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

R4491

Incident date

November 20, 2022

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was killed when an unexploded cluster bomb originally launched by Syrian regime or Russian forces exploded in agricultural land on the outskirts of the city of Jisr Al Shughur on November 20, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a child was killed when a cluster bomb from a previous bombing, attributed to the Syrian regime and Russia, exploded while the child was grazing sheep on the outskirts of the city of Jisr Al Shughur.

A local source told North Press that “the explosion resulted in the killing of the child, Muhammad Saleh al-Daghli, from the city of Jisr Al Shughur” and that many children were grazing their sheep in the same area.

@Almohrar1 added that the body of the child was transferred to the forensic medicine department in the city of Idlib, and then handed over to his family.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the bomb was from a previous Russian or Syrian regime bombardment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Saleh al-Daghli محمد صالح الدغلي
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers with the body of a child killed by an unexploded cluster bomb in Jisr Al Shughur on November 20, 2022. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4530

Incident date

July 10, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On July 10th 2022, Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly shelled the village of Al Atareb in western countryside of Aleppo, resulting in the injury of one elderly woman.

Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Baladi News stated that an elderly woman had been injured on the outskirts of Atarib, coinciding with an intense flight of reconnaissance. Orient Net added that the shelling also affected civilian homes and farms.

A tweet from @abderazakpato included an image of the remnants of an artillery shell, which was attributed to coming from Syrian regime forces in the barracks surrounding the city and was identified as part of the shelling that resulted in the injury of a 60 year old woman and the destruction of civilian property.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime or Russian forces were responsible.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Dangerous moments of our teams' response to artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, today, Monday, July 10, causing the injury of a woman, and the destruction of civilian homes.
  • "A woman was injured as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the city of Atarib in the western countryside of Aleppo" (Image posted by @alkhabour21)
  • Remnants of an artillery shell launched by Syrian regime forces in the barracks surrounding the city. (Image posted by @abderazakpato)
  • Artillery targets 🇸🇾 of terrorist sites east of Atarib, the western countryside of #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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1927

Incident date

February 26, 2017

Location

الحور, Al Hour, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.88256, 38.17169 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three medical staff were wounded in an airstrike which struck Al-Huda Surgical Hospital in Al Hour, Aleppo, local media report. According to sources, the hospital has been since rendered out of service. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some blamed Russia, while others blamed the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights specified that the Syrian regime and its allies were to blame. 

Al Jazeera reported that artillery was used in the raid. Initial reporting however did specify that air to ground missiles were seen.

Two ambulances were also reportedly destroyed in the raid, as was some of the surrounding area.

RFS news noted that the hospital served more than 300,000 people in the villages of Aleppo.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Hospital rendered out of service due to an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Hour, 26th Feb 2017. (via Halabtoday)
  • Hospital rendered out of service due to an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Hour, 26th Feb 2017. (via Abutaym_Halabi)
  • Hospital rendered out of service due to an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Hour, 26th Feb 2017. (via Smart news agency)
  • Hospital rendered out of service due to an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Hour, 26th Feb 2017. (via Aleppo white helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4574

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

ادلب, a main road and a camp in Idlib outskirts, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two men were reportedly killed, one man injured and up to more than 30 civilians were wounded after alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian and/or Iranian artillery struck the outskirts of Idlib town in Syria on Thursday, October 5th, 2023.

Idlib Media Center and Revolution Radio Facebook accounts posted images of the clouds of smoke arising after the bombardment of the Idlib’s outskirts, while Al Arabia and Twitter/X user @pvSScBsybeozsB8 posted videos showing the bombardment.

According to ajournalist Ahmed Rahhal, two men were killed in the outskirts of the city of Idlib, one of whom was a young man Bashar Al-Zee. A Facebook account “Martyrs of Idlib city” posted a tribute to the victim posting an image of a smiling bearded young man in a red hat.

Syrian Civil Defense reported that one man was injured after the strike hit a main road on the outskirts of Idlib. Syrian Civil Defense crew took the injured person to a hospital which was seen on the images attached to its tweet. The Civil Defense also inspected and repaired the parts of the road that had been damaged.

Meanwhile, a Twitter/X user @DeirEzzorre reported over 30 people injured after the bombardment of the outskirts of Idlib. It’s possible that some of the injured were included in other incidents.

The Syrian regime forces were identified as responsible for the strikes by most of the local sources, including Idlib News Network, who claimed rocket launchers were used, Syrian Civil Defence, Orient news and others. However, some sources wrote that Russian forces were involved — including Step News reporting that the strike was carried out amid the flight of Russian reconnaissance planes. A journalist Ahmed Rahhal alleged that the strikes may have been carried out by the Russian and/or Iranian military.

Since the sources identified different belligerents as being responsible for the strike, Airwars has classified both Strike Status and Civilian Harm Status as Contested.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Al Zair بشار الزيز
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–31
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Martyrs of Idlib city
  • Source: Idlib Media Center
  • Source: Revolution Radio
  • Source: @HalabTodayTV
  • Source: @Step_Agency

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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–31
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2024

Incident date

March 24, 2017

Location

حلفايا, Halfaya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.261787, 36.606151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes, carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia, wounded three civilians in the town of Halfaya, local media reported

Syrian Mirror said that the strikes led to “casualties”, without further specification.

The remaining two sources reported that the airstrikes wounded several people.

According to Smart News’ correspondent, “warplanes launched raids on the town of Halfaya (25 km northwest of the city of Hama), injuring three civilians, including a woman. They were all moderately wounded and taken to hospitals in the nearby city of Kafrzeta.”

The Syrian Mirror indicated that both Russian and the Syrian regime were to blame while Smart News noted that “warplanes were likely to be Russian.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (3) [ 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 March 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2162

Incident date

April 24, 2017

Location

أم المياذن, Um Almayathen, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.585547, 36.190245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that “seven civilians from one family, including two children, were seriously injured, following the destruction of their home by Russian air strikes on the town of Um Almayathen. The civil defence team brought the wounded from the rubble and helped them to nearby field hospitals.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2105

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

عويجل, Ouweijal, Syria

Geolocation

36.179537, 36.952987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to sources, multiple airstrikes struck the towns of Ouweijal and Kafr Naha  in western Aleppo wounding an unspecified number of civilians. All sources attributed the blame to Russian warplanes.

Most sources alleged that phosphorus and cluster munitions were used. Multiple civilians were reported wounded and fires were caused. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

Unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

RS3651

Incident date

May 3, 2019

Location

باب الطاقة, Bab Al Taqa, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was wounded when alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes hit the village of Bab Al Taqa, west of Hama, on May 3rd, 2019, local media reported.

Smart News Agency wrote that, according to activists, “a civilian was wounded by Russian airstrikes on the village of Bab Al Taqa, west of Hama.”

@addouniatv noted that  “units of the army destroyed the mechanisms and gatherings of terrorist groups in the Bab al Taka and Alsermaina rural West Hama”.

Al Hayat also reported that dens of terrorist groups were targeted in the morning, resulting in the “elimination of a number of terrorists, and the destruction of mechanisms and platforms for firing missiles.”

Al Jazeera shared a video of a man finding the body of his friend “Walid”. It is unclear if the victim is a civilian.

Other sources reported barrel bombing from helicopters as well as artillery shelling. Baladi News blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the shelling.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Walid. He found a martyr in the bombing of Russian-Assad terrorism on the village of Bab Al- Taqa in Hama countryside" (via Shaam News Network).
  • Translation: "Targeting the village of Bab Al Taqa in the northern suburb of Hama, with an explosive barrel thrown by helicopters belonging to the regime forces, causing heavy damage and destruction to civilian houses" (via Syrian Civil Defence).

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
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (26) [ collapse]