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

RS4363

Incident date

January 26, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man, was killed and as many as four civilians, including a child, were wounded when Russian or Syrian regime warplanes bombed the city of Saraqib, Idlib Governorate, on January 26 th 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) said that “Amer al Khader was killed as Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes fired missiles on al Gharbi neighborhood in Saraqeb city in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on January 26th, 2020.”

One source said Amer al Khader was 17-years-old, another said he was in his 20’s.

@Hani_Alymani reported that four people were injured including a child. Several other sources specified the child was a girl.

Maged.almhmad.146 said warplanes carried out two raids, one on a market and the other in a western neighborhood in the city.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria also said the attack caused the injury of two other civilians. It added that the strike took place at 11:14 pm.

Sources differed as to the type of munition used. @IdlibPlus said the Syrian regime used vacuum missiles, @baladinetwork said the strike was carried out using “C-8 missiles” and Saraqebtoday2 said warplanes carried out two raids using vacuum missiles and machine guns.

In addition to @IdlibPlus, Edlib Media Center, Syrian Network for Human Rights, Local Coordination Committees of Syria and Step Agency blamed the regime, while SMART blamed Russia. Shaam Network blamed both Russia and the regime.

Smart News said: “The director of the Civil Defense Center in Saraqib Laith Ahmed told Smart, that Russian warplanes launched raids on the international highway connecting the cities of Aleppo and Damascus in the vicinity of the village of Dadekh, east of the city of Idlib, killing a civilian.”

 

The incident occured at 23:14:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Amer Khadr Al-Mustafa عامر خضر المصطفى
20 years old male grandson of Abu Salah, from the High School road in the Western Quarter killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Amer Khadr Al-Mustafa, allegedly killed by an airstrike on Saraqib on January 26th, 2020 (via Saraqeb deaths)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Amer Khadr Al-Mustafa, who was killed in an allegedly Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Saraqib, Idlib Governorate on January 26th, 2020. (via Saraqeb deaths)
  • A child who was injured in an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike on the city of Saraqib, Idlib Governorate on January 26th 2020. Sources mentioned as many as four civilians were injured in the strike including a girl. (Uploaded by @Abdzakor1994)
  • Destroyed building after an airstrike on Saraqib on January 26th, 2020 (via EMC)
  • Destroyed building after an airstrike on Saraqib on January 26th, 2020 (via EMC)
  • Destroyed building after an airstrike on Saraqib on January 26th, 2020 (via EMC)
  • A destroyed building following an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Saraqib, Idlib Governorate, on January 26 th 2020. (Uploaded by @Tamer_Turkmane)

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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4400

Incident date

February 3, 2020

Location

Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

As many as ten civilians, including several children, were wounded following alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrikes against residential neighbourhoods in the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020, according to local media reports.

Several sources put the number of civilians injured at nine. One source, @Step_Agency, said ten civilians had been injured, while Baladi News said five civilians, including two children, had been injured.

Women and children were widely reported as being amongst the injured.

@abderazakpato put the number of children injured at three.

The Aleppo branch of the Syrian Civil Defense said the majority of the nine people injured were children. The source uploaded a video that showed three children being helped into an ambulance.

Six sources attributed accused Russia of carrying out the strike, one accused the Syrian regime and several others said it was carried out by one of the two parties.

Baladi News said an SU22 warplane belonging to the Syrian regime struck residential houses in Atarib.

@melhem095 uploaded images alleging to show Russian reconnaissance aircraft and warplanes flying over the town.

@abderazakpato said vacuum missiles had been used in the strike.

Images and video from the scene show extensive damage to residential properties.

FSLA.Ovecs reported that the strike took place early in the morning.

 

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • A Syrian Civil Defense members assists a child following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Atarib, Syria on Feb 3rd, 2020. (via White Helmets)
  • Children are seen in the back of an ambulance following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Atarib, Syria on Feb 3rd, 2020. (via White Helmets)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020.(via White Helmets)
  • A young man is seen following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded SCD)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @Sy24ria)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @Sy24ria)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @Sy24ria)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @Sy24ria)
  • "Civilians were wounded in air strikes on Atareb, west of Aleppo" (Uploaded by @ala_hacioglu)
  • A member of the Syrian Civil Defense is seen following an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @melhem095)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @melhem095)
  • Civilians are seen following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @melhem095)
  • Civilians and Syrian Civil Defense volunteers are seen following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @melhem095)
  • An injured child is seen following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @abderazakpato)
  • An alleged Russian reconnaissance aircraft if seen over the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @melhem095)
  • An alleged Russian warplane is seen over the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by @melhem095)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child is seen following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by FSLA.Ovecs)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child is seen following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020. (Uploaded by FSLA.Ovecs)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4417

Incident date

February 6, 2020

Location

عندان, Andan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to one civilian was reported injured after alleged Russian and/or Syrian airstrikes or artillery shelling on the city of Andan in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 6, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, Smart News reported that according to Civil Defence journalist Hamzah al-Youssef “(…) a civilian was injured as a result of an artillery shelling that targeted the city of Andan (…)”. Bawaba Aleppo also said that one civilian sustained injuries during the attack. However, the Syrian Violence Documentation Center stated that raids with missiles from Russian warplanes and with barrel bombs of the Syrian government forces’ helicopters targeted multiple cities, including andan on Thursday, February 6, 2020 without any injuries. Similarly, Jisr TV reported that the air raids of Russian and Regime forces on Andan only resulted in material losses.

Many sources mentioned damage to civilian objects. SCD Aleppo reported that “artillery bombardments by the regime forces on Andan [caused] extensive damage and destruction to residential houses and the medical point in the city.” Similarly, @HalabTodayTV said that “Andan Health Center is out of service after being subjected to artillery shelling by the regime forces.” This was also reported by Baladi News Network. The Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that the Regime fired an artillery shell near Anadan High School in Anadan city, partially damaging its building and furniture.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strike with Anadolu Agency attributing the attack to Russia, while SNHR and SCD Aleppo referred to Regime forces as having carried out the strike. Bawaba Aleppo initially quoted Smart News saying that Regime forces stationed in the suburb of Al-Zahraa Association west of Aleppo carried out artillery strikes on Andan, though they later reported that Russia had launched the airstrikes on Andan. VDC Syria claimed that both Russian warplanes and Regime helicopters with barrel bombs attacked the city of Andan, however they consolidated the incident into a larger report of strikes across various cities and towns.

The incident allegedly took place on Thursday morning. The exact local time of the incident is unknown.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by Syrian regime or Russian forces shelling on Andan in Aleppo on Feb 6th, 2020 (via SCD)
  • Destruction to Andadn school in Aleppo caused by Syrian regime or Russian forces shelling on Andan in Aleppo on Feb 6th, 2020 (via SCD)
  • Destruction to residential areas in Andan, Aleppo caused by Syrian regime or Russian forces shelling on Feb 6th, 2020 (via SCD)
  • Destruction to residential areas in Andan, Aleppo caused by Syrian regime or Russian forces shelling on Feb 6th, 2020 (via SCD)

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
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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

R4213

Incident date

February 14, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network reported: “Russian Assad launched air strikes targeting the cities, towns, villages of Sarmin, Ariha, Nehalia, Senqul, and Qamenas. The Assad artillery shelled the cities and towns of Jisr Al-Shughur, Kafr Nubl, Ma`rat Masrin, Kafraya, Ain al-Asafir, and the camps of the town of Sarmada, which resulted in a number of civilian casualties.”

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

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
    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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4483

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

أرنبة, Arinba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 26th, up to four civilians were killed by Russian airstrikes in the village of Arinba in the western countryside outside of Idlib. The four victims were members of the same family and included a husband, wife, and two children.

Local witnesses and sources, including a tweet from @mohmad_rasheed noted that the family was killed by Russian aggression in the village of Arinba. A collection of news agencies reported the story as well, including Al Jazerra, the Zaiton Agency, Al Bawaba News, Jesr Press, and the Baladi network. @ibraheem890 tweeted that the family was targeted by Russian warplanes and the family was removing “their belongings from their home”. Al Hadath reported that in addition to the four deaths, others were wounded, but no names were released of the dead or injured. Shaam News reported that the family was in a car specifically hit by Russian warplanes.

The village of Arinba was among many towns and cities giving refuge to internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the family killed in this Russian airstrike were attempting to leave Arinba when the strike occurred.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights and all other sources that reported on the incident described the planes involved as Russian fixed-wing warplanes.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Martyrs in the town of Arnabah in Jabal Al-Zawiya as a result of the air strikes of the Russian occupation.
  • "The opposition air traffic tracking observatory reported that Russian warplanes carried out raids on Wednesday morning on the village of Arnabah in Idlib countryside, northern Syria, which led to the killing of four civilians." Image posted by Radyodeal via Facebook

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
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4507

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

ادلب المدينة, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children, Salah Ghajar, Huzaifa Saadeddin, Rand Saad Eddin, were killed on June 9, 2020 when an unexploded cluster bomb, a remnant of a previous airstrike on Idlib, exploded as they played in the garden of their home.

One source notes that Huzaifa and Rand were sister and brother, while several note that Salah was the last remaining survivor of his family, who were killed in a massacre in Wadi Al-Naseem over a year earlier. The victims of that massacre allegedly included Salah’s mother, father, and brothers.

Sources unanimously agreed that the deaths resulted from an unexploded bomb, which many state was a cluster bomb, that was dropped during a previous strike. Several sources claim that the bomb was the result of a Russian strike, while others do not mention the belligerent or state more ambiguously that the strike was from Russian-Syrian forces. Multiple sources note that children are especially vulnerable to unexploded ordnance, and many similar incidents have been recorded over the last several years. Several sources note that the home was located in an area of Idlib under the control of the group Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed factions. A nonprofit, Ataa Relief, claimed that their organization had sponsored Salah Ghajar after his family was killed in Wadi Al-Naseem.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Rand Sa’ad Al Din رند سعد الدين
Child female killed
Huthaifah Sa'ad al-Din حذيفة سعد الدين
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Salah Ghajar صلاح غجر
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The three children killed on June 9th, 2020 by the explosion of a cluster bomb from previous bombing in Idlib City. (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of the children killed when an unexploded cluster bomb explored in Idlib on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

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
  • (3 children)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4529

Incident date

October 31, 2020

Location

تلتونه, Taltuna, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.016907, 36.587482 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed and five others were injured after an alleged airstrike by a Russian or Syrian or Iranian drone on agricultural lands in the village of Taltuna, west of  Ma’arat Misrin north of Idlib on the morning of October 31st, 2020 according to local sources.

According to sources including Orient news and Halab Today TV, one civilian was killed and five others were injured and transferred to medical points for treatment after a drone bombed an agricultual area in the vicinity of the city of Ma’arat Misrin. Specifically, the Democratic Union mentioned on Facebook that activists said that a “suicide drone” bombed an “effective olive-picking workshop” in the village of Taltuna, near Ma’arat Maisrin and an activist called Wedad Hamad (@Gurbtwatan) reported that the victims were agricultural workers harvesting olives.

Most of the sources that reported on the incident either did not mention the belligerent behind the attack or stated that the airstrike was by an “unidentified drone”. Few others including the Democratic Union and Masar Press network claimed that the drone was Russian. Sham News as well reported that the Syrian Civil Defence “revealed the nature of the recent strikes in Idlib countryside from a reconnaissance plane believed to be Russian, which targeted an area west of the city of Ma’arat Misrin, pointing out that its bombs are equipped with mines intended for detonation with wires”. On the other hand, a tweet by (@Gurbtwatan) mentioned that the drone likely belongs to the Syrian regime, and another tweet by (@NagiNajjar) claimed that the drone involved in the attack was Iranian.

Note that according to a post by Radio Al-Kul the attack happened while “the entire liberated areas in Idlib governorate were subject to a Turkish-Russian ceasefire agreement after March 5, 2020”, and Masar News network reported that alleged Russian drones “intensified their overflights over the city of Idlib and Jabal al-Zawiya, where they monitor and target any movements of civilians in the area” and added that thousands of civilians in the areas of northwest Syria “go to agricultural lands to pick their crops, in light of the artillery and air bombardment chasing them.”

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Southern Idlib, Maarat Misrin - a martyr and 5 wounded due to an Iranian drone targeting a civilian area in the vicinity of Maarat Misrin" (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Suicide drone. Unclear if this photo is of the alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Iranian drone strikes on the town of Taluna on October 31st, 2020 (via @NagiNajjar).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Taltuna (تلتونه), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.016907, 36.587482. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4306

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

الكندة, Al Kendeh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.765353, 36.207676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed (in this incident or in Tardin) and up to six civilians, including a woman and child, were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on al-Kendeh on May 12, 2021.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Civil Defense both reported that five civilians, including a child, were injured in Russian airstrikes on al-Kendeh village in western Idlib and Tardin area in northern Latakia. However, neither source differentiated  whether the civilians were killed in which location. Zaman Al Wasl also mentioned those injured in both areas, referring to them as ” four shepherds”.

@thiqanewsagency identified “one person was killed and five others, including a girl, were injured” and did not separate whether the killed and injured were in al-Kendeh or Tardin.

A tweet from @IbnAlarabi15 put the civilian injuries in al-Kendeh at six, tweeting “six civilians, including children and women, were injured in Russian air strikes targeting the vicinity of the village of #Al-Kinda.”

All sources blamed the airstrikes on Russia.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: Five civilians, including a child, were wounded by Russian air strikes in conjunction with artillery and missile strikes by the regime forces targeting this evening, Wednesday, May 12, the vicinity of the village of Al-Kinda, west of Idlib, and the area of Tardin, north of Lattakia. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Caption translation: Five civilians, including a child, were wounded by Russian air strikes in conjunction with artillery and missile strikes by the regime forces targeting this evening, Wednesday, May 12, the vicinity of the village of Al-Kinda, west of Idlib, and the area of Tardin, north of Lattakia. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Caption translation: Five civilians, including a child, were wounded by Russian air strikes in conjunction with artillery and missile strikes by the regime forces targeting this evening, Wednesday, May 12, the vicinity of the village of Al-Kinda, west of Idlib, and the area of Tardin, north of Lattakia. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kendeh (الكندة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.765353, 36.207676. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]