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

RS3838

Incident date

June 22, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma’ret Al Nu’man, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children, twin brothers, were killed in an airstrike conducted by either the Russian or Syrian regime forces in Ma’arat al-Nu’man, according to local sources. Up to six other civilians were reported wounded.

Orient News said: “Two dead as a result of an air strike by the Russian occupation on Maarat al-Numan, south of Idlib.”

It later added in a more detailed report: “The Orient correspondent said that at least two twin brothers were killed by the Assad militia’s bombing of a car repair workshop on the outskirts of Maarat al-Numan, south of Idlib, with rockets and barrel bombs, and the bombing killed two people each in Khan al-Sobul and Kansafra.

EdlibNN reported: “Two children were killed and five were wounded by the bombing of the Assad militia’s warplanes, the city of Maarat al-Numan in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

Syrian Coalition tweeted: “Two children were killed, and 6 civilians were wounded, including a child, as a result of the terrorism of the Assad regime and Russia, with their aerial bombardment on the outskirts of Maarat al-Numan in the Idlib countryside.”

Syria Civil Defense wrote that “a fire broke out in a store on the outskirts of the city of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib countryside, after it was targeted by an air strike, as the fire was extinguished by firefighting teams.”

According to Step News, the twins were IDP’s from Ma’saram village.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Fahd Maho Duha al-Dani
Child male killed
Ahmad Fahd Maho Duha al-Dani
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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
    Other

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteer putting out the fire caused by an airstrike that struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the scene after an airstrike struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteer at the scene after an airstrike struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the scene after an airstrike struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • Cars destroyed by an airstrike that struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • A building turned to rubble by an airstrike struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the scene after an airstrike struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media)
  • Destruction caused by an airstrike that struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Macro Media).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the scene after an airstrike struck the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man on June 22nd (via Abdulazez Ketaz)

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
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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
    Other

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3840

Incident date

June 22, 2019

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamina, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was allegedly wounded by Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on the town of Al Latamina in Hama from the camp of South Halfaya.

Halab Today TV reported: “A child was injured by artillery shelling from the Russian camp on the city of Al-Lataminah in the northern Hama countryside.” The source added in a different post that both Russian and the Syrian regime conducted airstrikes in the area.

Mahmod Haway accused the Syrian regime of condcuting the shelling: “Artillery shelling from the checkpoints of the regime’s militia on the agricultural lands located between the city of Al-Latamina and the village of Latmine.”

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
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian 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
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3839

Incident date

June 22, 2019

Location

تل ملح, Tel Melh, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed in artillery shelling in Tal Melh, Hama, on June 22nd.

Syrian Network for Human Rights named the civilian killed as Ahmad Ibrahim al Hmoud.

Although Step News alleged the death of one civilian in one tweet, naming the Syrian regime as the responsible belligerent, another report by Step News regarding the incident did not document civilian harm, attributing the attack to Russian forces. Syrian Network for Human Rights and Halab Today TV named the Syrian regime as the belligerent responsible for the shelling.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Ibrahim al Hmoud
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Other

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
    1
  • 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
    Other

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3844

Incident date

June 23, 2019

Location

كفربطيخ, Kafar Batikh, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians (a child and two women or two children and a woman) were wounded by a cluster bomb in an airstrike on the village of Kafar Batikh, according to local sources. @alhariri58  tweeted that three raids with vacuum and cluster rockets targeted the area.

Both Russian and Syrian regime forces were blamed for the attack. According to Shaam News, the attack was carried out by aircrafts and helicopter gunships.

Smart News depicted the child in a photograph and published a video that can be viewed on their website but are not available for distribution.

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
    3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafr Batikh on June 23rd, 2019. (via Housaine Alfadil)
  • One of two children reported injured in airstrikes on Kafr Batikh on June 23rd, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3843

Incident date

June 23, 2019

Location

جوزف, Jozef, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Two to six civilians were reported killed, and four to five injured, in airstrikes on Jozef, Idlib, on June 23rd.

Smart news alleged that the “aerial bombardment” killed four civilians, and wounded “four others from the same family”, while stating that “two of its members are still missing and trapped under the rubble.” Meanwhile, the same source stated that “activist Ahmad al-Khatib said two civilians were killed and four others, including two women and one child, were injured as a result of three raids.”

As understanding of the events unfolded Macro Media Centre reported “five martyrs, including three children, a woman and a man” as a result of the attack. Both Shaam News and Edlib Media Center reported the death of two children out of those killed.

A later source, @abuhuzaifa_, reported the death of a young girl who had been injured in the bombardment. According to this source, “Rima Muhammad Qaddour, a young girl displaced from the town of Khan Shaykhun, was killed after several days, following shelling in Jozef in countryside of Idlib.”

However, @akhbar raised the death toll tweeting “A woman, a child, and four other civilians are the toll from air strikes launched by the Syrian regime’s warplanes in the town of Joseph in the Idlib countryside.”

While seven sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, five did not positively attribute blame. Meanwhile both Shaam News and Smart News named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident.

Smart News stated that “the forces of the regime and Russia have launched a massive aerial bombardment of Idlib, Hama and northern Latakia for weeks, killing hundreds of civilians and displacing hundreds of thousands.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rima Muhammad Qaddour ريمة محمد قدور
Child female killed
Abdel-Qader Al-Jamil عبد القادر الجميل
Age unknown male Abu Adel killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2–3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Five civilian martyrs, including 3 children in a horrific massacre as a result of several air strikes by the Assad regime and Russia on the town of Joseph in Jabal Al-Zawiya in Idlib countryside.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption: "at least four civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed as Syrian regime warplanes fired missiles on Jozef village in Jabal al Zaweya in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on June 23rd" (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "Four martyrs, including two children and a woman, and five wounded as a result of guided missile attacks on the town of Jozef in Idlib countryside today, where the blood of the displaced and the people of the town mixed." (via Syria Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "Four martyrs, including two children and a woman, and five wounded as a result of guided missile attacks on the town of Jozef in Idlib countryside today, where the blood of the displaced and the people of the town mixed." (via Syria Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "Four martyrs and a number of wounded by a raid on the aircraft of the military regime on the village of # Jozef - mostly children." (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • Image caption translation: "Four martyrs and a number of wounded by a raid on the aircraft of the military regime on the village of # Jozef - mostly children." (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • Image caption translation: "Four martyrs and a number of wounded by a raid on the aircraft of the military regime on the village of # Jozef - mostly children." (via @abuhuzaifa_)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption translation: Five martyrs from the same family in Joseph town after SU-24 aircraft targeted it.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption translation: How would this man's heart stand the pain as he is having a farewell look at his daughter killed by the regime warplanes?

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man taking a final look at his daughter who was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes in Jozeph in Idlib on June 23rd, 2019. (via @ahmadalhadi77).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes in Jozeph in Idlib on June 23rd, 2019. (via @bodler15).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdel-Qader Al-Jamil was reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on June 23rd 2019 on Joseph in Idlib. (via Jouzef Today)
  • Smoke caused by alleged Syrian regime's airstrikes on June 23rd, 2019 on the village of Joseph, south of Idlib Governorate. (Copyright SMART, Published in the public interest).
  • Civilians and civil defense personnel carry an injured woman on June 23rd 2019 following an air strike by the Syrian regime forces in the village of Joseph, south of Idlib Governorate. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • Two young men try to remove the rubble of a destroyed house in search of missing people on June 23rd, 2019, following an air bombardment by the Syrian regime forces in the village of Joseph in the south of Idlib governorate in the north of the country. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)
  • Civilians at the site of a destroyed house in search of people under the rubble after an alleged airstrike by the Syrian regime forces on the village of Joseph in Idlib. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)
  • Civilians and civil defense personnel at the site of a destroyed house in search of people trapped under the rubble after an alleged airstrike by the Syrian regime on Jozef village on June 23rd, 2019. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)

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
    2 – 6
  • (2–3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3845

Incident date

June 25–26, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Shabab Al Latamina reported that two civilians were wounded in shelling in rural Idlib, near Khan Sheikhoun on June 25th. According to the source, “two wounded from the town of Al Latamina in artillery artillery shelling from the Russian camp on the perimeter of the city of Khan Sheikhoun.”

The source added that the following day, one of the wounded civilians died of the injuries the sustained in the attack. He was named Khaled Khalil Mubarak/Al-Mubarak.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that two members of the civil defense were killed when a Russian airstrike struck their car in the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on June 26th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Khalil Al-Mubarak خالد خليل المبارك
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khalil Khalil Al-Mubarak died of his injuries sustained days after an airstrike struck Khan Sheikhoun between June 25th and 26th (via the Shabab Al Latamina).

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 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3846

Incident date

June 26, 2019

Location

المزارع المحيطة بمدينة ادلب,, farms surrounding the city Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported varying numbers of civilians were killed and wounded when  airstrikes struck the outskirts of Idlib.

According to Macro Media, three civilians were killed in the raid.

Shabab Al Latamina, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Ariha Today reported a higher death toll of four civilian fatalities. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that they were displaced. According to Ariha Today, three men and a woman were killed and two children and a man were wounded.

Shabab Al Latamina blamed the Syrian regime for the attack, while Step News reported that the air and artillery strikes were carried out by the Russian and Syrian regime combined.

Syria Civil Defence reported: “Four civilians, one of whom was a woman, were killed, two children, and a man were wounded in the western city of Idlib, as a result of five air strikes that targeted civilian farms near the town of Arab Saeed”

Local Coordination Committee of Syria put the death toll at six civilians killed while Syria Liveua Map reported as many as eight civilians were killed.

Several of these sources reported the use of rockets, Orient said they were vacuum missiles.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zahraa Ahmed Sharif Al Halabi
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense teams at the scene after an airstrike struck Idlib province on June 26th (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense teams carrying one of the victims of an airstrike struck Idlib province on June 26th (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense teams carrying one of the victims of an airstrike struck Idlib province on June 26th (via Syrian Civil Defense).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Syrian Civil Defense teams carrying the body of one of the victims of an airstrike struck Idlib province on June 26th (via Syrian Civil Defense).

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
    3 – 8
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3850

Incident date

June 26, 2019

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children were reported injured when rocket launchers struck the city of Saraqib in Idlib. According to Shaam News, Russian and Syrian regime military aircrafts launched dozens of raids with heavy artillery shelling in the region that day.

@nabdalthwra said Syrian regime warplanes targeted Saraqib without mentioning civilian harm.

Step News and Abdulaziz Ketaz only reported airstrikes without saying to whom they belong.

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
    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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (5) [ 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (5) [ collapse]