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

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

R4582

Incident date

October 6, 2023

Location

وسط مدينة ادلب, city center of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

During the evening of Friday, October 6, 2023, four civilians (including a boy and a woman) were killed, and 12 were injured (including six children and a woman) by an artillery bombardments allegedly perpetrated either by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian and/or Iranian military on a residential area of the city center of Idlib. According to TV Idlib, two among the four civilians killed were newlyweds who had been married just 20 days before the incident. TV Idlib shared the pictures of their two bodies wrapped in white cloth in its Twitter/X account. The victims have not been named at the time of writing.

Facebook users Khabar and Konya posted images showing the bombardment of Idlib with clouds arising over the buildings. A Facebook user Makhmud Abu Yazan shared a graphic video showing dead bodies of the civilians lying on the ground in pools of blood. A Twitter/X user Alaa Al Dia (@Alaaeddindiab) shared the videos of the men carrying injured people from the place of the attack. In a video shared by the Twitter/X user @Jamil_Alhasaan a journalist said that eight missiles hit the Al Zira area in Idlib and there were civilian casualties.

The Syrian Civil Defence reportedly attended to the area of the incident shortly after it was bombed in order to evacuate and rescue civilians where necessary. They also said in a tweet that they treated some of the injured and recovered the bodies of “some” of the victims. The post shows images of two injured men being treated after the incident, with their legs bandaged.

A Twitter/X user Mohab Nasser (@Mohab_Nasser2) shared pictures of a small wounded boy with his head and arm bandaged in the arms of a man.

Posts on X/Twitter by Omar Madaniah and Rian Almasri featured a heart wrenching photo of the crying parents of one of the victims, a boy whose age has not been reported, who was their only son. The posts contained a quote in Arabic saying “My heart was gone alone, and by God, he took a shower and put on his clean clothes.” Rian Almasri’s post also included a video of the boy’s father crying and saying “I don’t have anyone else but him.”

It is not clear who the attackers were; however, the Syrian Civil Defence said in a tweet that the bombing came from Syrian regime forces. Other sources on Twitter/X named Iran military and Russian military as the perpetrators. Therefore, the Airwars graded the Strike Status and Civilian Harm Status as Contested.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @Omar_Madaniah

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    Source: @Mohab_Nasser2

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    Source: @Mohab_Nasser2

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @TvIdlib
  • Source: Khabar
  • Source: Khabar
  • Source: Konya
  • Source: Konya

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2031

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

ريف ادلب الجنوبي, Southern Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two sources reported that alleged Russian warplanes struck a camp for displaced people in the southern countryside of Idlib with a phosphorous missile on the night of March 25th, possibly causing civilian harm.

Only one source, Smart News Agency, reported that the strike had caused civilian harm, saying that it had resulted in “several” wounded.

@amrsyria1 said that the strike had caused material damage. 

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2187

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

الركايا, al Rakaya village, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.501782, 36.577313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians – ‘mostly children’ –  were reportedly wounded in an airstrike on Al-Rakaya in Idlib Governorate on the 27th of April 2017. It is unclear which belligerent was responsible for the strike, as some sources blamed Russia while one other blamed the Syrian regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Civilians were wounded in Russian raids on the village of Rikaya and the outskirts of the village of Marzita in the countryside of Idlib'
  • Wounded children following an alleged Russian airstrike on al Rakaya village, April 27th (via SN4HR)

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2179

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

البارة, Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.68599, 36.54239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in al Bara, Idlib, according to a local media source.

Whilst other sources have reported that Russian warplanes conducted a strike in al Bara on this day, only one mentioned civilian harm.

Edlib Media Centre reported “wounded fall as a result of the targeting of the outskirts of the town of Idlib by Russian” warplanes.

It was not clear how many civilians were injured as a result of the strike.

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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ 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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2655

Incident date

October 22, 2017

Location

السميرية, Al-Sumairiya, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.892969, 37.31471 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was wounded in air and artillery strikes on Al-Sumairiya, in the countryside of Aleppo, local media reported. Sources either blamed Russian warplanes for the raids, or did not attribute any blame.

There were no reported civilian deaths.

According to sources and images published, a popular market was struck. Shops were destroyed and there was much material damage to the vicinity.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on a popular market in Al-Sumairiya, Aleppo, 22nd October 2-17. (via @Step_Agency)
  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on a popular market in Al-Sumairiya, Aleppo, 22nd October 2-17. (via @Step_Agency)
  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on a popular market in Al-Sumairiya, Aleppo, 22nd October 2-17. (via @Step_Agency)
  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on a popular market in Al-Sumairiya, Aleppo, 22nd October 2-17. (via @Step_Agency)
  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on a popular market in Al-Sumairiya, Aleppo, 22nd October 2-17. (via @Step_Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2487

Incident date

September 21, 2017

Location

بلدة الهبيط, al Habeet, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4379459, 36.5379524 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians, including a woman and two children, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of al Habeet in southern Idlib according to a local source.

The White Helmets tweeted a video showing the rescue of a child, who was found alive, in the ruins of her home.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • "The helmet of hope reaches a child [girl] alive and rescues her from the ruins of her home destroyed by warplanes during bombing in the town of # Habait in southern countryside Idlib."

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS2900

Incident date

January 15, 2018

Location

بكسريا, Baksriya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.866414, 36.213093 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Baksriya, according to local media. Both sources blamed Russia for the raid.

One source reported that no civilian casualties were found in the wreckage, however the other said there was wounded among the rubble.

According to the Syrian Civil Defence twitter page “The Civil Defence then proceeded to inspect the place and secure it without recording any casualties among the civilians.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Baksriya, 15th Jan 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    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 (2) [ collapse]