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

R4546

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of August 26th, artillery shells allegedly fired by the regime forces and Russia hit the city of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, injuring at least one civilian and causing material damage to residential neighborhoods and the Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser School. The bombardment also fell in the vicinity of the Rabaa Al-Adawiya School and a mosque under construction, without any damage reported.

The Syrian Civil Defense confirmed the civilian casualty, stating that the city “was subjected to aerial bombardment previously, shortly before children started arriving to it to participate in a summer club that is being held in it.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights corroborated this information, additionally noting that the “area is under the control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.” A tweet from @alladyanyaslam2 stated a civilian was “slightly injured”, while @sawarqi47568 mentioned civilian casualties, without specifying a number.

Multiple sources on twitter and local media attributed the strikes to the regime forces and Russia, although it is unclear which of the belligerents was responsible.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The mean regime's hatred of civilians in Jisr al-Shughour
  • The regime forces shelled the city of Jisr al-Shughour with artillery
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)

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 infrastructure
    Religious Institution, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4547

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed and at least four other civilians were injured, including up to three children and two women, in artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces during the afternoon on August 26th, 2023 in Kansafra, Idlib. The two children were siblings and have been identified by the Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) as the children of Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa. They were both buried that day.

Sources diverge on the gender of the children, with the Civil Defense stating they were brother and sister, while Syria News and Sky News claimed they were both boys. Along with the siblings, three other children were reported injured along with their mother and another unidentified woman. Syrian Civil Defense took the mother and at least one child to the hospital, before inspecting the neighborhood for further casualties. Syria TV, on information from the Civil Defense, alleged the injured child was a girl. Shaam News alleged those injured were related to the two children who were killed. Though numerous reports state five people were injured, there is some disparity: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights believed four to have been wounded, with Sky News alleging six.

Though sources agree that the casualties were a result of artillery shelling, there is some disagreement regarding the perpetrator. Syrian Civil Defense stated its belief that the shelling was carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, while Orient News alleged the regime along with Iranian militias bombed Kansafra.

Sky News alleged the casualties occurred during an exchange of missile and artillery shelling between the Syrian regime and insurgent group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).

The shelling affected residential areas, including schools. The Civil Defense specified that the schools were in use, with summer clubs and preparation courses for high school exams taking place.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child of Mr. Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa
Child killed
Child of Mr. Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the children killed by shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescuing a child and her mother who were wounded by the artillery shelling that targeted the village of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib today, Saturday, August 26, which led to the killing of two siblings and wounding 5, including 3 children and their mother.
  • #Sham | “She fell asleep in heaven.” Two children were killed and wounded as a result of the Assad regime’s artillery shelling on the town of Kansafra
  • The bodies of the two children killed by shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Pro-Assad and #Iranian militias bombard the town of #Kansafra, south of #Idlib
  • Shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @spc_fr)

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4545

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

دير سنبل, Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of August 26th 2023, an elderly male civilian was “slightly injured” according to Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe), during shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces on a residential neighborhood in the village of Deir Sunbul, south Idlib, Syria.

The Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that their volunteers gave medical treatment to the injured man after civilians took him to their center in the town of Ihsim, after which he was taken to a hospital in the city of Ariha for additional treatment.

Enab Baladi news reported that the civilian was injured when Syrian regime and Russian forces allegedly shelled the vicinity of the Rabi’a al-Adawiya school during the approaching start of the new school year.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An elderly man injured by shelling carried out by Russian forces and/or the Syrian regime in the village of Deir Sunbul, Syria (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe via Twitter, on August 26th, 2023)
  • The Air Force renewed its targeting of the militants' movements and destroyed their vehicle south of Kafr Aweed hill Heavy artillery units and missiles continue to target their positions and supply lines in the towns of Al-Bara, Kansafra, Sufohen, and Deir Sanbel in Jabal Al-Zawiya, and the axes of Sahl Al-Ghab in the western countryside of Hama.

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4542

Incident date

August 22, 2023

Location

أحسم, Ihsim, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday morning, August 22nd 2023, three civilians were injured, including one child, as a result of artillery shelling allegedly by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russia on the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya, in the countryside of Idlib. Many local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and SY-24 news also reported that a fire broke out in a civilian’s car.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that one of the shells hit a house, injuring a civilian resident and his son and a second shell landed near Ihsem School for Boys, injuring an elderly man. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that their teams took two of the injured civilians to the hospital for treatment.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible. Most local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, SY-24 news and Zaman Al Wasl news blamed both the regime forces and Russia, while @Sy24ria and @HalabTodayTV attributed the shelling to Syrian regime forces only.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @creativenewssy)
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @creativenewssy)
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @creativenewssy)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the civilians injured by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @thiqanewsagency)
  • Civil Defense volunteers inspect damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers inspect damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first moments of our teams' response to the artillery shelling by the regime forces that targeted the town of Ahsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, on Tuesday morning, August 22, and resulted in the injury of 3 civilians, including a child, and a fire broke out in a civilian's car.
  • Wounded, including children, in bombardment by the Syrian regime on the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya in Idlib countryside
  • "He was wounded while he was sleeping.. Al-Assad forces bombed the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya"

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4544

Incident date

August 22, 2023

Location

محطة مياه عري في بلدة عين شيب, Urri water station in Ain Shib town, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two people were killed, an elderly man and an 18-year-old boy, and between three and five people were seriously injured, including a woman, a male child and a female child, when alleged Russian bombs hit a disused water station, near the villages of Urri and Ain Shib, west of Idlib, around midnight on August 22nd 2023. All of the victims were living in the water station after having been displaced and SY-24 reported they were all from the same family. The Syrian Civil Defence responded to the incident, retrieved the bodies, treated some of the injured and secured the area. Many livestock were also killed in the strike.

The majority of sources agreed that two people had been killed but the numbers of reported injuries varied. Baladi News reported a woman and male child were injured. Zaman Al Wasl and The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three people were injured and a family remained buried under rubble. Shaam Network and the Syrian Civil Defence reported that five people were injured, including a woman, a male child and a female child.

Almost all sources described the victims who were killed as an elderly man and an 18-year-old boy. However, @molhamteam tweeted that a female child was killed in the bombing, referring to a video posted by Orient News that showed what appeared to be a body at the site.

Local sources told Zaman Al Wasl and Rozana FM that the abandoned water station was inhabited by displaced families from Ruwaiha who kept their livestock there.

@HadiAlabdallah, a Syrian journalist on the scene, claimed in a video posted to his Ttwitter that the family had been sleeping outside due to the hot weather when the bombs fell.

Shaam Network reported that the water station had been targeted with multiple raids and Al Jazeera stated that there had been two raids.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the airstrikes to Russian forces. Both the Russian Information Agency and a Syrian source confirmed that an airstrike had taken place that night but claimed it had been targeting a headquarters or “monitoring center” of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, according to Al-Jazeera.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of one of the victims of alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @molhamteam)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by SY-24)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by SY-24)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by SY-24)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by SY-24)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by Rozana FM)
  • Livestock killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by Rozana FM)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian airstrikes on Ain Shib town on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties as a result of the Russian occupation bombing of a water station in the Ain Sheeb area, west of Idlib.
  • Civilian casualties as the Russian occupation targeted a water station in the Ain Sheeb area, west of Idlib
  • Two deaths and injuries among civilians as a result of the bombing of the Russian occupation air force, Eib Sheeb water station, west of Idlib
  • Killed and wounded as a result of the Russian occupation aircraft targeting the water station in Ain Sheeb, rural #Idlib
  • Civilian casualties as the Russian occupation targeted a water station in the Ain Sheeb area, west of Idlib
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The death toll from the targeting of the Ain Sheib water station, west of Idlib, has risen to two martyrs and a number of civilian casualties trapped under the rubble. The defense teams are working to save them, after the occupation warplanes targeted the station directly

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4543

Incident date

August 22, 2023

Location

بين بلدتي الشيخ بحر ومعرة مصري, between the towns of Sheikh Baher and Maaret, Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 22, 2023, at least four civilians were killed—and up to seven others were injured—in a series of alleged Russian airstrikes between the towns of Sheikh Baher and Maaret Misrin in Idlib, Syria.

Sources conflict about the precise number of civilians killed and injured by these strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham were killed and seven other militants were injured, in addition to the injury of five civilians, including two women. Shaam News put the number of militants killed at five, and added that there were “casualties among civilians, including women and children” without specifying how many. @alkhabour21 and @Mohab_Nasser2 were the only source that mentioned the death of civilians, with @alkhabour21 reporting that four civilians were killed and others were injured while @Mohab_Nasser2 reported that five civilians were killed and others were injured. Al Araby gave the highest report of civilian injuries, reporting that seven civilians were injured. Sources provided various other tolls for the militants killed, including Athr Press which identified six militants killed and four militants wounded while @MohamadDaba9966 identified five militants killed and nine others wounded.

According to Shaam News, the bombing struck several poultry farms that allegedly housed a Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham military installation. Athr Press added that the building was a headquarters which contained military and logistical equipment, including drones, and that the building was completely destroyed.

Sources allege that between three and six fighters affiliated with an Islamic fundamentalist organization were also killed. Independent Journalist Mohamad Dabaa identified three militants: Ahmed Mustafa Ghazal Abu Setif; Abdul Hamid Khalouf; Ibrahim Marwan Kharfan; and two foreign Turkic combatants.

According to Syrian journalist Jamil al-Hasan, the airstrikes displaced tent residents of Sheikh Bahr, with Syria TV specifying that the casualties from the strikes occurred in “Bir al-Tayyib” camp.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the airstrikes to Russian forces, with @mzmgr941 specifying that vacuum missiles were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–6
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4–9

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Mustafa Ghazal Abu Setif, reportedly a militant killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)
  • Ahmed Mustafa Ghazal Abu Setif, reportedly a militant killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @MohamadDaba9966)
  • Militants killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @MohamadDaba9966)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • 7 civilian casualties, including two women, in air raids of the #Russian occupation warplanes on the #Sheikh_Bahr area in #Idlib countryside
  • Civilian casualties in Russian raids around Sheikh Bahr camps, and tent residents flee to agricultural lands

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–6
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4–9

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4541

Incident date

August 18, 2023

Location

ديرسنبل, , Deir Sinbul, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman suffered a psychological injury following alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023.

The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that a woman suffered a nervous breakdown after artillery shelling reportedly carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces struck the village of Deir Sinbul. The civil defense volunteers inspected the locations struck by shelling to ensure no other civilians were injured and took the injured woman to the hospital. @Almohrar1also reported that a woman suffered from a psychological injury.

According to @Najdat567, the Syrian regime forces stations at the checkpoints surrounding the village shelled Deir Sunbul. However, @Almohrar1 attributed the shelling to Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
    From @Najdat567 on Twitter
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
    From @Najdat567 on Twitter
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
    From @Najdat567 on Twitter
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4540

Incident date

August 16, 2023

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman was injured in a residential area on the western outskirts of the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, because of alleged shelling by Syrian Regime and/or Russian forces in the evening of Wednesday August 16th 2023.

The Syrian Civil Defence and Baladi News reported that civilian property was damaged, a number of livestock were killed and others were also injured in the shelling. In the same tweets, it is stated that the woman was taken to hospital by ambulance which is confirmed in photos from the Syrian Civil Defence.

North Press Agency reported that two people were injured in the villages of Majdaliyya and Sarmin in the countryside east of Idlib, including a woman.

Other sources reported only one injured woman or didn’t mention civilian casualties.

The Syrian Civil Defence claimed that the belligerents were both the Syrian Regime and Russia and Baladi news alleged that Iran was also involved. @anasanas84, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Euphrates Post reported only the Syrian Regime as responsible. Finally, @Almohrar1 and @farzat1711 and North Press Agency reported only Russian forces as the belligerents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers respond to shelling in Sarmin on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers respond to shelling in Sarmin on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers respond to shelling in Sarmin on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers respond to shelling in Sarmin on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • "A short while ago, artillery shelling by Assad's gangs targeted the outskirts of the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib "
  • "Reports of direct casualties among the militants, after targeting their movements with heavy artillery and missiles west of the town of Sarmin, east of Idlib "
  • Shelling in Sarmin on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (12) [ collapse]