Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

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

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS1125

Incident date

August 11, 2016

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians – four from the same family – were killed and at least two others were wounded by more than two airstrikes on the city of Khan Sheikhoun, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to whether the planes belonged to Russia or the regime. Most of those injured were reportedly in critical condition.

The majority of sources, including RadioAlKul and Smart News, attributed the strikes to regime forces while other sources, including Al Jazeera and the Shaam News Network blamed Russian forces.

Activists reported that the air raids targeted civilian home and resulted in the destruction of large buildings.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mohammed Darwish
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Hazem Mohammed Darwish
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Hassan Mohammed Darwish
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Mohammed Waei Darwish
Age unknown male named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Imad Ahmad al Abdullah
Age unknown named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the incident where an entire family of 4 were killed. (via, Syrian PC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Many critcally injured an being treated in medical facilities following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, Baladi News)
  • The Whit Helmets attempt the rescue of civilians buried in the rubble in Khan Shaykhan. (via, JisirTV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On August 11th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strikes with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping located to the south-east, north, and north-west regions from the Raqqah city. A large weaponry, ammunition and POL storage located near the Raqqah city, a plant producing chemical munitions located in the north-western suburbs of the city, and a large ISIS terrorists’ training camp have been destroyed by the aviation strike." Further to this they added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1395

Incident date

October 3, 2016

Location

بستان الباشا, Bustan al Basha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.226481, 37.168787 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrikes killed six civilians from one family in Aleppo’s Bustan al Basha neighbourhood. Only one child from the family was said to have survived the attack.

Al-Jazeera published a video, showing how the surviving child, named Shihab, was rescued from the rubble while the rest of his family had been killed by the shelling.

All4Syria also reported “after 9 hours of work, civil defense workers managed to rescue the child Shihab from under the rubble while all his family members, which consisted of seven people, were killed under the rubble in Bustan Al-Basha”.

The majority of the sources pointed to Russia as the culprit. Only one sources claimed the incident was caused by the Assad regime. The news site Zamal al Wasl attributed the strike to both Russia and the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Rabi’ Baroud
Adult male named by Halab News Network killed
Child of Rabi’ Baroud
Child named by Halab News Network killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (1–4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A child named Shihab, moments after he was pulled from the rubble where his home was hit and his father and sibling killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Aksalser )
  • A child named Shihab, moments after he was pulled from the rubble where his home was hit and his father and sibling killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via, 7oorya_Alsham)
  • A child named Shihab, moments after he was pulled from the rubble where his home was hit and his father and sibling killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Alnaba_BH )

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (1–4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1580

Incident date

November 15, 2016

Location

كفر جالس, Kafr Jalis, Syria

Geolocation

35.976182, 36.613076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians died in a suspected Russian attack on Kafr Jalis village, north west of Idlib city. The majority of sources alleged Russia was the culprit – most of those that did not listed “warplanes” as responsible. One report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the “warplanes” belonged to “the Syrian regime” carried out the attack.

According to the Observatory, one woman and a child were killed. The source also suspected the death toll would rise due to a number of severely injured civilians.

In a video published by Jisrtv significant material damage was revealed in Kafr Jaliss, the footage also referred to the camp “Kfarhoum” as hit.

@maaramc12 reported six killed including one woman, one child and four men – the tweet cited Russia responsible. @RFS_NORTH reported two children killed and only five civilians overall they too blamed Russia and mentioned the used of “rocket-propelled grenades”.

Twiitbook reported six killed and alleged the Russian strikes “targeted several civilian homes in the centre of the town with more than five rockets at one time”.

Idlib News Network added that “Regime helicopters and warplanes also targeted 34 areas in the province”, meaning that its involvement can’t be ruled out of this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hilal Shaheen
Adult male killed
Abdo Morjan
Age unknown male killed
Abu Jaber Hermoush
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (1 child1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The_Yearly_Report_for_2016

    The Syrian Network for Human Right's annual report for 2016 details the (via SN4HR)

  • The_Yearly_Report_for_2016_en

    The Syrian Network for Human Right's annual report for 2016 details the (via SN4HR)

  • Footage of the aftermath at the camp of Kfarfoum and village Kafr Jalis in rural Idlib following alleged Russian bombardment, November 15th (via Jisrtv)
  • The White Helmet rescue team at the scene in Kafr Jasliss following alleged Russian shelling, November 15th (via Oreint News)
  • Locals work through the rubble in Kafr Jaliss following alleged Russian strikes, November 15th (via Afpar)
  • Mohammad Hilal Shahin was killed in alleged Russian attacks on Kafr Jaliss. The source reported he was then buried. November 15th (via Kafar Jales in Heart)

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (1 child1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1265

Incident date

September 13, 2016

Location

Al Sakhina, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including women and children died in an alleged Russia airstrike on a refugee camp in the al Sakhuna area, south of Palymyra, local media reported.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russia’s military aircraft committed a new massacre against people in a camp for the displaced from the towns of Palmyra and al Sukhna in the area near the Valley of al A’leek south of Palmyra in eastern Homs on Tuesday [Sept 13th]…The initial death toll is six civilians, including two children and two women. A number of wounded were taken to a field hospital.” The source said that seven tents were bombed.

SRG and Kheroalhome also blamed Russia for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A camp for displaced people in Syria near the Valley of al A’leek, suspected attacked by Russian warplanes, Sept 13th (via Step)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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

RS1984

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Location

Idlib city, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians were killed and an unknown number wounded in air strikes allegedly conducted by Russian forces in the city of Idlib. Some sources claimed the Syrian regime was also involved in the attack.

The victims killed in the raids were displaced from the village of Ghantu in northern Homs, “all of whom were women,” sources from the village told Zaman al-Wasl. All the victims were women and children from the same family.

Syrian Human Rights Committee alleged that seven people were killed in total – five in the bombing, and two from a sniper.

Alsouria News reported that medical personnel received nine wounded people for treatment, two of which were children. Various sources posted videos and images of rescuers looking for survival under the rubble, and medics treating the wounded.

Sources reported that an apartment building completely collapsed and a primary school was also damaged and put out of service.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Jihan Imad Harbah
Adult female killed
Salem (child of Jihan Imad Harbah)
Child killed
Ali al-Akkari (child of Jihan Imad Harbah)
Child killed
Jawhara Sulaiman Harba
killed

The victims were named as:

Bayan Harba
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2–3 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets comes to the aid of victims of an alleged Russian airstrike in Idlib, March 19th (via Zamanalwasl)
  • The aftermath of the strike on Idlib, March 19th (via Alsouria)
  • The aftermath of the strike on Idlib, in which an apartment building collapsed, March 19th (via Orient)
  • A primary school damaged in the strike on Idlib, March 19th.
  • Translation: '6 martyrs and dozens wounded, mostly children, in a bombing by Assad on residential neighborhoods in the city of Idlib.'
  • Victims are lifted from the rubble following the March 19th strike on Idlib.
  • Smoke above Idlib following the March 19th airstrike (via AMC/@SyrianCoalition)
  • Destruction following the March 19th strike on Idlib (via AMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2–3 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2674

Incident date

November 3, 2017

Location

السويعة, Suw'eiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.43415, 40.93473 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians from one family were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes which struck the village of Al-Suwayea, according to local media. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

The victims were named, and according to media, “dozens” of civilians were wounded.

Bukmalna, who named the victims, reported that “the flight targeted a civilian house”.

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, missiles were fired on the vicinity.

Almodon reported that “Russian air and missile bombardments have killed more than 15 civilians in the villages of Suwayyah and Marashdeh from the countryside of Bu Kamal and wounded at least 20 others in the past 24 hours, in addition to the destruction of dozens of homes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Masha’an Al - Hamad Al - Hassan
Age unknown killed
Salem Masha’an Hassan
Age unknown killed
The daughter of Masha’an Salim al - Hassan
Age unknown killed
Child from the family of Masha’an Salem Al Hassan
Child killed
Child from the family of Masha’an Salem Al Hassan
Child killed
The wife of the son of Masha’an Salim al - Hassan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The house which was struck by alleged Russian warplanes, 3rd November 2017. (via DeirEzzor24)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

RS2491

Incident date

September 22, 2017

Location

التمانعة, al Tamana'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between two and six civilians – an entire family, according to one source – died in alleged Russian or regime strikes on al Tamana’a. Sources blamed both Russian airstrikes or missiles fired from Russian battleships. Some other sources also pointed to regime warplanes.

HNN reported that there had been “martyrs and wounded as a result of shelling byRussian battleships in the Mediterranean on the villages of Jabal al-Zawia in southern countryside Idlib”.

According to the Facebook group ‘Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town’ on Sept 22nd: “The warplanes of the Russian air force and the regime continue to intensify their air raids on the town of Al-Tamanah for the fourth day in a row. The number of raids reached 36, resulting in the injury of a whole family (father, mother and four children), in addition to the large destruction of civilian homes and farms surrounding the town.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Farah-Ismail al-Bakri
Child female killed
Judd Ismael al-Bakri
Child male Died following "severe burns" killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2–4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • An airstrike hits Al Tamana'a, Sept 22nd 2017 (via Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town on Facebook)
  • Judd Ismael al-Bakri (via Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Judd Ismael al-Bakri (via Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Farah-Ismail al-Bakri (via Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of a strike on Al Tamana'a. KIt is unclear from the source who the vicitm is. (via Al Tamana’a the Free media office of the town)

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
    2 – 6
  • (2–4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS296

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

رامي, Al Rami, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.763259, 36.558089 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or more civilians were reported killed and more than 10 injured in Russian airstrikes on the villages of Al Zawiya mountain.

Footage appears to show a Su 24 in apparent Russian Air Force colours dropping two bombs in the vicinity of the town.

According to the Shaam News Network five or more Russian airstrikes with rockets targeted civilian homes in Al Rami. It added that the White Helmets were working to remove rubble and rescue the wounded.

Eldorar placed the civilian death toll at six, saying that the Russian attack had caused “extensive destruction to houses and property.” Maara Now said four civilians from one family died, they were all named by the VDC.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Khaled Yahya al-Khatib
Adult male killed
The wife of Khaled Yahya al-Khatib
Adult female killed
Mostafa Mohammad Khatib
Adult male killed
Zainab Ahmad al-Khatib
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Warplanes in the skies above Al Rami. Throughout the video you hear clear audio people (military) on the ground on walkie talkies describing the direction the warplane is taking and the bombs released also, and clearly stating Jabal el Zawiya. Our researchers believe we can confidently associate this video with this incident. (via, SNN)
  • A news clip reporting on the alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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]