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

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

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

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

RS4429

Incident date

February 10, 2020

Location

الاتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

From multiple incidents in the same day, three civilians including a child were reported killed and more than 25 others, including a woman and a child, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Atarib in Aleppo, Syria on February 10th 2020, via local sources.

A Facebook post from Anastracey identified two incidents occurring in Al Atarib on February 10th. The first happened at 18:42 and resulted in the death of the young Omar Mustafa Omar Abdel Qader and the injury of “no less than 25” including a woman and a child. The second was carried out at 21:22 and resulted in the death of a man and a child.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “The girl Aalaa Oweira and Osamah Shouman were killed on February 10th, as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles near a car carrying them as they were displacing from al Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate to safer areas.”

@ShahbaPress reported on February 10th that “a man and his child are martyred due to the Russian warplanes targeting a car carrying them near the city of Atarib, west of Aleppo.”

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria reported that Abdul Rahman Jalawi, a media activist, was wounded while coving the bombing.

Most sources blamed Russia for the incident, but @Step_Agency reported that the Syrian regime also carried out airstrikes that killed civilians in the city of Atarib.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Aalaa Oweira
Child female killed
Osamah Shouman
Age unknown male killed
Omar Mustafa Omar Abdel Qader
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahman Jalawi
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Omar Mustafa Omar Abdel Qader was killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian bombed the city of Atarib in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on February 10 (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights via Facebook)
  • Media activist Abdul Rahman Jalawi was injured while covering the bombing in the city of Atarib, west of Aleppo. (Image posted by @Ahed_Slebi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4430

Incident date

February 10, 2020

Location

كفر عروق, Kafr Arouq, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was reported killed and up to seven other civilians injured when allegedly Russian forces and Syrian regime forces targeted with airstrikes Kafr Arouq in Idlib, Syria on February 10th, 2020 according to local sources.

Initial reports from local sources said at least one person was dead and three wounded from the air strike. The Edlib Media Center and Shahba Press both later reported that a child had been killed and seven wounded, expanding upon a report from Halab Today TV which noted three injuries. No names were released.

Local resources reported seeing Russian warplanes using machine guns to specifically strike two different IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, with @pHYACwTTh0Bjbun naming one as Kafr Arouq camp while @abo_aljod84 identified Sheikh Idris camp as also being bombed. A tweet from @MohanadZain3 pointed out that the incident occurred on the road between the towns of Kali – Kafr Arouq.

According to @kalam_hor, the first air raids struck “the road of the village of Kafr Arouq – Qorqania near the “Al Widow’s camp” and the second air raids struck “the road connecting the villages of Kali and Kafr Arouq near the “fuel station”.

The majority of sources noted that Russian fixed wing warplanes were responsible for the strike while @ShahbaPress attributed the strikes to the regime.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • Destruction caused to Kafar Arouq camp in Idlib as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on February 10th, 2020, in which a child was reported killed. (via EMC).
  • A child was martyred and civilians were wounded as a result of the artillery shelling of Sheikh Idris camp on the outskirts of the village of Kafr Arouk, north of Idlib. (Image posted by @abo_aljod84)

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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

RS4431

Incident date

February 10, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 10th, a collection of villages and towns were struck by Russian airstrikes, resulting in the wounding and killing of civilians.

Shaam News noted strikes were carried out by both Russian and Assad regime forces against the villages and towns of Idlib, Kafrnbel, Sarmin, Ketian, Maarat al-Na`san, Zardana, Arab Saeed, Kallali and Kafraruq, and Kafar Arouq. A confirmed death was reported in Kafar Arouq and a large number of wounded civilians were reported in the other areas.

The targeted locations were highly populated with civilians and had no military significance.

All reports, both locally and nationally, describe Russian and Assad regime warplanes carrying out these assaults.

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

RS4423

Incident date

February 9, 2020

Location

كفرنوران, Kafarnouran, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians were reported killed, including a woman and her husband, and up to 15 others injured including children, in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes and artillery shelling on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources. Sources said that raids targeted homes and a primary school in the area.

The Syrian Civil Defense said that damage was caused to residential houses as a result of “two airstrikes that targeted residential houses in the outskirts of the town of Kfarnouran, west of Aleppo, and resulted in the injury of a village resident this morning Sunday, February 9th, 2020.”

SMART agency reported that “a man and his wife were killed and ten civilians were wounded, as a result of raids launched by Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the village of Kafrnoran West Aleppo city.”

However, @ShahbaPress  mentioned “the death toll from the martyrs of the Russian raids on the town of Kafarnuran in the western countryside of Aleppo to 9, including a woman.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a school was also targeted in the town. “Fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on the primary school in Kafr Noran village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, partially destroying its building and damaging its furniture, on February 9th.”

Most sources blamed Russia for the incident, including ShahbaPress, Step Agency, SMART agency, Syrian Network and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian Civil Defense blame both Russia and the regime.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “four civilians from the same family were killed on February 9th, while they turned to their house to take their belongings to the place of displacement due to a strike carried out by Syrian regime forces using heavy machine guns in Kafr Noran village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate.”

Facebook posts by a member of the al-Qasir family reported four members dead, and another Facebook post from Abo Mohammed Abd Al Fattah reported seven dead, providing names for five.

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abd al-Rahman Abdullah al-Qasir عبدالرحمن عبدالله القصير
Adult male killed
Muhammad Omar Al-Qasir محمد عمر القصير
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Abdul Hamid Al-Qasir محمد عبدالحميد القصير
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Abdel Hamid Al-Qasir احمد عبدالحميد القصير
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Sobhi Abdel-Jabbar Al-Salaa صبحي عبد الجبار السلع
Age unknown male killed
Imad Hajj Ibrahim عماد حج إبراهيم
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Karim Khaled عبد الكريم خالد
Age unknown male killed
Abu Al-Rose Qasir أبو الروز قصير
Age unknown male killed
Hussein Khidr حسين خضر
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahman Abdullah Qasir عبد الرحمن عبد الله قصيرعبد الرحمن عبد ا عبد الرحمن عبد الله قصيرعبد الرحمن عبد الله قصيرلله قصير
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–15
  • 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 (43) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • A child hospitalized after being injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, Syria on Feb 9th 2020. (via SCD)
  • A civilian hospitalized after being injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, Syria on Feb 9th 2020. (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, Syria on Feb 9th 2020. (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, Syria on Feb 9th 2020. (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, Syria on Feb 9th 2020. (via SCD)
  • Rubble from Kafr Noran in Aleppo. Image from https://twitter.com/alatareb2018/status/1226457280742383616

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
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–15
  • 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 (43) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4424

Incident date

February 9, 2020

Location

الشيخ علي, Al Sheikh Ali, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed and an unknown number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes near the village of Sheikh Ali, Aleppo governorate, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources.

A Facebook post identified the two casualties as Atta Qadour and Khaled Qadour from Arada. The third was unidentified.

Step Agency reported that “two people were killed and a number of civilians were wounded, as a result of airstrikes by Russian warplanes in the vicinity of Sheikh Ali village in the countryside of Aleppo’. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported two civilian deaths as the result of Russian airstrikes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Shaam News Network, however, reported three civilian casualties, blaming both Russia and the Syrian regime. SN4HR mentioned that barrels were used in the bombing.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SCD volunteers responding after alleged Russian or Syrian regime targeted with airstrikes on Al Sheikh Ali in Aleppo on February 9th 2020 (via SNHR)

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
    3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]