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

RS3076

Incident date

February 23, 2018

Location

الشيفونية, Al Shifonya, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.5582404, 36.4335823 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians, allegedly five from the same family, were killed and several were left wounded Russian and/or Assad forces struck Al Shifonya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

The intense shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on Friday, February 23rd, including in Al Shifonya. Here, the strikes struck residential areas, and Douma Revolution reported that more than 15 airstrikes had been launched in the city. And al-Jazeera, who cited a source in the Civil Defense, said that Al Shifonya had been subject to both phosphorus bombs, cluster bombs, explosive barrels and napalm-conaining bombs.

The death toll spanned from two to seven. The lowest reported by SYR_REV_NEWS for example, while Baladi News reported seven fatalities. However, many reported five civilian victims, all allegedly from the same family, as reported by both Insaan Rights Watch, Enab Baladi and Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR).

Douma Revolution identified four victims by name, hereof one woman, though it was unclear whether she was a minor or adult.

Without specifying, sources reported that several civilians also were wounded in the incident.

It was, however, unclear whether blamed should be attributed only to Russia, as reported by LCCSY, or whether the incident was carried out by joint Assad/Russian forces, as suggested by several media, including SN4HR and al-Jazeera.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • 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 (11) [ 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.

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 – 7
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1500

Incident date

October 23, 2016

Location

كفرتخاريم, Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.1169382, 36.5147781 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that up to seven civilians – six of whom were named – including children and women died and dozens more were wounded in night-time airstrikes on Kafr Tkharim. The strikes reportedly hit a council building and a sports center. The majority of sources attributed this casualty event to Russia, though one report blamed warplanes belonging to the Syrian regime. Several others didn’t identify the culprit.

Halab Today TV gave the lowest death count of four – from the same family – reporting that the victims perished “after a night bombing by the Russian air force”.

According to the Shaam News Network, six from one family died. SNN said: “Russian warplanes raided the homes of civilians in the city of Kafr Tkharim, targeting the northern district with two raids, killing six people from same family, including four women and a child and wounding a number more. A mother and her child are still under the rubble”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that the sports club was destroyed, and in a subsequent post put the death toll at six from the same family.

Only once source (LCCSY) said that regime jets were responsible.

The highest death count, of seven, was given by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who said that this included two children and four women.

@salqin, tweeted a list of named casualties including one unidentified child, totaling to 7 victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Wahida Khashan
Adult female killed
Lubabah Khashan
Child female killed
Hussein Khashan
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Marwa Qabas
Child female killed
Raja'a Qabbas ( Mura's aunt)
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Zeina Ajam, Hussein's wife
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Image showing damage to the buildings in Kafr Takharim following an airstrike on Oct 23rd. (via damascus00)
  • Chaos continues to unrvel the morning after the alleged raid in Kafr Takharim, Oct 23rd (via Halab TV)
  • Damage to a sports center in Kafr Tkharim due to Russian and Syrian regime raids on oct 23rd. (via SN4HR)
  • Damage to a local council in Kafr Tkharim building due to Russian and Syrian regime raids, Oct 23rd. (via SN4HR)
  • White Helmets and civilians fight through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Spm-syria)
  • White Helmets and civilians fight through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Spm-syria)
  • White Helmets and civilians fight through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Spm-syria)
  • A member of the White Helmets rests. (via Spm-syria)
  • Image showing damage to the buildings in Kafr Takharim. (via damascus1syria)
  • Image showing damage to the buildings in Kafr Takharim. (via damascus1syria)
  • Image showing damage to the buildings in Kafr Takharim. (via damascus1syria)
  • Image showing damage to the buildings in Kafr Takharim. (via SN4HR)
  • Moments after the raid hit Kafr Takharim on the evening of 23rd October 2016. (via Najim_76)
  • Moments after the raid hit Kafr Takharim on the evening of 23rd October 2016. (via Najim_76)
  • Moments after the raid hit Kafr Takharim on the evening of 23rd October 2016. (via Najim_76)
  • Image showing damage to the buildings in Kafr Takharim. (via Najim_76)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1993

Incident date

March 20, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور , Jisir Al Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and seven civilians including two women died in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on the residential neighbourhoods of Jisr Al-Shoghour, according to local sources.

A further eight civilians , including four women, were allegedly injured.

Baladi, Alaraby and Sdusyria put the death toll at three civilians.

IkhwanSyria put the death toll still higher, at seven civilians – and also blamed Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Age unknown injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the strike on Jisir Al Shoghour, March 20th.
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Jisir Al-Shoghour, March 20th 2017 (via Zaman alwasl)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Jisir Al-Shoghour, March 20th 2017 (via Zaman alwasl)

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
    2 – 7
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2166

Incident date

April 24–25, 2017

Location

بسنقول, Bsanqoul, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.806667, 36.496667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed and others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Bsanqoul, according to local media sources.

Both Halab Today and AMC Aleppo reported that seven civilians had been killed, but neither positively identified a belligerent. All other known sources attributed responsibility to Russia, but did not provide a death toll – they stated that there were “martyrs and wounded”.

Smart News Agency further reported that four civilians were injured in the attack.

The raids were thought to have happened over night according to the source, @moazalshamy, who also stated that seven were dead and “dozens now wounded”.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Basnqoul massacre
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Bsanqoul, 24 April 2017. (Via: Muhammed Maari comments in Idlib Media Centre Facebook post).
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Bsanqoul, 24 April 2017. (Via: Muhammed Maari comments in Idlib Media Centre Facebook post).

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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

RS645

Incident date

February 19, 2016

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.89044, 36.0399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to seven civilians died in a strike on Nawa, according to local sources – though only one source blamed Russia while the other suggested that artillery may have been responsible for the death of one of the victims.

Dara Martyrs named six victims. The VDC also named one victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Barakat Al-Hariri
Age unknown male Died in warplane strikes killed
Yasin Maher Abazeed
Child male died in a hospital in Jordan from injuries in artillery bombardment on Dara’a, Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Mohammed Kudur Sultan Al-Wadi
Age unknown male Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Nimr Al Farruh
Age unknown male Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Wael Mustafa Al-Multaji
Age unknown male Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Nasir Barakat Al-Hariri
Age unknown male Also named as killed in Alma, Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Adult male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child1–6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • Mohammed Barakat Al-Hariri, killed in a strike Alma, Dara’a, Feb 19th (via Dara Martyrs)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child1–6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS677

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

دير العصافير, Deir Al Assafir, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.465316, 36.418111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians – including medics – died in an alleged Russian airstrike on a hospital in Deir Al Assafir, according to local sources.

Abu Ksem Deir Al Assafir published a video which reportedly showed the aftermath of a strike on a “medical hospital in Deir Al Assafir”.

According to Syrian Human Rights Committee, “Warplanes and helicopters targeted the civil defense quarter, a mosque and a hospital in Deir Al Assafir which resulted in injuries to a member of civil defense and two doctors working in the hospital.” Doomanypress said: “Five medical workers were wounded due to two missiles fired by helicopters in the medical point in Deir Al Assafir” – but didn’t identify the culprit.

Syrian Mirror blamed Russia for carrying out more than 40 raids in Eastern Ghouta, reporting that a strike on a hospital in Deir Al Assafir killed seven non-combatants.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a targeted attack on a medical facility in Deir Al Assafir. (via, Abu Ksem Deir Al Assafir)
  • Members of the White Helmets clearing up in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid. (via, SHRC)
  • An injured man is treated for his wounds. (via, SHRC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

RS3415

Incident date

April 24, 2018

Location

شارع عطا الزين في مخيم اليرموك, Ata Al Zein street in Al Yarmouk refugee camp, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.473938, 36.300631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians including a woman and her husband were reported killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Al Yarmouk camp in Damascus, Syria on April 24th, 2018 according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “six civilians, including three women were killed as Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles on Ata al Zeir Street in al Yarmouk Camp south of Damascus city, on April 24th, 2018.”

The Network also reported that “Haifaa al Haj was killed along with her husband Mohammad Hadba as Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles on Ata al Zeir Street in al Yarmouk Camp south of Damascus city, causing a massacre, on April 24th, 2018.”

Syrian warplanes launched numerous raids on the camp amid additional artillery and rocket fire.One source estimated a total of 100 air strikes and 25 barrels of explosives.

Shaam News, who reported the deaths of seven civilians, said the bodies were found on Atta Zein Street in the camp.

Russian forces were also reportedly involved.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–3 women)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–3 women)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS902

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven civilians died in an airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local sources. The majority of reports attributed the incident to Russia, however, two said that this was the work of the Syrian regime.

Accordng to @ShahbaPress – who pointed towards Russia – two children were included in the dead.

However, @syriahadath and @QasiounNewsAR blamed the regime.

Al Jazeera reported that as many as six children died in ”Syrian and Russian raids”.

Some other sources did not identify the culprit, but said that civilians were still trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "The civil defence team managed to pull three people alive from under the rubble" (via Aleppo White Helmets Facebook) [Page unavailble accessed via Airwars archive)
  • The destruction in Kafr Halab (Youtube by AMC)

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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

Sources (35) [ collapse]