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
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS1598

Incident date

November 17, 2016

Location

كفر جالس, Kafr Jalis, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

35.976182, 36.613076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eleven civilians died, including women and children, and more than ten were injured in Kafr Jalis following alleged Russian or regime shelling, according to various local sources.

Most sources suspected six civilians killed, however, Syrian News Desk reported seven killed including more than ten injuries.

Sky News put the toll at much high, claiming that eleven died including six people from one family after their house was struck in the strikes. The source blamed the Syrian regime.

According to @mnaf1991h “mostly women” died in the attack. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at six including three children and two women.

Aljazeera, citing the director of the Center for Civil Defense, Yahya Araja, said that the “shelling targeted the safe civilians in their homes” leading to “massive destruction”.

Reporting attributed blame to Russia, the regime and in some cases mentioned only “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • The report shows the extent of destruction in Kafr Jalis following suspected Russian airstrikes, November 17th (via Jisrtv)
  • Kafr Jalis, destroyed following alleged Russian strikes, November 17th (via Qasioun)
  • Footage reveals the impact of alleged Russian warplane shelling on Kafr Jalis, November 17th (via Jisrtv)
  • The correspondent Mohemed Dagim details the extent of the damage on Kafr Jalis following suspected Russian airstrikes, November 17th (via HalabTodayTV)
  • Destruction both on the street and inside buildings throughout Kafr Jalis following suspected Russian airstrikes, November 17th (via Edlib Media Center)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Jalis (كفر جالس), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.976182, 36.613076. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

  • Tagged visual material from sources

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

RS2820

Incident date

December 26, 2017

Location

التمانعة, Taman'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians were killed, and dozens more wounded, in air and artillery strikes which struck the residential neighbourhood of Taman’a. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes for the strikes.

The Violations Documentation Centre reported that there were two incidents which occurred on the same day in Taman’a, however they do not give any further details. No other sources made this claim.

Despite high casualty figures across most sources, some local media only reported one death. @mohamed1aldaher was amongst them, who reported that there were 19 dead civilians were distributed over Al Sarman (2), Al Taman’a (1), Al – Mushrifah (4), Skeet farms (3), – Sahihan (3), Badama (1), Om Jalal, Al Sayad Ali Al Taman’a Farms.

It is possible that both @mohamed1aldaher and Al Etihad press were reporting on the second incident of the day.

According to Step News Agency, as many as 100 rockets were fired on the vicinity. Syrian Human Rights Committee was the only source which included artillery shelling in their report.

Members of the Syrian Civil Defence were photographed pulling victims from the rubble, and according to their own Twitter account, they took many wounded civilians to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

They added that an entire family were trapped under the rubble – they did not give information as to who was wounded and who died.

A local source tweeted that “Al Sarman, Al Taman’a and farms, Almshirifa and Babolin” were all targeted in the raids. They attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Razzaq al-Sousi
Adult male killed
Rawda al-Sousi
Adult female killed
Hamid al-Sousi
Adult male killed
Mohammad Hamid al-Sousi
Child male killed
Maher Abd al-Razzaq al-Bakri
Adult male killed
Abd al-Salam al-Sousi
Adult male killed
Son of Abd al-Salam al-Sousi 1
Child male killed
Son of Abd al-Salam al-Sousi 2
Child male killed
Fatima al-Saleh
Adult female killed
Wife of Mohammad Askar al-Naji
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child who was killed in air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @sakrr121)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child who was killed in air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @sakrr121)
  • Air and artillery strikes the moment they struck Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @Muslims2018)
  • Air and artillery strikes the moment they struck Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @Muslims2018)
  • A victim of the air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Maher Abd al-Razzaq al-Bakri, killed in air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via VDC-SY)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS268

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.53366, 40.95819 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians – most of which were women and children – were killed and several injured in an airstrike on Al Soussa – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. One source also blames the Coalition.

The Shaam News Network initially reported that 10 non-combatants – most of them from the same family – died when Russian warplanes struck. But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed regime warplanes, and put the death toll at nine.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Samirah al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Son of Samiraal-Turky
Child male Named by VDC killed
Sara al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Son of Sara al-Turky
Child male Named by VDC killed
Fatima al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Khawla al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Daughter of Khawla al-Turky
Child female Named by VDC killed
Amira al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Daughter of Faysal al-Turky
Child female Named by VDC killed
Tahani al Turki
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
The wife of Faisal Al Turki
Age unknown female Listed by Syria2011 injured
Mubarak al Turki
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured

The victims were named as:

Joza al-Thani
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Daughter of Khawla al-Obaid
Child female Named by VDC killed
Abdullah al-Mohammad al-Ewaid
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Manar al Ibrahim al Mheissan
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Abd al Aziz al Hamed
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Abir al Hamed
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Shaimaa al Khaled al Hussein
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Jamila al Ibrahim
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
The son of Rifa’at al Thani.
Child male Listed by Syria2011 injured
Son of Omar al Hussein 1
Child male Listed by Syria2011, one of them in a critical condition injured
Son of Omar al Hussein 2
Child male Listed by Syria2011, one of them in a critical condition injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (5 children6 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A house targeted by airstrikes has been destroyed. (via, Syrian revolution forum)
  • Part of the damaged infrastructure in Al Soussa village. (via Syrian Revolution Forum)
  • An image taken almost immediately after the airstrike fell. (via, Deir Ezzor is slaughtered silently)
  • Although this video is no longer available, this screengrab shows part of the aftermath of the airstrike. (via, Syrialander)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (5 children6 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS780

Incident date

April 29, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 12 civilians died in airstrikes on Fardous according to local sources. While most reports said this was the work of the regime, others also alleged possible Russian involvement.

Baladi News published a video showing the first scenes of what they said was a strike by the regime. At 1:55 into the video, an eyewitness says he pulled two people from the rubble but that they died later. He adds that he counted seven or eight people dead on the scene but then lost count. There were many more injured and killed, he continued.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least 2 victims died in government helicopters barrel bombs”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed all strikes in the previous eight days on the Assad regime.

According to Shaam News Network, 12 civilians died, though it blamed Russian and regime warplanes. The White Helmets did not identify the planes responsible, but said that there were “several raids by warplanes and more than 10 barrel bombs” targeting several Aleppo neighborhoods. They put the initial death toll at 10.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via Baladi News Network)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescuing mission after the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via Buraq Media)
  • Footages during and after the aerial shelling of al Fardous (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

RS2862

Incident date

January 7, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 12 civilians were killed – including three children, a woman and a man – and as many as 30 others were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Douma. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, while some attributed blame to Russia and others to the Syrian regime.

One source, Alghad, reported that as many as 12 civilians were killed and 30 others were wounded. All other sources reported that only one man died, and he was also named.

All sources agree that a residential neighbourhood and popular vegetable market were “targeted” in the raids.

Yaqeen Network specified that “warplanes targeted three airstrikes, one of which was carrying an umbrella rocket, in addition to targeting the outskirts of the city with five surface-to-surface missiles”. They also named the male victim.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Akram Omar Al - Hanash
Adult male married killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid struck Douma, 7th January 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The exact moment after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid struck Douma, 7th January 2018. (via IBN Doma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 7th January 2018. (via Barada News)

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 type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1234 RS2351

Incident date

July 18, 2017

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians died and dozens were injured in airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on Ma’adan, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia or event the Syrian regime were responsible.

Baladi blamed artillery for the injury of “a number of civilians”, however, other sources – including Sharqiya Voice said that Coalition airstrikes had injured three non-combatants.

However, according to Shaam News, Russia carried out strikes on Ma’adan, killing 12 civilians and wounding many more.

RBSS reported that highs of “22 people were killed by Russian air strikes on the town of Ma’dan and the village of Zour Shamar in the eastern Raqqa countryside.” Similarly, Step News Agency reported that overall, “More than twenty-two civilians have been killed and dozens wounded in a new massacre by the International Coalition in the eastern Rifqa countryside.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported a raid “on the house of Mr. Ahmad Al-Taha in front of Maadan hospital, which resulted in the martyrdom of Miss Laila Nawaf Al-Hassani, one of her daughters and the injury of the rest of the family, and the martyrdom of Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Issa Al-Zanuba (Ibrahim Al-Ta’mas) from the village of al Bu Ramadan.”RBSS later published images of the aftermath of the event – including graphic pictures of child casualties – which it said had been carried out by Russia.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, pointed towards the Assad regime, reporting “the death of a girl and her mother in Syrian regime forces shelling”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Miss Laila Nawaf Al-Hassani
Adult female killed
Daughter of Miss Laila Nawaf Al-Hassani
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Issa Al-Zanuba (Ibrahim Al-Ta’mas)
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured man in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured man in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of dead children in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ma’adan, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 18th-19th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two vehicles and a tactical vehicle.” It additionally reported that “On July 18, near Raqqah, Syria, 18 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 18 fighting positions, an anti-aircraft artillery system, a weapons cache, and a sniper position; and damaged a fighting position and a supply route.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah désormais encerclée, Daech défend fermement les quartiers sous son contrôle en s’appuyant sur un usage intensif de pièges dont le terrain est littéralement saturé pour ralentir la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS). Cette stratégie impose aux FDS de déminer, pas à pas, chaque rue et chaque maison, sous la menace permanente de tireurs isolés entre autres tactiques adverses. Leur progression reste donc très lente. En Irak, Alors que les opérations de sécurisation de Mossoul se poursuivent, la principale zone de combat se situe désormais à l’Ouest de la ville dans le secteur de Tall Afar. Depuis cette localité, Daech mène des actions de harcèlement par des tirs directs et indirects contre les positions des Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes (FSI) à proximité. L’effort aérien de la coalition s’y porte donc tout en s’accompagnant d’un engagement plus large sur l’ensemble des autres territoires encore sous le contrôle de l’organisation terroriste. Daech poursuit notamment ses actions de harcèlement depuis la poche de Hawijah et dans l’Anbar, région dans laquelle elle dispose de nombreux camps et caches d’armes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 37 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 02 de ravitaillement en vol après le déploiement récent d’un C135. La moitié des frappes françaises (6 sur les 11 frappes) a été réalisée dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, les missions de reconnaissance française ou alliée permettant d’en réaliser autant sur le reste du théâtre afin de préparer les manœuvres futures ou de peser sur les réseaux terroristes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 26 missions de tir dont 17 de harcèlement et 09 d’éclairement. Le bilan global de CHAMMAL depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1322 frappes, 2090 objectifs détruits et 6812 sorties aériennes réalisées. 1310 missions d’artillerie complètent cet engagement cinétique de la France au Levant.’

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2995

Incident date

February 7, 2018

Location

معرة النعمان , Marat Al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6477913, 36.6591881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least six and as many as 12 civilians, including one woman, were killed and up to 30 were wounded as Marat Al Numan, Idlib, was subject to heavy aerial bombardment, possibly including the use of cluster bombs, allegedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, local media reported.

In this widely-reported incident, Marat Al Numan was subject to heavy aerial shelling in the al Sharqi neighbourhood as reported by Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), and the city was in large parts left completely destroyed and buildings were set on fire. The rescuing team worked hard in the following hours to extinguish the fire and rescue civilians from under the rubble.

Step News Agency reported that a whole family was stuck under the rubble, and generally, reports mentioned “dozens” of wounded, with the highest was reported by Al Latamna Youth Group who said that around 30 were left wounded.

Reports spanned from six fatalities as reported by Step News Agency to 12 as reported by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ). Several sources mentioned that one woman was among the fatalities. Nine male victims were identified by name.

An activist on the ground told Baladi News that “a squadron of Russian air force aircraft targeted the western neighbourhood and the southern neighbourhood of the city with more than 14 high-impact missile attacks.” Several sources echoed that around 14 missiles had been launched.

For example, STJ reported that residential neighbourhoods were hit with high-explosive missiles and vacuum missiles, which was confirmed by Mohammed al-Dahir on the ground, director of the Maara Media Center. al-Dahir added that the shelling began around 6.40 pm Wednesday night, February 7th.

Baladi News additionally reported that Marat Al Numan had, besides from aerial shelling, also been struck by cluster bombs launched from, what they said to be Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea. Multiple sources mentioned the use of cluster bombs, including Step News Agency and Mara Today.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the headquarters of the Free Syrian Army in Idlib had also been struck by two Ballistic missiles, leading to the death of three of its fighters. Smart News Agency also reported the death of three Free Syrian Army fighters.  However, the media said they were killed as they “were marching their cars in the city where they were bombed”, and instead of that, a four-storey building was struck in the eastern part of the city.

SOHR later amended its reporting, saying that six fighters had been killed.

Finally, the large majority of reports, including SN4HR, Edlib Media Center and Step News Agency, identified Russia as responsible. However, the incident remains contested as SOHR pointed to the Syrian regime and Mara Today and STJ attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

 

The incident occured at approximately 6:40 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Ali bin Omar al-Shawaf
Adult male killed
Hassan Abdel Hakim Nahhas
Adult male killed
Majid Abu al-Laban al-Sharaawi
Age unknown male killed
Bahaa al-Husayn, Muhammad Haj Ali
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Qasoub,
Age unknown male killed
Haitham al-Khalil
Age unknown male killed
Mustafa al-Mustafa
Age unknown male killed
Yousef al-Hassa
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad al-Hassa
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–30
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–6

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Footage from the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, and the immediate, chaotic aftermath on February 7th, 2018 (via Ma’ara Now)
  • Mohammed Ali bin Omar al-Shawaf , one of the victims of the contested aerial shelling of Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Mara Today)
  • Hassan Abdel Hakim Nahhas, one of the victims of the contested aerial shelling of Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Mara Today)
  • Civil Defence trying to extinguish the fire as contested shelling hit Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Mara Today)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • Location of the structures hit by the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • Location of the structures hit by the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • Location of the structures hit by the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • Several building were set on fire as they were struck by the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • Large parts of the town were set on fire as they were struck by the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via Syria News)
  • Footage from the immediate aftermath of the contested shelling of Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018, where the rescuing team is trying to extinguish the fire (via AJA News)
  • The aftermath of the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018, that inflicted great damage to the city (via EMC)
  • The aftermath of the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018, that inflicted great damage to the city (via EMC)
  • Remnants from the munition used in the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Remnants from the munition used in the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • The aftermath of the contested shelling in Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018, that inflicted great damage to the city (via EMC)
  • Footage from the immediate aftermath of the contested shelling of Marat Al Numan, Idlib, February 7th, 2018 (via EMC)

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–30
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–6

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3865

Incident date

July 2, 2019

Location

مدايا, Madaya, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Seven to 30 people were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Madaya, Idlib governorate, on July 2nd, 2019, according to local sources. Sources are conflicted about the number of civilians among the victims.

While Step News Agency reported “news of a massacre of civilians in the town of Madaya, south of Idlib, after a raid carried out by Russian warplanes” – later citing seven dead – the same source also reported that “seven soldiers of the opposition forces died, and five others were wounded, when Russian airstrikes targeted their headquarters south of Idlib.”

@NagiNajjar tweeted that “the Russian occupation air force commits a massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed more than 20 martyrs and dozens of wounded.” According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, two civilians from the same family were killed in the attack.

@syrian191124 shared a video of the aftermath of the strikes, writing: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian forces “targeted a military headquarters of Jaysh al-Nukhba of the National Liberation Front in Madaya village in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed at least 15 members and injured 10 others, some of them were critically injured which may raise the death toll.” A later source, Step News, alleged that “the number of people killed as a result of the Russian attack on the headquarters of the Syrian Free Army rose to 30.”

@M25hLAkKS2ra6WD later tweeted that “the number of victims of the massacre in the town of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, due to its bombing by the regime’s warplanes, has risen to 30.”

Meanwhile, Shahba Press tweeted that “dozens of civilians were killed and wounded by heavy air raids on the town of Madaya in rural Idlib.” According to Fresh Syria, the incident occured in the evening.

While most sources attributed the strikes to Russia, a few sources, including Fresh Syria, blamed the Syrian regime, whereas @anwaralnhar blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment” (via @syrian191124).
  • Translation: “#Idlib: A horrific massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed 16 martyrs as a preliminary result, and a number of civilians were wounded as a result of the targeting of the village with several air strikes with vacuum missiles by the Russian occupation forces and the Assad regime” (via @anwaralnhar).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim on the scene after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Madaya, July 2nd, 2019 (via @anwaralnhar).

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
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]