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

RS3852

Incident date

June 27, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed and up to three of her family member injured in airstrikes on Kafar Sijna, Idlib, on June 27th.

Baladi News reported that “A woman was martyred and a young man was wounded in the town of Kafar Sijna by an air raid by Russian warplanes targeting the town.”

Masar Press wrote: “A woman was killed and her family members were injured in an airstrike by the Assad forces that targeted a house in the town of Kafr Sijnah in the southern countryside.”

Anas Almaarawi tweeted: “A woman was killed and three civilians were wounded as a result of the targeting of the town of Kafr Sijnah in the southern countryside of Idlib by warplanes.”

The vast majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ratibah Al-Qadi
Adult female Wife of Hajj Kamal killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (17) [ 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
  • (1 woman)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3853

Incident date

June 27, 2019

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One to three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Al Bara, Idlib, on June 27th.

According to Syria Civil Defense, “three civilians, including a woman, were killed and eight others were wounded in the town of Al Bara in the village of Idlib.”

@SyrianCoalition also reported “three martyrs – two men and a woman – as a result of the targeting of the popular market and civilian homes in the town of Al Bara.”

Shabab Al Latamina alleged the death of one civilian, while two other sources claimed that one man and one woman had perished in the airstrikes.

Four sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, while three others did not positively attribute blame. @SyrianCoalition named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident.

No other information is known at this time.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Yassin Shartah ياسين شرتح
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "Three martyrs "two men and a woman", as a result of the targeting of the popular market and civilian homes in the town of Bara in Idlib South countryside, air raids of Regime and Russia at noon today." (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image Caption: "Three civilians, including a woman, were killed and eight others were wounded in the town of Al Bara in the village of Idlib." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of targeting the military aircraft of the regime forces residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Bara south of Idlib" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of targeting the military aircraft of the regime forces residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Bara south of Idlib" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of targeting the military aircraft of the regime forces residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Bara south of Idlib" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of targeting the military aircraft of the regime forces residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Bara south of Idlib" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of targeting the military aircraft of the regime forces residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Bara south of Idlib" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of targeting the military aircraft of the regime forces residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Bara south of Idlib" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Yassin Shartah lost one of his kidneys as a result of an alleged regime or Russia's airstrike when a shrapnel penetrated his intestine, causing damage to the kidney. (Image via Yousef Shartah).
  • Yassin Shartah lost one of his kidneys as a result of an alleged regime or Russia's airstrike when a shrapnel penetrated his intestine, causing damage to the kidney. (Image via Taher.alkakaa).

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 – 3
  • (1 woman1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3857

Incident date

June 29, 2019

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo , Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was reported injured in the explosion of a remnant of a cluster munition in Hayyan, Aleppo, on June 29th.

Step News agency alleged that “a child was seriously injured by a cluster bomb left behind by a former Russian military attack on the town of Hayyan, north of Aleppo.”

Shaam News claimed that he was hospitalised as a result of the explosion.

All sources stated that the cluster munition was a remnant from a previous attack by Russian forces. It is unknown when the munition was dropped.

Step News, JisrTV and other sources reported Syrian regime artillery shelling on Hayyan on the same day, resulting in civilian harm in a likely unrelated incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3858

Incident date

June 29, 2019

Location

مشون, Mashoun, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One woman reportedly died as a result of a heart attack following an airstrike on her home in Mashoun, Idlib, on June 29th.

Shaam News reported that “Russian and Assad planes launched heavy and violent air raids on [a number of] cities and towns” on June 29th, leading to the injury of civilians in Mashoun.

Xeber24 said: “In addition, five aircraft targeted, with several air strikes, the headquarters of extremists in the town of Kafr Shalaya and the outskirts of the town of Mashoun in Jabal al-Zawiya and the town of al-Habit in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

Meanwhile, Edlib Media Center alleged that “a woman died of a heart attack as a result of the exposure of her home to an airstrike by military aircraft in the town of Mashoun.”

Smart News wrote: “In the context, a woman died as a result of a heart attack after the regime’s warplanes bombed the neighborhood next to her neighborhood in the village of Balshoun in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Mashoun on June 29th, 2019 (via Idlib Plus)

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
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3859

Incident date

June 30, 2019

Location

العامرية, Al Amiriya, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children were reported killed and six others including three children injured in airstrikes on Al Amiriya, Idlib, on June 30th. @HalabTodayTV reported the use of cluster bombs in the airstrike on the village.

While Syrian network for Human Rights referred to the children killed as two siblings, Shabab Al Latamina documented the martyrdom of the two children “Riad Ahmed Al Fawaz and Domu’ Ahmad Al Fawaz“, with attached images of a boy and a girl killed in the attack. Furthermore, Syria Civil Defense alleged the death of a boy and a girl, and the injury of three other children. The two children were displaced from Al-Jabin in Hama, accoridng to local sources.

Shabab Al Latamina state that a three year old child, Adib Mustafa Al-Sulaiman, was also injured in the bombardment.

Two sources attributed the strike to Russian forces, and one to the Syrian regime, while another source named both of these in reporting the incident. Two other sources did not positively attribute blame for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Riad Ahmed Al Fawaz رياض أحمد الفواز
Child female killed
Domu’ Ahmad Al Fawaz دموع أحمد الفواز
Child male Caption translation: "Martyrdom of the two children "Riad Ahmed Al Fawaz and Domu’ Ahmad Al Fawaz"- displaced people of the village of # Jubain in the northern countryside of Hama - following aerial bombardment and artillery fire from the regime and the Russians on the village of # Amriya rural Idlib South." (via Shabab Al Latamina) killed

The victims were named as:

Adib Mustafa Al-Sulaiman أديب مصطفى السليمان
3 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Riad Ahmed Al Fawaz, a displaced, child, was killed in airstrikes or artillery attacks on Al Amiriya in Idlib on June 30th, 2019. (via Justice Organisation)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Domou' Ahmed Al Fawaz, a displaced, child, was killed in airstrikes or artillery attacks on Al Amiriya in Idlib on June 30th, 2019. (via Justice Organization)
  • A child and girl were killed and 3 other children were injured a short while ago, after the targeting of the village of Al Amiriya in Idlib countryside, with two air strikes by warplanes

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3860

Incident date

June 30, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and several others injured as a result of an airstrike on Kafar Sijna, Idlib, on June 30th.

Ariha Today stated that “Russian warplanes launched air raids on the town of Khan Sheikhoun and the town of #Kafar Sijna in the southern countryside of Idlib, causing the fall of a civilian martyr and several injuries.”

The other sources reported airstrikes on Kafar Sajna on June 30th by the Syrian regime and Russia and the use of cluster bombs but didn’t report civilian casualties.

No more information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1921

Incident date

June 30, 2019

Location

ريف المهندسين الأول, Rif Al Mouhandessen Al Awal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.094532, 36.961419 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A confirmed Coalition strike with high-explosive missiles against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on the afternoon of June 30th is also locally reported to have injured at least two children and two women, and killed a number of foreign AQ-linked fighters. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the strike was carried out at 4.20 pm, exactly.

According to Step news, a total of seven injured people were evacuated including the two children and two women, in addition to the bodies of three men. Step News added in a later post that the number of casualties had risen to eleven people but did specify the number of dead or wounded or their combatant status.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights initially reported that eight commanders and fighters were killed but in a later post added that the number had risen to nine. According the source, the victims included two Algerians, two Tunisians, one Egyptian and a Syrian commander in addition to 14 wounded who attended a meeting when the building they were in was struck with rocket shelling. The source added that it wasn’t clear whether the shelling was carried out by the International Coalition or by Russian missiles.

Alarabiya reported: “The US-led coalition said Monday its jets carried out strikes in northwest Syria a day earlier that a monitor reported had killed eight extremists, including commanders, from an al-Qaeda-linked group.

‘This operation targeted AQ-S operatives responsible for plotting external attacks threatening US citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians,’ US Central Command said in a statement, using an acronym for Al-Qaeda in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, earlier said six commanders were among the slain extremists from the Hurras al-Deen group.”

Among those killed militants were Abu Omar, Tunisian, and Abu Dujana, Algerian, leaders of the organization according to Mena Monitor. @jalaysalshuhada reported that Abu Omar was a Tunisian member of the Shura Council and a judge in the internal judiciary of the organization.

Mena Monitor added that among the wounded militants were Abu Yahya al-Masri and Abu Dhar al-Masri.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–14

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Syria live ua).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Syria live ua).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abu Omar, Tunisian member of the Shura Council and a judge in the internal judiciary of extremist organization "Horras Al Din", was alleged killed in a Coalition strike in Aleppo on June 30th (via @jalaysalshuhada).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing bodies of stuck under the rubble caused by a Coalition strike in Aleppo on June 30th (via @jalaysalshuhada).

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.09453, 36.96142

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Aleppo, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCV1647596357
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Jun. 30, 2019, near Aleppo, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3218/CS1921 37SCV1647596357

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–14

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3862

Incident date

July 1, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة أو معرتحرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were reported killed, and others injured, in an airstrike on Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, on July 1st.

According to Step News, “three people were killed as a result of injuries following Russian raids targeting the town of Ma’aret Harma south of Idlib.”

@abuhuzaifa_ stated that two of those killed were Abdullah Mohammed Al-Hajji and Eid Abdul Razzaq Al-Razouk.

Three sources attributed the airstrike to Russian forces, one source named the Syrian regime as the active belligerent, while two others did not positively attribute blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Mohammed Al-Hajji عبدالله محمد الحجي
Adult male killed
Eid Abdul Razzaq Al-Razouk عيد عبدالرزاق الرزوق
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Caption: Three martyrs in Ma'aret Harma south of Idlib as a result of targeting civilian homes with an airstrike followed by missiles by the regime forces.

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 – 3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (17) [ collapse]