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

RS4439

Incident date

February 12, 2020

Location

كفرعمة, Kafr Amma, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a child, were killed and up to five others, including three children were injured as the result of Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Amma, Aleppo governorate, on February 12th, 2020, as reported by local sources.

SCD Aleppo wrote that “four civilians were killed and three others wounded due to a Russian aerial bombardment with two missiles, targeting Kafr Amma village in the western countryside of Aleppo, on Wednesday morning.” @HalabTodayTV reported that three civilians were killed in the strikes.

The Director of Media of the SCD, Ibrahim Abu Al Laith, specified to SMART News Agency that there was one child among the four killed civilians and that three other children of a displaced family were lightly injured. Al Laith reported the use of two vacuum missiles.

The Syrian Civil Defense said that the family members were killed after fleeing the shelling in Idlib, and that rescue operations lasted for few hours.

Our Syria News later released the identities of the four victims as well as the three wounded civilians: Muhammad Khair Al-Khalil, 23; Abdel Fattah Al Khalil, 23; Abdel Rahim Al Khalil, 22; Muhammad Ahmad Al-Khaled, 15. The wounded civilians were identified as Mustafa Al-Khaled, 17; Mohamed Zaghnoun, 35; Amer (no additional name given), 35.

Halab TV and local activists declared that Russian warplanes carried out the air strike using vacuum missiles. However, Our Syria was the only source to report that the regime was responsible for the strikes.

According to a tweet from @abazeid89, the bombing occurred just minutes after ” Erdogan’s speech, in which he threatened that the planes that bomb civilians will not be able to move freely.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhammad Khair Al-Khalil محمد خير الخليل
23 years old killed
Abdel Fattah Al Khalil عبدالفتاح الخليل
23 years old killed
Abdul Rahim Al Khalil عبدالرحيم الخليل
22 years old killed

Family members (2)

Mohammed Ahmed Al-Khaled محمد احمد الخالد
15 years old killed
Mustafa Al-Khaled مصطفى الخالد
17 years old injured

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Zaghnoun محمد زغنون
35 years old injured
Aamer عامر
35 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Amma on February 12th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Amma on February 12th, 2020 (via Bawaba Aleppo).
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Amma on February 12th, 2020 (via Bawaba Aleppo).
  • Civilian buildings destroyed as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Amma on February 12th, 2020 (via Bawaba Aleppo).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Amma on February 12th, 2020 (via Bawaba Aleppo).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SCD volunteers rescuing civilians after alleged Russian airsrtrikes on Kafr A'mma in Aleppo on Februray 12th 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SCD volunteers rescuing civilians after alleged Russian airsrtrikes on Kafr A'mma in Aleppo on Februray 12th 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SCD volunteers rescuing civilians after alleged Russian airsrtrikes on Kafr A'mma in Aleppo on Februray 12th 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Destruction and rescue operations after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Amma village which is administratively a part of al Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on February 12th, 2020. (via SNHR)
  • "The effects of destruction in the village of #Kafr Amma in the western countryside of #Aleppo, as a result of raids by warplanes." (Image posted by @ala_hacioglu)
  • "The effects of destruction in the village of #Kafr Amma in the western countryside of #Aleppo, as a result of raids by warplanes." (Image posted by @ala_hacioglu)
  • "The effects of destruction in the village of #Kafr Amma in the western countryside of #Aleppo, as a result of raids by warplanes." (Image posted by @ala_hacioglu)
  • "The effects of destruction in the village of #Kafr Amma in the western countryside of #Aleppo, as a result of raids by warplanes." (Image posted by @ala_hacioglu)

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
    3 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4441

Incident date

February 12, 2020

Location

الاتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the town of Al Atarib, Aleppo governorate, on February 12th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that the artillery strikes led to two injured people, who were then treated by SCD teams in a hospital.

Local sources, as well as Al Araby Al-Jadeed News, initially reported that Al Atareb was targeted but no information concerning casualties was available. Syrian Civil Defense announced that two civilians were wounded, but no names were made available.

Local and larger news agencies noted that residential areas within Al Atareb were struck resulting in two civilians ultimately being wounded.

Shaam News reported that a combination of Russian and Syrian regime planes conducted the air raid while @anwarsleman2 attributed “several airstrikes” on Atarib to Russian planes.

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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Al Atarib on February 12th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Two civlians were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Al Atarib on February 12th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Al Atarib on February 12th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).

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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4438

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

كفرتعال, Kafar Ta'al, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 17-year-old child was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafr Ta’al, Idlib governorate, on February 11th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the child Qasem Lattouf al Omar, aged 17, was killed as Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes carried out a strike using machine guns in Kafr Ta’al village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on February 11.”

Civil Defense informed the Anadolu Agency that one civilian was confirmed dead from an air strike in Kafr Taal. No other information was released about whether others had been wounded.

The air strikes were reported by local sources to be part of a larger strategy to drive civilians out of towns and villages. SMART News Agency blamed both Russian forces and the Syrian regime for the incident while @so_ria98 attributed airstrikes to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Qasem Lattouf al Omar
17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (7) [ 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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4437

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

الاتارب , Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, a man and a child, were killed and an elderly man was reportedly injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atarib, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020, according to local sources.

According to @HalabTodayTV, “a man and a child were killed when warplanes targeted their car with machine guns on the road to the city of Atarib”.  However, Smart News Agency reported that an elderly man was injured in the strikes.

The Violations Documentation Center provided data that a child was killed and nine others were injured in strikes on the city of Atarib, Urma al-Kubra town and Kafr Taal village without specifying how many of the casualties occurred in Al Atarib.

Activist Ahed al-Salibi, quoted by @muslim2day, also reported that “thousands of families are fleeing on foot towards the Syrian-Turkish border as a result of the violent Russian bombardment targeting the city of Atarib”.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the casualties resulted from Russian or regime attacks, with @baladinetwork reporting that “regime forces bombard with artillery and rocket launchers the city of Al-Atareb” while @jisrtv said that “warplanes of the Russian occupation bombard the city of Atarib”.

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Thousands of families are fleeing on foot towards the Syrian-Turkish border as a result of the violent Russian bombardment targeting the city of Atarib. (Image posted by @muslim2day)
  • Shelling of the city of Atarib with missiles. Coolness and safety, God willing.. 11, 2, 2020

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
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4436

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 11, 2020 three civilians, including a child, were injured during airstrikes upon the town of Urma Al Kubra by Russian warplanes.

Smart News reported that three civilians, including a child, were injured in the town of Urma Al Kubra. The Violations Documentation Center provided data that a child was killed and nine others were injured in strikes on the city of Atarib, Urma al-Kubra town and Kafr Taal village without specifying how many of the casualties occurred in Urma Al Kubra.

Urma Al Kubra contained many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and was not of military significance.

The Anadolu Agency as well as local sources noted that Russian warplanes using vacuum bombs conducted the raid upon Urma Al Kubra.

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
    3
  • 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

Sources (7) [ 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
    3
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4435

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and five other civilians, including a child and two women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo countryside, on February 11th, 2020, according to local sources.

@ShahbaPress reported that “five civilians from one family were wounded, including a child and two women, as the result of raids by Russian occupation planes on the city of Darat Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo”. The Syrian Civil Defence added that civilian homes were targeted with two airstrikes in the morning.

SCD also posted a video of “an elderly man being recovered from the rubble of his house” by SCD volunteers. However, a source from the Civil Defense spoke to “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed” about the killing of an elderly civilian and the wounding of five others, in an aerial bombardment on the city of Darat Izza, in the western countryside of Aleppo. Al Araby was the only source to identify a death resulting from the strikes.

Thiqa News Agency tweeted that Daret Izza was struck by missiles and one local source stated that warplanes launched airstrikes on the hospital in the center of the town.

The vast majority of local sources and national news agencies reported that the strike was conducted by Russian warplanes, some also identifying vacuum bombs as being used.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Damaged house after alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress).
  • Damaged house after alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers carrying away a wounded man after alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020 (via @anasanas84).
  • The effects of the destruction left by the bombing of the alleged Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the city of Darat Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @Anas_Alhaje)
  • The effects of the destruction left by the bombing of the alleged Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the city of Darat Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @Anas_Alhaje)
  • The effects of the destruction left by the bombing of the alleged Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the city of Darat Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @Anas_Alhaje)
  • The effects of the destruction left by the bombing of the alleged Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the city of Darat Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @Anas_Alhaje)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Darat Izza, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020 (via @EyadHoms20).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4434

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Shaam Network reported that “The Assad and Russian aviation launched intensive and violent airstrikes targeting the areas of clashes and civilian homes in Idlib on February 11th, 2020, which led to many civilians wounded in the cities, towns and villages of Kafr Nabl, Benish and Sarmin, the two bridges, Sheikh Dames, Kafr Sijnah, Marabaya, Hass, and Armnaya.”

Airwars has no other information about how many civilians were injured in these various incidents. Due to limitations in sources, it is possible that the casualties have been reflected in other assessments.

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
    1–3
  • 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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

RS4433

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

زردنا, Zardana, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 11, 2020 the city of Zardana was struck by an air raid from Russian or regime forces that killed two men.

Syrian Civil Defense as well as local witnesses reported that warplanes, using machine guns, struck a camp in Zardana with families and killing two men. Shaam News corroborated this story, but names were not released.

A tweet from @Talhamwi3 added that “the shells reached the vicinity of the Sanabel Al-Khair team’s endowment camp in the city of Zardana, and the families were evacuated, and we are now moving the camp to a safe area”.

Witnesses and news agencies credited the Assad regime for the air strikes while Shaam News mentioned both the regime and Russian aviation carrying out strikes across Idlib, including in Zardana.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Zardana........11/2/2020
  • "The shells reached the vicinity of the Sanabel Al-Khair team’s endowment camp in the city of Zardana, and the families were evacuated, and we are now moving the camp to a safe area." (Image posted by @Talhamwi3)

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 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]