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

R4539

Incident date

August 16, 2023

Location

Maaret Al Nassan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 16th, 2023, at least one civilian was injured in shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces in the Syrian village of Maarat Al-Nassan.

The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that a civilian was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, adding that their volunteers inspected the bombing location and made sure no one else was injured.

However, a military source told North Press that “Damascus government forces targeted with heavy artillery shells and missiles sites in the town of Maarat al-Naasan, east of Idlib, which resulted in the injury of two people of varying severity.” Qasioun News stated that one civilian was injured during a bombing with artillery and rocket launchers, and another civilian was injured in the afternoon by continued shelling of civilian homes. The source added that the second injured civilian was transferred to a medical point for treatment.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime or Russian forces were responsible, with the majority of sources attributing the shelling to the Syrian regime while the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both Russian forces and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Maaret Al Nassan on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The effects of artillery shelling by the gangs of regime, on residential neighborhoods in the town of Maarat Al-Naasan in the northern countryside of Idlib

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4559

Incident date

September 23, 2023

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the night of September 23, 2023, in Sarmin, Idlib, an incident with contested responsibility—reportedly either by Syrian regime forces or the Russian military—struck an agricultural area, injuring a civilian man, which was confirmed by multiple sources including the White Helmets organization.

The civilian injured was reportedly a farmer who was picking figs in a residential area, when the projectiles struck. The strike was attributed to have been from the Syrian regime or the Russian military. It is contested whether it was a rocket bombing, missile strike, or artillery shelling by different local news sources on Twitter. The White Helmets of the Syrian Civil Defense were photographed helping the injured civilian, and they reported his injuries as minor superficial injuries and followed up with him. However, @AsharqNewsSYR identified the farmer’s injuries as “serious”.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Binnish888

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
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS063 RS1864

Incident date

January 26, 2017

Location

مدينة الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 10 civilians died, including two children and two women, and up to a another dozen were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Al Bab, local media reported. It was unclear who the culprit was – with allegations against Turkey and Russia. Moreover, one report added that regime helicopters were also active over Al Bab on this day.

RT quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense, who said there had been joint Russian and Turkish airstrikes on ISIS locations near the city of Al Bab. The report made no mention of civilian harm.

According to Al Jazeera, “at least ten people were killed and others wounded by Russian and Turkish air raids on the city of Bab and its environs. Turkish artillery also targeted the organization’s [ISIS’s] positions in Bab and Ta’ad (east of Aleppo). Eight civilians were wounded in a renewed Turkish artillery shelling on the city.

Al-Jazeera’s correspondent pointed out that the IS media agency A’maq broadcast pictures of what it said was heavy shelling by regime helicopters struck the south and south-west of the city, pointing out that the final statistics of the number of victims are still unknown.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at four (two children and two women), and attributed the civilian harm to Turkey.

Alquds alarabi  also blamed Turkey, putting the number killed at ten civilians including a child.

Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu [IS propaganda] added that there were “seven dead and six wounded from one family following Turkish artillery shelling”.

Syria News Desk, also blaming Turkey, put the death toll at eight with 12 more wounded. It reported that “Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment targeted the city near the Osama bin Zayd mosque at the southern entrance of the city, which also led to the destruction of two houses completely. There was also damage to a number of residential buildings and shops and other property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab, Aleppo (مدينة الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

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 specific strikes between January 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
    4 – 10
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS030

Incident date

October 8, 2015

Location

النقير, Nakir, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In confused reporting, a number of civilians were reported killed at Nakir village near Maarat al Numan, in a Russian or Syrian regime attack. However the use of cluster munitions at night strongly indicates Russian aircraft carried out the strike.

Reporting from the scene, Shaam News said the camp for IDPs had been targeted with Russian aircraft firing cluster munitions. One woman survivor is interviewed from her hospital bed: “Before we knew it fires were raging around us. I don’t know where my children are. What have we done? We haven’t done anything. We only have God left.“

One man and two children were named as victims in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Karmo Marwan al Darweesh
Adult male 30 or 35 years old killed
Battoul Mahmoud Shamma
Child female 5 year old girl from Hassraya in Hama killed
Marwan Abd al Karim Abou Ali
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video documenting the visit of the journalist Hadi al Abdallah to al Nakir camp following the strike. Includes interviews with survivors in the hospital, 8th October 2015. (via SNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Nakir (النقير), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.499547, 36.540818. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reported a total of 22 lethal sorties for October 8th 2015, although made no mention of Idlib governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS063

Incident date

October 20, 2015

Location

الرستن‬, Ar Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were reported injured, after a midnight Russian air raid on the headquarters of a local rebel faction based in Ar Rastan. Two fighters were confirmed killed. one of whom was originally reported to have been a non-combatant.

According to Sin News, the air raid “resulted in the collapse of the entire headquarters and the killing of one person, as well as the injuring of nearby civilians and the collapse of residential buildings.”

 

The incident occured after midnight.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ar Rastan, for which the generic coordinates are: 34.93, 36.74. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Kremlin made no reference to strikes in Homs in its report for October 20th-21st 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS095

Incident date

October 30, 2015

Location

الدانا, Al Dana, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.21252, 36.76978 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed either at Al Dana, or on a road approaching the town.

No other details are presently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 4 martyrs as a result of Russian planes targeting the town of Al Dana in the northern Idlib countryside with vacuum missiles. (via alamawi)
  • translation: 4 Martyrs killed by Russian planes on Al Dana road in the north eastern countryside. (via moaazalabbas)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Dana (الدانا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.21252, 36.76978. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS130

Incident date

November 7, 2015

Location

ضاحية الكهرباء, Dahiat al Kharaba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1682296, 37.0184326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that one male civilian was killed in an alleged strike by Russian warplanes on the Dahiat al Kharaba region, between the towns of Kafr Naha and Khan al Assal. Al Jazeera, the Step Agency and Zaitonmag also said attacks in the vicinity were the work of Russia.

However, VDC and Halab News listed the dead civilian as having been killed in “regime army forces shelling.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mohamad Kafou
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Two members of The White Helmets holding the remnants of the cluster munitions shells, following an alleged Russian raid on, November 7th (via SNHR)
  • a video shows the martyr Ahmad Muhammad

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS163

Incident date

November 17, 2015

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian factory worker was killed and two injured in an alleged Russian missile strike on the Atlas Factory for cotton in Hayyan, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Violations Documentation Centre.

The VDC published an image (right) of the unnamed victim. In a separate report, it has also listed 35-year old from Tamura village as killed on the same day in Hayyan, though by “regime forces’ shelling with a surface-to-surface missile.” It is possible these are the same events.

Accordingly to Shaam News, Russian warplanes launched a long-range missile targeting the factory. Warehouses were also reportedly damaged, with a video posted depicting the shelling aftermath, in which a fire broke out.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Hawa
Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The inside of a cotton factory following an alleged Russian raid, Nov 17th (via SN4HR)
  • Aleppo –Hayan: factory destroyed in suspected in Russian warplanes shelling 17 Nov 2015
  • VDC published this photo of an unidentified civilian male, reporting that he was killed by a ‘ballistic long range Russian missile’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reports carrying out cruise missile strikes in Aleppo governorate on November 17th 2015: “Today as a result of the first massive airstrike 14 terrorist facilities of special importance were destroyed with 34 cruise missiles. Those were control centres of the illegal armed groupings, which coordinated Islamic State troops in Idlib and Aleppo provinces; large depots of ammunition and other supplies located in protected shelters in the North West of Syria; terrorist training camps, where reinforcements for terrorist units and suicide bombers were trained; three large factories manufacturing explosives, suicide vests and unguided rockets.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]