Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS2181

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

معرة النعمانالحامدية, al Hamidiya, near Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.614779, 36.657085 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were wounded in air raids in Al-Hamidiya in the southern Idlib Governorate, local media reported.

The Smart News Agency blamed Russia, reporting: “Two more civilians were injured following Russian raids on al Hamdidiya near maarat al numan [45 km south of idlib] according to the civil defence Facebook site.”

The other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the attack.

This event was part of a larger series of strikes on Idlib, according to sources. The Smart News Agency reported that “more than 53 civilians were killed and wounded on Thursday [April 27th] after air strikes on several villages and towns south of Idlib, north of Syria”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2382

Incident date

August 9, 2017

Location

حماده عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Hamada Omar, according to local media sources.

It was not clear how many civilians were injured in the attack, but several of the sources mention how a mosque and a number of civilian homes were destroyed.

Idlib Media Centre added that the Russians used “rocket-propelled grenades” in the raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (6) [ 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 specific strikes between August 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2551

Incident date

September 27, 2017

Location

خان شيخون , Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town on Facebook said: “A number of civilians were injured as a result of four air strikes by Russian warplanes carrying cluster bombs targeting the eastern neighborhood of Khan Shikhun in the southern Idlib countryside.”

A woman was injured by bombs from warplanes, believed to be Russian, on Khan Sheikhoun, Smart News Agency reported.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3627

Incident date

April 27, 2019

Location

Al Latamnah, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Hamah Now reported that “a civilian was injured by Russian air strikes on the town of Al Latamina, north of Hama.”

Multiple other sources reported Russian strikes on the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had “monitored more Russian air strikes in the town of Al Latamina in the northern suburbs of Hama, where Russian helicopters fired two missiles each on, after Russian warplanes had targeted the town with four air raids”

According to Step, there had been “a bombardment with rocket launchers from the Russian camp south of Halfaya city targets the town of Al Latamina”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'A third Russian raid on the city of Al Latamina,'
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeted the outskirts of the city of Al Latamina in the northern suburbs of Hama with air raids.'
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeting the vicinity of the city of Al Latamina in the northern suburbs of Hama'
  • 'Russian warplanes bombard the city of Al Latamina in the countryside of Hama'
  • 'Air raid of Russian Aggression on the outskirts of the city of Al Latamina in the countryside of Hama'
  • 'The first moments of the air raids targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Al-Latamina'
  • Russian raid on the city of Al Latamna on April 27th, 2019. (via @4Moq3mep7QbgEdT)
  • Russian raid on the city of Al Latamna on April 27th, 2019. (via @4Moq3mep7QbgEdT)
  • Russian warplanes targeted the outskirts of the city of Al Latamna in the northern suburbs of Hama, with air raids on April 27th, 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3776

Incident date

June 8, 2019

Location

Several towns in Idlib countryside, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Shaam News reported a number of alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on several towns and villages in Idlib governorate on June 8th, 2019. Possibly, civilians were injured.

According to Shaam News Network, “Syrian regime and Russian military aircraft and helicopter gunships conducted dozens of air raids, accompanied with heavy artillery shelling, on the cities and towns of Ma’arat Al Nu’man, Sarqib, Khan Sheikhoun, Al Hamediyah, Hass, Kafar Awid, Karsa’a, Ma’arat Tahream, Al Habit, Tarmala, Kafar Nabil, Hazarin, Bdama, Safwhen, Khan Al Subul, Al Kana’es, Farwan.”

The source added that there were “two martyrs in Kafar Nabil and girl killed in Ma’arat Al Nu’man and a number of wounded in other areas.” Airwars has assessed the incidents in Kafar Nabil (RS3774) and Ma’arat Al Numan (RS3775) separately. It remains unclear in which specific cities and towns listed by Shaam News Network civilians were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS478

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.44294, 40.08619 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently claimed Russian planes returned and targeted a funeral procession which was being held “for the martyrs of the massacre carried out by the Russian in the village of Mhimideh a few hours ago.” Al Jisir TV also reported that the town was hit with a second wave of Russian attacks.

The Shaam News Network reported on an earlier incident that day, putting the initial death toll at 25 people, who died when Russian aircraft allegedly targeted civilian houses and popular market near the town police station with several airstrikes. 

Also see incident above.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

RS3507

Incident date

July 1, 2018

Location

طفس, Tafas, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four people were reported killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Taffas in Dara’a, Syria on July 1st, 2018.

Violations Documentation Center in Syria said that Jihad Qaseem al-Horani, Moaz Jaber al-Rebdawi, Hosain Ali al-Bardan and Mohammad Ahmad al-Natoura, all  civilians from Tafas, were killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime and affiliated militias attacks.

However, other sources said some of them were killed in the battles in the area, so likely they are not civilians. Nahla Al Qasayim posted on Facebook ” the martyrdom of Jihad Qaseem al-Horani in the battles of honor and dignity. May God accept it from the martyrs.” Also Rami Al Bardan posted “The martyrdom of the young man, Moaz Jaber al-Rebdawi in the ongoing battles in the vicinity of the city.”

@MIG29, a pro regime source said “The Syrian army bombed the militants in Tafas in Daraa countryside after they pledged allegiance to ISIS and refused reconciliation.”

@Oreint news said that Russian warplanes launched 14 raids on Tafas on July 1st, 2018.

@Zaid_Hassn tweeted “Russian aviation launches 14 intense air strikes on Tafas town in western Daraa countryside, while the Russian negotiating delegation was in the city of Busra Al-Sham.”

Saraya Dr Al Janoun posted “Hussein Ali Omar Al-Bardan Al-Qashosh was killed, after the city was targeted with a few air strikes a few minutes ago.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Moaz Jaber al-Rebdawi معاذ جابر الربداوي
Age unknown male A source mentioned him as combatant killed
Hosain Ali al-Bardan حسين علي البردان
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Ahmad al-Natour محمد أحمد
Age unknown male killed
Jihad Qaseem al-Horani جهاد قسيم الحوراني
Adult male A source mentioned him as combatant killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Jihad Qaseem al-Horani was killed in Tafas on July 1st, 2018. Some sources said he is a civilian. (Via Nahla Al Qasayim)
  • Images of Russian raids on Tafas, Dara'a on July 1st, 2018 (via @al_Hoorane).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3281

Incident date

March 15, 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

Seven civilians including two children died in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Hazza, local media said. There were reports that Russia conducted two strikes, the second of which killed a member of the civil defence and a medic.

According to @RaedAlSaleh3, “The martyr Ayman Jamal al-Din, a volunteer of the Civil Defense volunteers, was killed in a double air strike by Russian warplanes that targeted ambulance teams who worked to save civilians in the town of Hazza”.

@SiegeWatch reported “Mohammad Mohammad al-Tair, a member of the medical staff at Mercy Hospital in #Hazzeh” as killed “when his ambulance was directly targeted by pro-government forces.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “Syrian/Russian” missiles for the death of four civilians including a child and a woman.

@AJABreaking noted the use of “chlorine gas” by the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hamad Al-Tai
Adult male killed
Muhammad Muhammad al-Tair
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Yousef Safaya
Child male killed
Ali Abd al-Aziz Moeti
Adult male killed
Solima al-Abdullah
Adult female killed
Mahmoud Qassem Batoul
Child male killed
Ayman Jamal al-Din
Adult male a volunteer of the Civil Defense killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman5 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Mohammad Mohammad al-Tair, a member of the medical staff at Mercy Hospital in #Hazzeh #حزة was killed today when his ambulance was directly targeted by pro-govt forces."

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "The martyr Ayman Jamal al-Din, a volunteer of the Civil Defense volunteers, was killed in a double air strike by Russian warplanes that targeted ambulance teams who walked to save civilians in the town of Hazza"

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman5 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), 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 (16) [ collapse]