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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS3904

Incident date

July 14, 2019

Location

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

Airwars assessment

A water pumping station in Ma’arat al-Nu’man south of Idlib was struck by one of six alleged Russian air raids, injuring four technical staff members of the station and other civilians and putting the station out of service.

Radio Al-Kul said that “Ain Zarqa water station feeding the city of Maarat al-Numan with drinking water became out of service today, Sunday, after it was directly targeted by air strikes by Russian warplanes, in the second targeting of the only two water stations in the city within ten days.”

@ShahabPress reported civilian casualties as a result of the attack, and Macro Media Center said that technical staff who work at the station were injured.

No other details are known at this time.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (23) [ collapse]

  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • A water pumping station in Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib was struck by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on July 14th (via Macro Media Center).
  • Image from inside the water pumping station allegedly targeted by Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 14th, 2019. (via @ bodler15).
  • Image from Ma'arat Al-Nu'man on the day when the water pumping station allegedly targeted by Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 14th, 2019. (via @YasserAlrahil).
  • Images showing the drinking water pumping station that feeds the city of Maarat al-Numan out of service, as a result of being targeted by air strikes. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Images showing the drinking water pumping station that feeds the city of Maarat al-Numan out of service, as a result of being targeted by air strikes. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Images showing the drinking water pumping station that feeds the city of Maarat al-Numan out of service, as a result of being targeted by air strikes. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Images showing the drinking water pumping station that feeds the city of Maarat al-Numan out of service, as a result of being targeted by air strikes. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Warplanes bomb the drinking water station in the city of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib countryside, completely rendering it out of service. (via @AleppoAMC).
  • The moment the missile fell from the Russian warplanes on the pumping station of drinking water feeding the city of Maarat al-Nu'man and rendered it out of service. (via @adlbhamam1985)
  • The moment the missile fell from the Russian warplanes on the pumping station of drinking water feeding the city of Maarat al-Nu'man and rendered it out of service. (via @adlbhamam1985)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3922

Incident date

July 20, 2019

Location

جبل الأربعين, Jabal Al Arba’een, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Syrian and Russian forces carried out airstrikes on several locations in Idlib with high-impact rockets. According to Syrian Civil Defense who were at the scene reported that “eight civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured by the targeting of the towns of Kansafra, Balyoun and Jabal al-Arba’een in the countryside of Idlib”.

@AleppoAMC said that two civilians were injured in the airstrikes on Jabal Al-Arbaeen. However, @muhammad_salhab tweeted saying that six casualties took place in Balyoun and no other casualties were reported in the other locations.

No other details are 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (7) [ 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3493

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

طفس, Tafas, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.735089, 36.067813 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian, Syrian regime and/or Iranian air and/or artillery strikes targeted the town of Tafas, Dara’a countryside, on June 29th, 2018, according to local sources. Possibly, civilians were injured and killed.

Shaam News Network reported that “the Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched airstrikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighbourhoods of Dara’a and on the towns and villages of Nawa, Tafas, Kahil, Sheikh Saad, Giza, Mseifra, Saida, Gharia, Gharbia and Sharqiya and Um Al Mayan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians”, implying that civilians were possible harmed in Tafas.

@alahmed_nasser reported that the “Syrian Arab Army artillery strikes targeted locations and points of armed militants in Tafas town in Dara’a countryside.” @3bdalra7man7ar reported Russian airstrikes on the town

@Step_Agency wrote that artillery shelling targeted Tafas, explicitly stating there had been no injuries.

@s3d_al3nezi and @Horan_now1 blamed Iranian forces for artillery and rocket strikes on Tafas.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ 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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3224

Incident date

March 11, 2018

Location

جوبر, Joubar, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528874, 36.337967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Shaam News Network, reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded in airstrikes on Joubar. The source blamed Russian warplanes and helicopters for the raids.

There are no other details 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

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3950

Incident date

July 24, 2019

Location

خان السبل, Khan Al Sobul, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that 20 civilians, including three children and four women, were injured when Russia and the Syrian regime conducted airstrikes on cities and towns of Khan Sheikhan, Ma’arat al-Nu’man, Deir al-Sharqi and Um al-Sair, Jabal al-Arbaeen, Ma’sibin, al-Qasabiyah, Mar’and, Tannnah and Khan al-Sobull.

Baladi News reported that in a special statement, Abdul Rahman Imad al-Din, the head of the local council of the town of Khan Al Sobul claimed that Russian warplanes  bombed the local bakery and surrounding houses with six missiles fired in one airstrike at four o’clock in the afternoon. He added that the bakery went out of service due to the damage that was caused. Several of employees were reported injured.

According to Smart News, a total of two civilians were wounded.

The incident occured at 16:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "Civilians were wounded as the criminal Russian warplanes targeted the town of Khan Al Sobul, south of Idlib."
  • Caption translation: "Russian warplanes launch air strikes with high-explosive vacuum bombs on the town of Khan Al Sobul in the southern countryside of Idlib."
  • Caption translation: "Civilians were wounded as Russian warplanes targeted the town of Khan Al-Sobul , south of Idlib."
  • Caption translation: Russian warplanes target the town of Khan Al-Sobul with vacuum missiles. The bombing caused massive damage to the homes of the people and injured two people.
  • An image showing damage to a civilian house as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces on Khan Al-Subul in Idlib on July 24th, 2019. (via @mahmoudalbakor1)
  • Caption translation: Khan Al Subul.
  • Damage to a civilian houses as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces on Khan Al-Subul in Idlib on July 24th, 2019. (via @almaestro97)
  • Damage to a civilian houses as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces on Khan Al-Subul in Idlib on July 24th, 2019. (via @almaestro97)
  • Damage to a civilian houses as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces on Khan Al-Subul in Idlib on July 24th, 2019. (via @almaestro97)
  • Damage to a civilian houses as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces on Khan Al-Subul in Idlib on July 24th, 2019. (via @almaestro97)
  • Wounded people are a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Al Subul on July 24th, 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
    2–20
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3982

Incident date

July 30, 2019

Location

موقا, Mouqa, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that an unknown number of civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Mouqa, Idlib governorate, on July 30th, 2019.

@Step_Agency reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the town of Mouqa in the southern countryside of Idlib”

@Syrian191124 tweeted: “Helicopters targeted with barrel bombs the vicinity of the village of Mouqa in the southern countryside of Idlib”

In another post, Step News Agency reported: “The Russian air force targeted several air strikes in Khan, Moka and Jbala villages in the southern countryside of Idlib, injuring a number of civilians.”

All sources blamed Russia for the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Warplanes shelling the village of Mouqa , southern Idlib countryside on July 30th, 2019 (via @AlatrashGhaleb).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3994

Incident date

August 6, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة في حماه, Several towns in Hama, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source reported an unknown number of civilian casualties as the result of alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on several cities and towns in Hama governorate on August 6th, 2019.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes and helicopters launched dozens of airstrikes accompanied by fierce rocket and artillery shelling that targeted the cities and towns of Kafar Zeita, Morek, Latamnina, Zakat, Hawija, Hawash, Sarmaniya, Latmin, Daqmaq, Hamidiya and Khirbet Al Naqous, causing many civilian casualties.”

Further information is currently unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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

RS4128

Incident date

November 2, 2019

Location

حزارين, Hizareen town, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.600002, 36.526 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hizareen the morning of November 2, 2019.

The White Helmets reported: “One man was killed and another injured as a result of a Russian military air raid, targeting civilian homes in the town of Hizareen”. A tweet from @ramiswidfree added that “the civil defense teams rescued the killed man and took the injured man to the nearest medical point to receive the necessary treatment.”

A tweet from @QasiounAr reported “a civilian was killed and others wounded in a Russian raid on Hazarin.”

According to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, “In Idlib governorate, six people were killed, five of them by the Russian bombardment of the towns of Jabala and Hizareen”.

An image posted by @AleppoAMC shows the “destruction in civilian homes” as a result of the airstrikes on Hazarin.

A pro-regime source @signal7579 posted that “the Syrian Air Force destroys several Al-Qaeda outposts in Hazarin in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

All sources that reported on the incident attributed the airstrikes to Russia except the pro-regime source that attributed the strikes to the regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Hizareen, Nov 2nd (via White Helmets)
  • Image caption: A civilian was killed and others wounded in a Russian raid on Hazarin. (Image posted by @QasiounAr)
  • Caption translation: The effects of destruction in civilian homes as a result of the air strikes that hit the town of Hazarin in the southern Idlib countryside this morning. (Image posted by @AleppoAMC)
  • Caption translation: A man was killed and another wounded, as a result of an air strike by Russian warplanes targeting civilian homes in the town of Hazarin, south of Idlib, this afternoon, Saturday. The civil defense teams rescued the killed man and took the injured man to the nearest medical point to receive the necessary treatment. (Image posted by @ramiswidfree)
  • Caption translation: A man was killed and another wounded, as a result of an air strike by Russian warplanes targeting civilian homes in the town of Hazarin, south of Idlib, this afternoon, Saturday. The civil defense teams rescued the killed man and took the injured man to the nearest medical point to receive the necessary treatment. (Image posted by @ramiswidfree)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (9) [ collapse]