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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS4251

Incident date

December 16, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafarouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One person was killed and several civilians wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafarouma, Idlib Governorate on December 16th, 2019, according to local sources.

Iskenderun Arabic reported Russian aircraft struck the town four times between 20:38 and 20:55 on December 16th, 2019. According to the source, strikes on Kafarouma and the town of Jarjanaz resulted in the injury of Ahmed Mustafa Al-Ziyadi, Hind Al-Sateef and Mahmoud Abdullah Al-Subhi. The source did not clearly specify in which location the men were injured. Following a request for information from the Violations Documentation Center, the source provided the following names of people injured in the strikes: Mustafa Ziadi, Hind Al-Sateef and Mustafa Al Ali. According to the source the injuries were caused by a Russian strike that occurred at 20:40.

Baladi News reported: “Russian Air Force airplane took off from Khmeimim Airport in Lattakia countryside and bombed the town of Kafarouma in southern Idlib countryside with a number of rockets, which resulted in the injury of several civilians with varying wounds”.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported one person killed and several injuries from a Russian “rocket attack” that targeted the outskirts of the Kafarouma.

@jisrtv, @tarekahmd22  and @MMCSYR  reported that Russian warplanes had used vacuum bombs.

In a summary of events that took place on December 16th, Shaam News reported that Russian and Syrian regime helicopters carried dozens of strikes against towns in the Idlib countryside including Kafarouma.

The majority of the sources attributed the strike to the Russian airforce.

The incident occured at 20:40:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Mustafa Al-Ziyadi احمد مصطفى الزيادي
Age unknown male injured
Hind Al-Sateef هند الصطيف
Age unknown injured
Mahmoud Abdullah Al-Subhi محمود عبد الله الصبحي
Age unknown male injured
Mustafa Al Ali مصطفى العلي
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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]

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
    2–4
  • 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

RS4286

Incident date

December 22, 2019

Location

عدة بلدات, Many towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to Shaam network, “Russian and Asadi warplanes launched violent airstrikes, accompanied with intense artillery and missile shelling targeting the cities and towns of Maarat al-Numan, Saraqib, Kafrnbel, Talmans, Babila, Jarajnaz, al-Ghadfa, Khan al-Sabil, Ma`radbis, al-Kinda, al-Najiya, al-Dir al-Gharb ومع, Mar`dbasa, Tal Mordikh and al-Ma`shurain, which resulted in the fall of 4 martyrs”.

No more details available yet.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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
    4
  • 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

RS4316

Incident date

January 20, 2020

Location

كفرجوم, Kafarjoum, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one child and one woman were reported killed, and three other civilians, two or all of them are children, were injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarjoum in Aleppo’s countryside in Syria on at 6:26am and 6:31am at January 20th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that “The sisters, Raghdah and Amal Mustafa, aged 16 and 20 respectively, were killed as fixed-wing warplanes fired missiles on Kafrjoum village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on January 20th. ”

Baladi News correspondent in Aleppo’s countryside said that “on Monday Morning, Russian warplanes launched several airstrikes targeting the residential neighbourhoods of the town of Kafarjoumin the western countryside of Aleppo, which resulted in the killing of two civilians in an initial toll, and wounding others whose number was unknown.”

The highest death toll was provided by @AJA_Syria, which identified three people killed in the strikes.

Justice Organization said that the airstrikes caused the death of two civilians and the injury of three, in addition to the death of a number of livestock near a house in Kafrjoum on January 20th.

Furthermore Arammae News and Halab Today reported on the injury of three civilians, including two children and a young man. Local source accounts on the civilians that were injured varied, as some reported the injury of three children, and others asserted that two children and a young man were injured.

Most of sources including Baladi, @ShahbaPress, Edlib Media Center, Justice Organization and Shaam Network blamed Russia for this incident, while Syrian Civil Defense and SMART Agency pointed to the regime as responsible.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Raghdah Mustafa
16 years old female killed
Amal Mustafa
20 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • SCD volunteer on the site after alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrjoum in Aleppo, on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • SCD volunteer inspecting rubble after alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrjoum in Aleppo, on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • SCD volunteers on the site after alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrjoum in Aleppo, on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • A number of livestock was reported killed after alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafrjoum in Aleppo, on January 20th, 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4328

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Location

كفرنوران, Kafar Nuran, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least nine civilians, among which between three and six children, were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. Between 14 and 42 civilians, including women and children, were reported wounded.

The Syrian Civil Defence initially put the death toll at two killed civilians, but later updated that to eight, including women and children. The SCD Aleppo reported that they were working on removing bodies and injured from underneath the rubble and extinguishing fires.

Macro Media Center stated that there were “nine martyrs, including six children, as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the town of Kafar Nuran in the western countryside of Aleppo”.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that the bombing occured around 4:35 PM local time. They published the names of nine killed civilians, among which were the names of at least two children. A third child was not identified. They reported 14 injured civilians, of which they published the names of ten, among which at least seven children. Shabha Press reported ‘dozens of injured’.

Step News reported that there were “three airstrikes that resulted in the death of eight people, including women and children, while the toll is likely to rise after the completion of the lifting of rubble, carried out by Civil Defence teams”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that “residential buildings and gatherings of displaced people” were deliberately bombed. They reported seven civilian casualties, including three children, all members of displaced families from Idlib countryside. They also reported 42 injured civilians and that some of them were in critical condition. They further wrote that “the raids also caused extensive destruction and fires in fuel-selling centers”.

A day after the incident, Edlib Media Center reported that the death toll had increased to ten civilians.

The incident occured at 04:35:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Nasr al-Hassan
45 years old male killed
Sidra Bilal Al-Hassan
6 years old male killed
Ahmed Bilal Al-Hassan
9 years old male killed
Fatima Al-Hassan
8 years old female injured
Bilal Al-Hassan
Age unknown male injured
Mohamed Al-Hassan
4 years old male injured
Hamada Al-Hassan
Age unknown male injured
Sham Al-Hassan
9 years old male injured

Family members (3)

Hassan Al-Qusair
Age unknown male killed
Alia Al-Quseir
40 years old female killed
Ahlam Hassan Al-Qusair
20 years old female

Family members (8)

Dureid Haj Ibrahim
4 years old male injured
Safaa Haj Ibrahim
10 years old female injured
Hassan Waheed
55 years old male killed
Muhammad Al-Abdo
25 years old male killed
Mohammad Omar Bakour Yahya
25 years old male killed
Walid Yahya Bakkour
Age unknown male injured
Abdel-Razzaq Barakat
60 years old male injured
Abdul Ghani Karra Muhammad
7 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (3–6 children2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–42
  • 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 (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers looking for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Man crying on the site after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers looking for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via MMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured or killed woman being carried into an ambulance by Syrian Civil Defence volunteers after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers and civilians one the site after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @ShabhaPress)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via EMC)
  • A young man watches the civil defense teams as they pull his family out from under the rubble in Aleppo Photography: Ramy El Sayed, @Sy24ria

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @hadikhraat)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to help those injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @RamahKasem)
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @RamahKasem)
  • Fire caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @RamahKasem)
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers trying to extinguish fire after alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21, 2020 (via @RamahKasem)
  • The Civil Defense helps to retrieve the victims in the town of Kafr Noran in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @yusefgharibi)
  • The Civil Defense helps to retrieve the victims in the town of Kafr Noran in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @yusefgharibi)
  • The Civil Defense helps to retrieve the victims in the town of Kafr Noran in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @yusefgharibi)
  • The Civil Defense helps to retrieve the victims in the town of Kafr Noran in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by @yusefgharibi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured in alleged Russian strikes on the town of Kafr Noran in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by Mohammed Al Doghaim via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured in alleged Russian strikes on the town of Kafr Noran in the western countryside of Aleppo. (Image posted by Mohammed Al Doghaim 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
    9 – 11
  • (3–6 children2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–42
  • 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 (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1457

Incident date

October 15, 2016

Location

كفرلاها, Hoola, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.88305556, 36.5 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Smart News Agency, “the head of the Hula sector of the civil defence was injured on Saturday [Oct 15th] as a result of an airstrike by regime planes targeting the city of Hula in rural Homs.”

According to Homs Media Centre, this raid struck a school. They published a video showing damage to the school building.

Other sources said that Russia carried out raids on Al Hoola.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man receives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Hoola Oct 15th (via Homs Media Center)
  • An injured man receives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via Homs Media Center)
  • Footage showing a crater in a school playground following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Hoola, Oct 15th (via Homs Media Center)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4393

Incident date

February 2, 2020

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and six civilians were reportedly wounded in suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, east of Aleppo, in the night of February 2nd, 2020.

A number of sources, including @WZ4M93fVY0KeDJb, stated that six civilians had been injured. Among other sources, @jisrtv claimed instead that only one civilian had been injured. While Step Agency reported that “none of the injured are in a critical condition”, some twitter users reported that one of the injured civilians was indeed in a critical condition. No civilians were reported killed in the strike.

The strikes hit the Sheikh Dushal mosque and several residential buildings causing extensive damage, documented by both photo and video footage. Fires followed the alleged strikes, according to the White Helmets. The source provided a series of photographs of The White Helmets amongst the flames.

@jisrtv and other sources reported that a total of three missiles hit the residential neighborhoods. Citing the news website “Syria Call”, Aramme News claimed instead that Russian warplanes bombed the city with two vacuum missiles. The attack took place during the night.

The White Helmets explained this was the “first time Al Bab was attacked by Syrian-Russian alliance” since February 2017 when the area was “controlled by the Syrian National Army”. According to @pl24online, Al Bab is still in the within the “de-escalation” area agreed upon by Russia and Turkey.

AA reported that “A Russian warplane bombed the city of Al-Bab, which is located in the “Euphrates Shield” areas. According to the Syrian opposition’s Aviation Monitoring Center, the bombing took place at 01:30 at night, local time in Syria. (…) The Russian fighter that carried out the bombing took off from the Hmeimim base in Lattakia Governorate. (The source) pointed out that the Russian bombardment hit 3 points inside the center of Al-Bab city- (…). It is noteworthy that the front lines in the city of Al-Bab witnessed clashes yesterday between the forces of the Syrian regime and the forces of the Syrian National Army.”

Aramme News stated that “It is noteworthy that the Syrian National Army targeted the positions of the Assad militia southwest of the city of Al-Bab, killing and wounding a number of them, hours ago, in response to the attack launched by Russia on Idlib Governorate.”

The incident occured at 01:30:00 local time.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • Al Bab ablaze following suspected Russian airstrikes, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)
  • A burnt out building in Al Bab, the impact of suspected Russian strikes, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Fire and material destruction in Al Bab, the impact of suspected Russian strikes, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)
  • The White Helmets team at the scene in Al Bab after suspected Russian airstrikes, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)
  • The White Helmets team at the scene in Al Bab after suspected Russian airstrikes, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)
  • The "Sheikh Doshel" mosque before and after it was bombed by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @ala_hacioglu)
  • A civilian recovering books after suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @Sy24ria)
  • A hole in a building caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @Sy24ria)
  • Damaged books in the aftermath of suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @Sy24ria)
  • A hole in the wall of a building affected by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @Sy24ria)
  • Damage on the dome of the "Sheikh Doshel" mosque caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @pl24online)
  • The interior of the "Sheikh Doshel" mosque in the aftermath of suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @pl24online)
  • A civilian shoveling rubble in the aftermath of suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @pl24online)
  • A man recuperating books in the "Sheikh Doshel" mosque in the aftermath of suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @pl24online)
  • Damage in a residential area caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @jisrtv)
  • A hole in a wall of a residential building caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @jisrtv)
  • A bookshelf on a damaged residential building in the aftermath of suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @jisrtv)
  • The courtyard of a damaged residential building in the aftermath of suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020. (via @jisrtv)
  • Extensive damage of the buildings in the area affected by suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, February 2nd, 2020.

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
    1–6
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4414

Incident date

February 5, 2020

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a child, were reported killed and four civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured as a result of alleged Russian and/or Syrian airstrikes on the town of Taftanaz in the northeastern countryside of Idlib on February 5, 2020. The majority of sources reported that during the attack barrel bombs were dropped out of helicopters.

Regarding civilian harm, Ayham Steif and thawrat111 tweeted that the attack on Taftanaz resulted in multiple deaths. However, most sources reported only one civilian casualty, a girl, that the Syrian Network for Human Rights identified as Aalaa Alaa Rahhal.

Reporting on wounded civilians varied. A number of sources, including Al Jisr TV, said that several civilians sustained injuries, most of them children. According to Smart News, three children and a woman got wounded, while @FdzPWRe6ruGFPd tweeted that four children were injured. Three sources reported that the attack on Taftanaz resulted in four civilian injuries without any further specifications.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the airstrikes on Taftanaz. @EyadHoms20 attributed the attack to the Syrian Armed Forces stating that “[h]elicopters of the regime [targeted] with barrel bombs the city of Taftanaz in the northern Idlib countryside”, while others referred to Russia as having carried out the strikes. According to Nafeza Media, both Russia and the Regime were involved.  It stated that “Russian occupation aircraft and helicopters of the Assad militia launched dozens of missiles and barrel bombs on the town.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aalaa Alaa Rahhal
Child female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)
  • A man carrying a child stands in line to receive first aid after alleged airstrikes of Syrian and/or Russian forces on the town of Taftanaz on February 5, 2020 resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. (Image posted by Ahmad Ghazal on Facebook)
  • Ahmad Ghazal uploaded photographs of the destruction that resulted from alleged Syrian and.or Russian airstrikes on the city of Taftanaz on February 5, 2020. (Image via Facebook)
  • Ahmad Ghazal uploaded photographs of the destruction that resulted from alleged Syrian and.or Russian airstrikes on the city of Taftanaz on February 5, 2020. (Image via Facebook)

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 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4447

Incident date

February 14, 2020

Location

دارة عزة, Daret Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to local sources an unspecified number of civilians were killed in an airstrike in Darat Azza in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria, on February 14th 2020.

The Shaam News Network reported: “The Russian and Assadian air forces launched air strikes targeting the towns of rural Aleppo, which led to the fall of five martyrs in the town of Ma’arat al-Atareb and two martyrs in the city of Atarib, and civilian casualties in each of Darat Azza, al-Tamurah, Bashmara, Sheikh Aqil and the vicinity of Greater Urm.”

Etilaf also reported an unspecified number of wounded civilians in Darat Azza, and blamed Russian and the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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