Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS4214

Incident date

December 2, 2019

Location

الكنائس, Al Kana’es, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, Hussein Khreimi was reported killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al-Kanayes village, on the outskirts of the villages of Tal Kresyan and Al-Bara in the eastern Idlib countryside, Syria on December 2nd 2019.

According to @sraqeb123, this raid happened at 9.56am.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS4215

Incident date

December 2, 2019

Location

الصرمان, Al Sarman, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that one civilian, a woman, was killed and at least six others were injured, apparently her children, in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike on Al Sarman in Idlib, Syria on December 2nd 2019.

A local social media user, ammar.kat, posted on Facebook that this raid happened by a MiG-21 aircraft.

The incident occured at 09:40:00 local time.

Summary

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

  • Image showing an airstrike targeting Al Sarman in Idlib on Dec 2nd (via EMC)
  • Civil Defense Teams worked to rescue the injured and inspect the targeted sites after a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on December 2nd 2019. (Image via @media_idlib / Twitter)
  • "A picture shows the moment the regime's warplanes targeted six explosive missiles in the town of Sorman near the Turkish checkpoint east of Idlib." (Image via EMC / Facebook)

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

RS4216

Incident date

December 2, 2019

Location

الغدفة, Al Ghadfa, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and a man were reported injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al Gadfa in the countryside of Maarat al-Numan Idlib, Syria on December 2nd, 2019, according to local sources, apparently targeting a civilian home. The “young” man was identified as Hudhayfa Al-Hamoud by local sources.

According to Tmedia_idlib on Twitter, “the civil defense elements inspected the targeted sites and secured them and made sure that there were no other injuries.”

Ammar.kat reported on Facebook that there were two strikes on the same location – one at 10.19 and the second at 10.22. The second strike resulted in the injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hudhayfa Al-Hamoud
Adult male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by an airstrike that targeted Al Gadfa in Idlib, December 2nd. A man and a women were reported injured. (via SCD).
  • @anasanas84 posted a photo on Twitter of the alleged targeting of the village of Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • The destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian warplane targeted Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019 (Image via @SyrianCoalition / Twitter)
  • @Tmedia_idlib tweeted a photo of the destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike hit Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • @Tmedia_idlib tweeted a photo of the destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike hit Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • @Tmedia_idlib tweeted a photo of the destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike hit Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • A man was allegedly killed in a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on December 2nd 2019 in Al-Ghadfa (Image 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4217

Incident date

December 2, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة,, Several towns in Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian and regime warplanes carried out strikes across numerous towns in Idlib, leading to wounding “dozens” of civilians.

No further details are currently available.

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
    12–24
  • 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
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4218

Incident date

December 3, 2019

Location

قرية الشيخ أحمد, , Sheikh Ahmed village, south of Aleppo city, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three people including a child, a woman, and an elderly man, were injured following alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Sheikh Ahmed in the southern Aleppo countryside on the evening of December 3rd 2021, according to local reports.

The description of the victims matched across several sources.

The Syrian Civil Defense in Aleppo said that four strikes were carried out by Russian warplanes, according to Syria Tv. The Civil Defense reportedly transported the injured to a nearby medical facility for first aid.

Twitter users @MP3oTCD1LCEr0k5 and @Ahmad_1alshble, said two raids had targeted the outskirts of the village.

A correspondent for Baladi said the strikes had occurred at midnight on Tuesday and that “vacuum missiles” had been used.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that more than 10 airstrikes took place in locations including the White River area near the city of Jisr al-Shughour west of Idlib and Sheikh Ahmad village.

The Syrian Civil Defense in Aleppo reported there were material losses in the village as a result of the strikes.

All of the sources said that Russian aircraft had been responsible for the strikes.

The incident occured around midnight.

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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "child, a woman and an elderly man from the same family were injured in raids by Russian occupation aircraft on the village of Sheikh Ahmad in rural areas in southern Aleppo"
  • An alleged Russian airstrike on Sheikh Hamed, Dec 3rd 2019.
  • Destruction in Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on Dec 3rd 2019 (via Baladi)
  • Destruction in Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on Dec 3rd 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • Destruction in Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on Dec 3rd 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • Destruction in the village of Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Destruction in the village of Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Rescue workers in the village of Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Destruction in the village of Sheikh Ahmed following an alleged Russian airstrike on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • A rescue worker is seen amongst the rubble following an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Sheikh Ahmed on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by @zerba.media.office)

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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4224

Incident date

December 3, 2019

Location

أورم_الجوز, Urum Al Joz, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a woman, was injured in alleged regime or Russian strikes on the village of Urum Al Joz on December 3, 2019.

According to @oulaalassaad, civilians were wounded when the regime dropped barrel bombs on the village of Urum Al Joz but did not specify how many civilians were involved.

@la1mea and @ZaitunAgency reported that a woman was injured in the bombing.

An image posted by @syriadream1 shows a helicopter that was identified as the one responsible for the barrel bombing of Urum Al Joz. A Facebook post by Wasim Alkhalaf added that the helicopter bombing occurred at 15:58.

All of the sources attributed the strikes to the regime or did not identify who was responsible except for Shaam News, which pointed out that both Russia and the regime carried out airstrikes in the area.

The incident occured at 15:58:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Helicopter that was identified as the one responsible for the barrel bombing of Urum Al Joz on December 3, 2019. (Image posted by @syriadream1)

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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4219

Incident date

December 3, 2019

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man was killed and others injured, including a child, after an alleged airstrike by the Syrian government or Russian military in the village of Mhambel, in the western Idlib countryside on December 3rd 2021, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said: “Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped barrel bombs near Ali Bin Abi Taleb Mosque in Mhambel village in the western suburbs of Idlib governorate, killing Mohammad al Yahya and partially damaging the mosque.”

Mohammad was 45-years-old, according to Facebook user Wasim Alkhalaf.

Mohammad al Yahya was a shepherd, according to several sources. @HalabTodayTV  and @Nabel_othman023 reported that the strike resulted in the death of a number of sheep.

Several sources, including @media_idlib, reported that a girl was also injured and that extensive damage was sustained to homes and properties.

@shahemsawafmo tweeted an image of an alleged barrel bomb that landed between civilian homes and failed to explode. It was subsequently disabled by professionals, according to the source.

Mostafa Taqeeqa, an apparent relative of the victim, said: “We belong to God and to Him we shall return. My cousin, Ahmed Muhammad Al-Yahya, passed away as a result of the targeting of the Assadi aviation of hatred.”

While most sources said the casualties were the result of barrel bombs dropped by the Syrian regime, Shaam reported that Russian warplanes were also present in the area. Artillery strikes were also carried out, according to the source.

Some sources stated the strike took place in the afternoon, others in the evening. Wasim Alkhalaf said the incident occurred at 16:37.

 

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

45 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged barrel bombing by the Syrian regime on the Syrian regime on Mhambel, Dec 3rd 2019.
  • The aftermath of alleged barrel bombing by the Syrian regime on the Syrian regime on Mhambel, Dec 3rd 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • An alleged barrel bomb, which failed to explode, in the village of Mhambel in western Idlib on December 3rd, 2019. According to the source it was later defused. (Image uploaded by @shahemsawafmo)
  • An image uploaded to an article, caption "archive image", that mentions the strike on Mhambel on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by Aramme)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4220

Incident date

December 3, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafarrouma, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including one man, were reportedly injured in an alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafarrouma, Idlib governorate, on December 3rd 2019, according to local sources.

@Step_Agency said helicopters used barrel bombs to target the center of Kafarrouma, injuring three civilians.

Wasim Alkhalaf said helicopters initially targeted the village at 11:51, injuring one man, the village was subsequently targeted again at 11:57.

Whilst the majority of the sources said regime actions were responsible for the injuries, Shaam News Network reported that Russian and regime warplanes and helicopters launched dozens of air and artillery strikes on cities and villages across Idlib governorate during this period. The source listed Kafarrouma as one of the locations affected.

@AlArab_Qatar said the strikes on the village were the result of shelling.

Local journalist Mohamad Rasheed posted a video to Twitter that appeared to show the moment of the strike.

Schools across Idlib Governorate were suspended indefinitely due to airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime and their Russian allies, according to @AlArab_Qatar.

The first reports about the incident began appearing at around midday local time.

The incident occured around midday.

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Three civilians, including one man, were reportedly injured after alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian strikes on the town of Kafarrouma on December 3rd, 2019. (Image uploaded by @obadaalshamii)
  • Destruction following an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike in the town of Kafarrouma on December 3rd, 2021. (Image uploaded by @AlArab_Qatar)
  • Smoke rises from the town of Kafarrouma after an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike on December 3rd, 2021. (Image uploaded by @AlArab_Qatar)
  • Smoke rises from the town of Kafarrouma after an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike on December 3rd, 2021. (Image uploaded by @AlArab_Qatar)
  • Destruction following an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike in the town of Kafarrouma on December 3rd, 2021. (Image uploaded by @AlArab_Qatar)
  • A man prepares a truck loaded with possessions following an alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrike on the town of Kafarrouma on December 3rd, 2010. (Image by Omar Haj Kadour uploaded by AFP)

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
    1–3
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]