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

RS2320

Incident date

July 4, 2017

Location

كنامات, Kinnamat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.332278, 40.156246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that a number of civilians were wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes in Kinnamat neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor.

Besides from the wounded, the incident also inflicted great destruction, Sharqiya Voice reported.

DeirEzzor24 reported the use of rocket-propelled grenades while Sharqiya Voice reported that “bunker-busting missiles” had been used.

All sources attributed blame to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 (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 June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3617

Incident date

April 13–14, 2019

Location

أورم الجوز, Urma Al Jouz, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes struck the town of Urma Al Jouz, in the western countryside of Idlib, around midnight between April 13th and 14th, wounding a family of five, according to local media.

Over a dozen missile strikes were reportedly fired from three Russian planes. The strikes were described as rocket attacks, or more specifically as an attack with “high-impact concussion rockets”.

According to Sputnik, sites and warehouses for ammunition were struck that belonged to the militants of the Liberation of the Sham (Jabhet Al Nusra).

In addition, a food depot was reported struck which resulted in a fire.

Orient News said that two civilians were wounded, though multiple other sources reported that a family of five (a father, a mother, and their three children) was injured.

The Syrian Civil Defense teams were involved in rescuing the family and fighting the fire.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (23) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on a food depot in the town of Urma Al Jouz on April 13th (via @omarbalkhi5).
  • Syrian Civil Defense teams extinguished fires caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Urum al-Jawz (via @SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Orm al-Jawz on April 13th (via Baladi News).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Orm al-Jawz on April 13th (via Orient News).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Orm al-Jawz on April 13th (via Syria TV).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction of a food depot caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via Enab Baladi).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via MMC).
  • Destroyed buildings after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via @omarbalkhi5).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via @omarbalkhi5).
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Urma al-Jouz on April 13th (via @omarbalkhi5).

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
    2–5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2536

Incident date

September 26, 2017

Location

مشمشان كنيسة نخلة , Kanissa Nakhla and Mashmashan, Jisr al Shoughour countryside, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859696, 36.367021 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and up to six civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Mashmashan in rural Idlib, according to sources on the ground.

Idlib Media centre pointed to Russia, though the Smart News Agency – who said that six civilians were wounded in the attack – didn’t identify the culprit.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ratebah Dieb
Adult female She is described as Othman Dieb’s wife. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3639

Incident date

May 1, 2019

Location

معرشورين, M’arshourin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported airstrikes in the towns of Tarmala, Ma’arshrouin and Al Mashrifa in the countryside of Idlib. According to Step News and EdlibEMC1, one civilian was wounded when an airstrike struck the outskirts of the village of Ma’arshrouin. EdlibEMC1 claimed that the victim was a young man who was wounded when the village was struck with rockets.

Yaqein reported that “a young man was also injured as a result of Russian air strikes targeting the outskirts of Maarshurin with missiles. ”

No other details are known at this time.

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
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translate: "Russian warplanes launch air raids on the vicinity of village # M’arshourin rural Idlib South, and also targeted the vicinity of the village of Mashreifa rural West Idlib"
  • Translate: "Russian warplanes launch air raids on the vicinity of village # M’arshourin rural Idlib South, and also targeted the vicinity of the village of Mashreifa rural West Idlib" Via @NagiNajjar

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
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3771

Incident date

June 6, 2019

Location

الهبيط, Al-Habit, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One source reported the injury of a member of Syrian Civil Defense in airstrikes on Madaya, Idlib, June 6th.

Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that “Ahmad Dab’an, a member of Syria Civil Defense was injured in his foot as warplanes, we believe were Russian, fired missiles in Madaya village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on June 6.”

One source blamed Russia, but the rest of sources didn’t attribute responsibility to any party.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Dab’an أحمد ضبعان
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Dab’an, a member of Syria Civil Defense, injured in airstrikes on Madaya, Idlib (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

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
    1
  • 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

RS3802

Incident date

June 14, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’arat Harma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was wounded in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes and shelling Ma’arat Harma on June 14th, 2019, according to a single source.

Step News Agency reported that civilians were wounded in airstrikes on Ma’arat Harma,  but did not specify a belligerent. Other sources did not report civilian harm but reported air and artillery strikes.

@IdlibPlus tweeted: “Warplanes target the outskirts of the town of Maarat Harmah in the southern countryside of Idlib, with missiles.”

@nabdalthwra reported that “SU-24 Assad warplanes targeted with missiles the town of Ma’arat Harma in the southern countryside of Idlib.” @MMCSYR2 reported that SU-22 warplanes carried out the strikes, and did not specify the belligerent. @syrian191124 reported the use of vacuum bombs.

While some others blamed the Syrian regime, others did not positively attribute blame for the airstrikes. Shaam News Network pointed to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

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 and/or Artillery
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3653

Incident date

May 3, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children and two women were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the village of Ma’aret Harma on May 3rd, 2019, according to local sources.

On May 3rd, the White Helmets tweeted: “Three children and two women were injured a short while ago following shelling by rockets carrying cluster bombs targeting the town of Ma’aret Harma in the southern countryside of Idlib, by the forces of the regime stationed in the countryside of Hama.”

Idlib Media Center also reported injured civilians as the result of an explosive barrel bomb but shared a video of a helicopter dropping munition on the village.

Step News Agency reported that the village was targeted with four ground-to-ground-missiles carrying cluster bombs, which allegedly came from a Russian military camp in Bribidiaj. HalabTodayTV also reported the use of cluster bombs but did not identify the culprit.

The pro-regime Twitter account @HoseinMortada wrote that “terrorist groups and their headquarters” were targeted in the area.

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
    5
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Three children and two women were injured a short while ago following shelling by rockets carrying cluster bombs targeting the town of Ma'ra Herma in the southern countryside of Idlib, by the forces of the regime stationed in the countryside of Hama."
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer holding an injured child after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on Ma’aret Harma, May 3rd, 2019 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Translation: "The moment of the fall of an explosive barrel on the town of Ma’aret Harma south of Idlib and caused the injury of civilians" (via Idlib Media Center).

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
    5
  • 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

RS3336

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

حرش الهبيط, Harsh Al Habit, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4379459, 36.5379524 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Harsh Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on March 26th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network.

@IdlibPlus tweeted that “Russian warplanes targeted several raids on the outskirts of the town of Harsh Habit in the southern countryside of Idlib.” @HalabTodayTV’s correspondent also reported Russian airstrikes on the town.

@mohanadalshekh reported “four airstrikes by Russian warplanes with cluster bombs and vacuum missiles on the towns of Al Habit and Tmanah in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

Shaam News Network reported the following: “Russian aircraft launched fierce air raids on the cities and towns of Ariha, Al Taman’a, Harsh Abidin, Al Naqir, Harsh Al Habit in the southern countryside, and Jisir Al Shugur, Al Safyat and Zarzour in the western countryside, which led to the fall of a number of wounded civilians.”

As it is unclear in which specific incidents civilians were harmed according to the Shaam report, and other sources do not mention civilian casualties for this incident, Airwars has graded the civilian harm status as “weak”.

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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]