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

RS2477

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shikhoun, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Khan Shikhoun, local sources reported.

The injured included a young girl and a woman, according to Zaman Al Wasl.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2981

Incident date

February 5, 2018

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single source event, Edlib Media Center reported: “a civilian is wounded as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft in residential neighbourhoods in the city of Saraqeb in eastern Idlib.”

Currently, there are no further details availble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3014

Incident date

February 10, 2018

Location

التمانعة, Taman'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime warplanes struck the town of Taman’a, Idlib, reportedly wounding several civilians, local media reported.

Sham News Network reported how “Russian and Asiad military aircraft launched dozens of air raids,” wounding civilians in multiple towns across eastern Idlib on February 10th, including Taman’a.

While other sources provided similar reported, it was only Sham News Network who reported about injury of civilians following the strikes.

All sources, except one, pointed to Russia as the responsible; Sham News Network pointed to both “Russian and Asiad military aircraft”.

Step News Agency described that the airstrikes coincided with violent clashes between the opposition forces and the regime on the ground.

While Edlib Media Center and Step News Agency attributed blame to Russia, the event remains contested as Sham News Network pointed to both Russian and Syrian regime culpability.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3526

Incident date

July 21, 2018

Location

تسيل, Tasil, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including a child and a woman were reported killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Tasil in Dara’a on July 21st, 2018, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said ” At least four civilians, including a girl, were killed as Syrian/Russian regime warplanes fired missiles on Tasil village in Dara’a governorate, northwestern suburbs, on July 21st, 2018.

@SYR_REV_NEWS tweeted “Four civilian martyrs, including a woman, as a result of warplane raids on the town of Tasil, west of Dara’a.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that 20 people including six members of the regime forces, and six civilians were killed in attacks in Dara’a countryside on July 21st, 2018.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3288

Incident date

March 16, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified amount of wounded was reported in the city of Douma on March 16th, 2018.

Whereas Step News reported Russian artillery shelling, Shaam News only mentioned ‘many wounded’ by ‘Russian warplanes’.

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3318

Incident date

March 20, 2018

Location

المليحة, Al Maliha, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.487365, 36.371312 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCCSY) reported that one civilian was killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces in the village of Al Maliha, Damascus governorate, on March 20th, 2018.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

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
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

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
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3329

Incident date

March 23, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was killed or injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Zamalka, Damascus governorate, on March 23rd, 2018, according to local sources.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that civilians were killed and wounded as the result of Russian airstrikes on the city of Zamalka.

Step Post reported that “Russian aircraft launched several air raids targeting the cities of Douma, Arbin, Zamalka and Ain Tarma in the Eastern Ghouta, resulting in deaths and wounded.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that “at least 40 raids  were carried out by warplanes on Thursday evening, targeting places in Zamalka city located in the southwestern enclave in the Eastern Ghouta, followed by several raids on areas in Arbin.”

@amsiiraq reported that both the Russian forces and the Syrian regime bombed Zamalka, mentioning the use of chlorine gas. Al Jazeera also reported the use of chlorine gas.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Possibly a photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Zamalka on March 23rd, 2018. The same tweet also mentions airstrikes on the city of Douma. Hence, the photo could also be taken in Douma on the same date (via @amsiiraq).

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
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3351

Incident date

March 28, 2018

Location

النقير, Al Naqir, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.499547, 36.540818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one child at least were reported killed and several other civilians injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Al Naqir in Idlib, Syria on March 28th, 2018 according to local sources.

Northern Syria Observer reported that “a child and two civilians were killed by artillery shelling by the regime forces on the village of Al-Naqir, south of Idlib.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the child Mustafa Ayman al Omar, from Qabr Fidda village in Hama governorate western suburbs, was killed as suspected Russian warplanes fired missiles on al Naqir village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on March 28th, 2018.”

@24Idlib reported that “At least a child, Mustafa Ayman Al Omar, male, was killed in an initial outcome intense shelling by the Assad forces on the village of Al-Naqir, south of Idlib.”

Other sources said that a girl was also killed. Step News said that “also this morning the child Mustafa Omar and another girl were killed by targeting the town of Nqair and its camp in the southern countryside of Idlib with rocket-propelled grenades from the concentration points of the regime forces.”

Only one source claimed that Mustafa Omar who was killed in the airstrike is an adult, while all the other sources confirmed he is a child.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers rescuing civilians after airstrikes allegedly by Russian forces or the Syrian regime on Al Naqir in Idlib, Syria on March 28th, 2018 (via SyriaCivilDefence)
  • Airstrikes allegedly by Russian forces or the Syrian regime on Al Naqir in Idlib, Syria on March 28th, 2018 (via SyriaCivilDefence)
  • Raids allegedly by Russian forces or the Syrian regime on Al Naqir in Idlib, Syria on March 28th, 2018 (via SyriaCivilDefence)

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
    3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]