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

RS2068

Incident date

April 3–February 4, 2017

Location

كفرناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1656062, 36.9718334 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Kafr Naha – though it was unclear whether Russia or the regime were to blame.

Syria_ar noted that the “Al-Rahal Society” in the town was struck.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian air raids targeted Kafr Naha and its outskirts and Khan al A’ssal in western Aleppo causing injuries in Kafr Naha.”

Other sources said that the town was pounded by artillery.

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, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Aleppo: Vacuum rockets hit western Aleppo 4-4-2017'
  • Translation: 'The effects of the destruction caused by the air raids on Al-Rahal Society in the town of Kufarnaha in the western part of Aleppo.'
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, April 3rd 2017 (via HNN)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, April 3rd 2017 (via HNN)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, April 3rd 2017 (via HNN)

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
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2159

Incident date

April 23, 2017

Location

مجبينة, Majbina, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.205833, 36.979167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecific number of civilians were injured – according to local sources – in an airstrike on Majbina, Aleppo. Two out of three sources blamed Russia for the raid. HalabnewsNetwork reported “warplanes” were to blame. 

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
    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 (3) [ 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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2112

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two consecutive airstrikes in Idlib city, believed to be executed by Russian warplanes, allegedly wounded two civilian women and caused significant damage to property and infrastructure.

The Idlib governorate had seen an intensification of bombardments in the days before, despite the announced truce previous December. 

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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2296

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

الجنينة, Al-Ginena, Al Hussan and Al Baghiliya villages, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3680555, 40.1196671 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Smart News Agency, reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded by alleged Russian warplanes on an airstrike in Al-Ginena, Al Hussan and Al Baghiliya villages.

The source reported that “the aircraft bombed civilian houses in the villages of Al-Geneina, Hussan and Baghiliya (6 km west of Deir Al-Zour city), injuring a number of civilians, including children, without specifying their exact numbers.”

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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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 specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2658

Incident date

October 25, 2017

Location

مخيم الفكة, Al-Fakka camp, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.700000, 36.700000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were wounded following alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Fakka camp, local media said. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes.

There were no reports of civilians deaths.

Images showed material damage to tents and property.

One local source, Syrian Reporter, said that the strikes were “intensive and continuous” – and blamed Russian occupation aircraft, which it said had “targeted all the towns and villages of the eastern Hama and southern Aleppo” as well as the camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Al-Fakka camp, 25th October 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)

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
    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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2706

Incident date

November 8, 2017

Location

رملة, Ramla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.714183, 37.411194 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were wounded in airstrikes at various locations in Aleppo including the villages of Al-Sayyala, Maizliya and Ramla and other areas in the southern countryside of Aleppo. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia.

Smart News Agency – who reported Russia as culpable for the raids – was the only source to report that two civilians were injured.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “violent explosions rocked areas in the southern countryside of Aleppo” in the morning. They did not attribute blame.

Geographic Syria have suggested there were clashes in the area involving both Russia and the Syrian regime: “The Russian warplanes launched several air strikes with surface rockets on the villages of Ramla, Ma`ezilia and Sayyala. Heavy artillery shells fired by the regime forces fell on the villages of Mabarqa and Al Baha in the southern countryside of Aleppo.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (5) [ 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

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

Incident Code

RS2811

Incident date

December 24, 2017

Location

ابومحالة, Abu Mahala village in Al Hamra district, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.473428, 37.308068 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were injured by intense aerial shelling of Abu Mahala, Hama, local media reported. All sources blamed Russia.

While no reports mentioned the exact number of injured, sources merely reported that a number of civilians were left wounded.

The strikes were reportedly part of a larger shelling that day. Masar Press News reported “more than 65 raids carried out by Russian airliners on Al Hamra and Al-Sa’an areas since the morning.”

Jsirtv mentioned the use of napalm, reporting that “Russian fighter jets launched dozens of air strikes with burning napalm and rockets on the villages of Abu Mahala and Jib al-Sukkar in Nahariya, Al-Harrajan, Shakusiya and Al-jeneina, resulting in civilian casualties.”

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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the destruction caused by the alleged Russian aerial shelling of Abu Mahala, Hama, on December 24th, 2017 (via Baladi News Network(

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 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

RS2957

Incident date

February 1, 2018

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

At least one civilian was injured following an airstrike and/or artillery shelling of Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, local media reported, though it was unclear who and what was to blame.

Most sources reported that Russia had carried out airstrikes in the city, causing injuries among the civilians. One of the wounded was identified by name by Al Latamna Youth Group.

Meanwhile, without identifying the culprit, @HalabTodayTV’s correspondent said that “an air strike with cluster bombs” had been launched in the city.

Finally, two sources, RFS Media Office and Alarabiya, reported about artillery shelling in addition to the airstrikes, however, without identifying who was behind.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (6) [ 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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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