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
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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:

Abdulaelah Abdullah al Zoabi
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

RS3575

Incident date

January 16, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, artillery shelling targeted a civilian house in Kafr Zeita, north of Hama. The resident, a woman, allegedly died of her injuries on January 29th after being hit by a missile on January 16th. 

There were varying reports on the culprit; some sources blamed the Syrian regime while others blamed Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Radia al-Omar Hoshan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ 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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2015

Incident date

March 23, 2017

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and several wounded as alleged Russian airstrikes struck the town of Kafr Zita, Hama, local media reported.

RFS Media Office reported that “the town of Kfar Zeita was targeted by more than 20 raids resulting in the death of a martyr and several wounded.”

RFS Media Office and Step News Agency pointed to Russia as the culprit, while the remaining sources did not identify the 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ 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 March 1st - 31st 2017.

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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2373

Incident date

July 30, 2017

Location

الخميسية, Al-Khamesiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.764585, 39.564181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A shepherd was killed during the bombing on the outskirts of a “camp” – most likely for internally displaced people – in Al-Khamesiya. Sources all attributed blame to Russia for the strikes.

A source states that “the house of Fawaz al-Hamdan was bombed, and the house of Mohammed al-Ghafili, and Beit Hamoud al-Dashar… [as well as] bombing the morning on the outskirts of the camp”. This was all within the vicinity of Al-Khamesiya.

In unpublished Amnesty field notes shared with Airwars, it was reported that “Fifteen days ago [c July 11th] ‘the Russians’ started dropping barrel bombs [in the areas near Maadan]. The first barrel bomb attack on Maadan was one week ago [around 19 July]. We stayed in the area during the bombardment for three days but we ran to the fields. They would kill 50 civilians for one [member of] IS.”

There are no further details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Dayes (Abu Jassim)
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 July 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

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

RS2852

Incident date

January 6, 2018

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6155094, 36.5471898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An eight-year-old boy was killed, and as many as six other civilians were wounded – including a child and an elderly man – when airstrikes reportedly hit Kafr Nabil. Sources mostly blamed Russia, however, there was one allegation against the Syrian regime. Additionally, some sources didn’t identify the “warplanes” responsible for the strikes.

The raids roccurred in the night, according to a source, and “targeted a civilian home”.

The “intensive airstrikes” caused extensive destruction.

It was noted that shelling had “targeted the cities and towns of two villages, Khan al-Sabeel, Kafar nubul and Sarqeb”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Ahmad al-Dani
8 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an airstrike hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via @alyasmeenwn)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via Halab Today)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via Nedaa syria)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via Revolutionary Forces of Syrian Media Office)
  • Mohammed Ahmed Aldani, killed in an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via MARD)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammed Ahmed Aldani, killed in an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via KNN)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via EdlibEmc1)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via EdlibEmc1)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which hit Kafr Nabil, 6th January 2018. (via EdlibEmc1)

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

RS109

Incident date

November 1, 2015

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

A child was killed and ‘dozens of civilians’ were injured “as a result of five Russian air strikes [each strike firing more than one missile] targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Douma” according to the White Helmets. Intense artillery shelling was also reported on Douma.

VDC named the child as Judi Bashar al Zhairi, and said she was killed by ‘Russian air forces shelling.’ A video of her funeral was also published.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Judi was killed in Douma as a result of alleged Russian air forces shelling
  • During the video the man says her the little girl name and also says 'she was killed as a result of land to land missiles fired on Douma". Doesn’t say who.

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 October 31st-November 2nd 2015, the Kremlin has confirmed carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate: “Near Harasta al-Katara (Damascus province), an ISIS ammunition depot was destroyed. A hit of a guided bomb on a bunker with artillery munitions completely destroyed the object with all its contents.“

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 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2899

Incident date

January 15, 2018

Location

انقراتي, Ankarati, east of Tal Mardikh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.787782, 36.821606 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A named adult male was reported killed and his brother was wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes which hit Ankarati, Idlib. All local media blamed Russian warplanes for the incident.

In a similar fashion to a series of other raids which occurred around this time, the planes targeted the vicinity during the night.

The brother was taken to a medical facility in the aftermath of the raid.

There are no other details at this time.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Yehya Hamandoush
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (8) [ 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
    1
  • (1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS303

Incident date

December 22, 2015

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.99832, 36.78579 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, Mudar Abdulhameed Ezz, was listed killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Taftanaz, according to the Violations Documentation Center. In fact Mr Ezz lived in Taftanez but died in a December 20th airstrike on Idlib, with his body recovered from the ruins of the courthouse two days later.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mudar Abdulhameed Ezz
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]