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

RS1887

Incident date

February 12, 2017

Location

حي الحميدية, Al Hamidiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the neighborhood of Al Hamidiya in Deir Ezzor.

The consensus among local sources, including Deir Free, was that Russian planes were responsible for the airstrikes. Additional videos were posted that claimed to show the airstrikes and the aftermath but the videos have since been taken down.

According to Aljazeera, ISIS’ media agency, A’maq, published pictures of the effects of the airstrikes on civilian homes. Sharqiya voice reported that Al Hamidiya was under the control of Daesh at the time.

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 (5) [ 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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4564

Incident date

October 4, 2023

Location

كفرنوران, Kafr Nouran, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A missile strike killed at least five members of the same family, including three women, and wounded at least one more — all civilians — in Kafr Nouran, Aleppo after midnight on October 5, 2023. The strike was allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian military.

Zahraa Ali Karhou, an elderly crippled mother, was among the dead, along with four of her children. Her two adult daughters, Khadija Mustafa Tanna and Fatoum Mustafa Tanna, and two young sons, Faraj Mustafa Tanna and Ahmad Mustafa Tanna, were all killed in the strike, and another female sibling was injured.

The victims were an internally displaced family staying in a residential home, according to Syrian Civil Defense. The building was struck by missiles around 2 a.m., Al Quds reported, after which rescue teams transported the dead to a hospital, along with the wounded woman. Images posted by Al Quds also showed the funeral and burial of the victims.

Syrian Civil Defense reported five dead and one wounded, while Abu Obada Hamoe Post said the number of dead has risen to six, with “a number wounded.” A tweet from @creativenewssy provided a lower death count of two and identified three “serious” injuries.

Two anti-armor thermal rockets were used in the strike, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who attributed the attack to the Syrian Regime. Others, including Khalil Al Yaseen Post, suggested Russian forces were responsible.

“Stunned, he does not know what happened, and how it happened,” @SyrianCivilDefe wrote on Twitter, describing a young surviving family member standing in front of the bodies. “One thing this child knows, he has known death and oppression since he was born…” Other images posted by the @SyrianCivilDefe show family members mourning over the bodies of those killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Zahraa Ali Karho زهرة علي كرهة
Adult female killed
Faraj Mustafa Tanna فرج مصطفى تنا
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mustafa Tanna أحمد مصطفى تنا
Adult male killed
Khadija Mustafa Tanna خديجة مصطفى تنا
Adult female killed
Fatoum Mustafa Tanna فطوم مصطفى تنا
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Aljazeera news
  • Source: Syria tv news
  • Source: Alquds news
  • Source: Alquds news
  • Source: Alquds news
  • Source: Alquds news
  • Source: Alquds news
  • Source: Sarmen al yaom
  • Source: Sarmen al yaom
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abo obada hamoe
  • Source: SNHR news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2054

Incident date

April 2–3, 2017

Location

كفر زيتا, Kafr ZIta, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime strike on Kafr ZIta, according to sources on the ground. Multiple reports said that a bakery was struck and rendered out of service.

According to Alaraby, “the warplanes and helicopters of the regime and Russia targeted several vital installations in the countryside of Aleppo, Hama and Idlib…Bombing targeted the only bakery in the town of Kafrzita, north of Hama, which put it out of service”.

Rozana reported: “On Sunday morning [April 2nd], Russian warplanes launched air strikes with surface rockets targeting the towns of Latamna, Kafarzita, Teyba, Imlaya, Souran and Mardas, in the northern suburbs of Hama.

According to Rozana’s correspondent, Abdu Abu Jamil, the bread oven in the town of Kafrzita was put out of service after being targeted by several air raids by Russian aviation. The furnace serves more than 100,000 civilians in the region.”

The Smart News Agency said that “three civilians were wounded and a number of sheep were killed” – and pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 (7) [ 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
    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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2028

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

معر شورين, Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6675976, 36.7290564 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on village of Ma’ar Shureen in Idlib, local media reported.

According to the Smart News Agency, four civilian were wounded. Other sources put the figure at two.

Zamanalwasl said that the strike hit a popular market in the village.

While several sources did not identify the culprit, most sources attributed blame to Russia. However, al-Jazeera indicated that both Russia and the Syrian regime were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage from Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, after being struck by either Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes on March 25th, 2017 (via Qasioun News)
  • Footage from the moment Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib was struck either Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes on March 25th, 2017 (via Omawi News Agency)

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.

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
    2–4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2398

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

ميادين, Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Smart News Agency reported that “five civilians were killed and dozens were wounded” in an airstrike on Al Mayadin on August 21st.

The source didn’t identify who carried out the strike but noted that “activists launched a campaign of solidarity with them [the victims]. They condemned the daily bombardment of the International Coalition aircraft, Russia and the regime, which resulted in the killing and wounding of dozens of civilians”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3667

Incident date

May 6, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source claimed that civilians, including children, were wounded when an alleged Russian airstrike struck the town of Kafr Sijana in southern Idlib on May 6th, 2019.

No other details are known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3300

Incident date

March 18, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbin, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians, including reportedly a child, were killed in airstrikes on the city of Arbin, Damascus governorate, on March 18th 2018, as reported by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

@SYR_REV_NEWS reported that shelling with rocket launchers on residential areas of the city killed one civilian and that dozens of civilians were wounded. It remains contested whether Russia or the Syrian regime was responsible for the strike.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at two, including one child.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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]

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
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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

RS3339

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

التمانعة, Al Taman'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the town of Al Taman’a, Idlib governorate, on March 26th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network.

@Wateen_media reported that “Russian occupation aviation targets the vicinity of the town of Al Taman’a with several airstrikes with vacuum missiles.”

@RFS_mediaoffice, however, reported Syrian regime artillery strikes: “Syrian regime forces stationed in Tal Marq village targeted Al Taman’a town, southern Idlib countryside, with artillery shells.”

According to @Step_Agency, warplanes targeted the bridges of Al Shughour and Al Taman’a, but no civilian casualties were reported.

Shaam News Network, however, reported the following: “Russian aircraft launched fierce air raids on the cities and towns of Ariha, Al Taman’a, Harsh Abidin, Al Naqir, Harsh Al Habit in the southern countryside, and Jisir Al Shugur, Al Safyat and Zarzour in the western countryside, which led to the fall of a number of wounded civilians.”

As it is unclear in which specific incidents civilians were harmed according to the Shaam report, and other sources do not mention civilian casualties for this incident, Airwars has graded the civilian harm status for this incident as “weak”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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

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 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]