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

RS3498

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

صيدا, Sayda, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a child, were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Sayda in the eastern suburbs of Dara’a governorate, on June 28th, 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of civilians was possibly injured.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least two civilians, including a child, were killed as Syrian/ Russian warplanes fired missiles on Seyda town in Daraa governorate eastern suburbs, on June 28, 2018.”

According to Shaam News Network, “the Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched airstrikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighbourhoods of Daraa and on the towns and villages of Nawa, Tafas, Kahil, Sheikh Saad, Giza, Mseifra, Saida, Gharia, Gharbia and Sharqiya and Um Al Mayan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians”, implying that civilians were also possibly injured in the village of Sayda.

@abode125 tweeted that “military aviation targets the town of Saida with airstrikes.” @arabwindow wrote that “warplanes launch several raids on the towns of Sayda and Al Gharia Al Gharbiya in Dara’a.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4038

Incident date

August 16, 2019

Location

حيش, Hiysh, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman was killed and a woman and “others” were reported injured in airstrikes on Hiysh, Idlib, on August 16th.

Syrian Network for Human Rights names Mrs. Eman Shahhoud al Azraq, from Khan Sheikhoun city, as the victim killed in airstrikes by the Syrian regime on Hiysh.

Smart News reported, “Russian warplanes shelling with vacuum missiles in Hiysh town south of Idlib.” A tweet by @baladinetwork also identified Russia as bombing Hiysh “with high-explosive missiles” and included an image that shows a cloud of dust in the sky. A video posted by @syria7ra shows the bomb being dropped and the explosion and the sound of impact and planes flying can be heard.

Meanwhile, Step Agency stated that “a woman and others were injured” in the incident, naming both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reports of the attack on Hiysh, among others.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Eman Shahhoud al Azraq
Adult female Ayman Affan's wife killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from 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
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4101

Incident date

September 13, 2019

Location

عيناتا, Aynata (Al Rouj plains), Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.82262, 36.48483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died due to his injuries after an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Aynata on the Al Rouj plains, Idlib, after midnight on September 12th/13th 2019, according to The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Civil Defence volunteers on the ground stated that it was Russian aircraft that carried out the night raids. All sources reported Russia as the belligerent of the airstrikes.

According to the Step Agency, other people were injured in the strikes, but it remains unclear how many.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4139

Incident date

November 6, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly injured in five Russian airstrikes on Ma’aret Harma village on November 6, 2019, according to IdlibPlus.

A tweet from @NEDAAPOST also reported “three civilian casualties, as Russian warplanes targeted the town of Maarat Harmah in the southern countryside of Idlib”

Resala also alleged that “artillery shelling of the pro-Assad forces” struck Ma’aret Harma.

All of the sources that reported on the incident blamed the strikes on either Russian forces or “pro-Assad forces.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (5) [ collapse]

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

Incident Code

RS4171

Incident date

November 15, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafrouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A likely Russian airstrike killed a child and reportedly injured four other family members when missiles targeted a residential neighbourhood in the town of Kafrouma, south of Idlib, on November 15th 2019.

While various local sources report that those injured were four sisters, others such as Zamal Al Wasl News report that amongst those injured were three sisters and their mother.

Multiple sources including Snap 2 News report that the child killed was Hassan Khaled Al-Hussein and his injured family members were: Aisha Al Hussein, Noor Al Hussein, Sidra Al Hussein, and Houria Al Hussein.

LCCSY reported that the number of wounded from Russian airstrikes was more than ten but this is unclear as to whether this included other airstrikes on the same day, one of which was reported nearby in Al-Bara, Jabal al-Zaqwiya.

Step News was alone in also blaming the Syrian regime for the event, noting that “A child is killed and others injured due to Russian airstrikes and artillery of regime forces targeting the town of Kafrouma.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Hasan Khaled Al Hussein
Child male killed
Houriya Al Hussein
Child female injured
Aisha Al Hussein
Child female injured
Noor Al Hussein
Child female
Sidra Al Hussein
Child female
Possible adult
Adult female Some reports said that an adult female relative ather than a fourth child was injured injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Houriya Al Hussein was injured in an alleged Russia airstrike or Syrian Regime artillery attack on Kafrouma in Idlib on Nov 15th 2019. (via SCD)
  • '#kafrouma The martyrdom of the child "Hassan Khaled Al-Hussein" and the injury of his sisters Aisha Al Hussein Noor Al Hussein Sidra Al Hussein Houria Al Hussein In the town of Kafrouma in the countryside of Idlib, as a result of the Russian warplanes targeting the town with vacuum missiles a short while ago'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Hassan Al Hussein, killed in a reported Russian airstrike on November 15th 2019 (via Orient News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Hassan Khaled Al Hussein, killed in a reported Russian airstrike on November 15th 2019 (via KMC News)
  • Hassan Khaled Al Hussein (via Khaled Abu Hasan)

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4203

Incident date

November 26, 2019

Location

حاس,, Has, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was reportedly wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime raids on Has during nighttime on November 26th, 2019.

One civilian had been wounded according to Idlib Online. According to Step News, an unspecified number of civilians had been injured.

Most sources reported that helicopters and/or warplanes targeted the town with air strikes. Syria Live instead reported “civilian injuries due artillery shelling of pro-Assad forces on Maarzita town in the southern countryside”.

While most sources blamed Russia for the attack, some attributed the attack to the Syrian Armed Forces. @alhariri58 claimed as the only source that the Israeli Military conducted the strikes.

Idlib News claimed that the belligerents had been targeting Al-Nusra fighters.

Video footage documented an explosion during nighttime.

 

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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, Israeli Military, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Explosion during nighttime (via @_abdulazizketaz)

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

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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, Israeli Military, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4238

Incident date

December 7, 2019

Location

بجغاص , Bajghas, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and an unspecified number of civilians were injured in an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike on the village of Bajghas, Idlib governate on December 7 th 2019, local media reported.

Several sources said Youssef Hajj Jassem, 13, was killed in the strike.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said: “The child Yousef Haj Jasem, age 13, was killed as Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes carried out a strike using machine guns and small missiles on Bejghas village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on December 7, 2019.”

Most of the sources reported that the Syrian regime had carried out the strike. Local journalist, Hassan al-Muhammad, said Russian aircraft targeted several areas in Idlib countryside including Bajghas.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yousef Haj Jasem يوسف حاج جاسم
13 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Youssef Hajj Jassem, 13, killed in an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike on the town of Bajghas, Idlib governate on December 7 th 2019. (Uploaded by Majed Al Mahamad)

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
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1346

Incident date

September 25, 2016

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

Various sources reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded in air or artillery strikes on Douma in Eastern Ghouta – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to LCCSY, Russia conducted five strikes. The source said there had been casualties but didn’t specify how many.

@Doumarevolutio1 reported artillery shelling, though it didn’t identify the culprit.

However, according to @ALAMAWI, “regime forces bombed the city of heavy artillery”.

Shamnews39 reported that there were no casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (10) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]