيس, Al Eis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.994645, 36.999917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in a suspected Russian airstrike on Al Eis town in Aleppo, according to one source. The civilian was named in a list of victims by Halab News Network.

There is currently no further information.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad (Surname unknown)
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]