Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

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

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Incident Code

RS4375

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

الهوتة, Al Houta, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On January 28th, 2020 the village of Al Houta, outside of Aleppo was struck by Russian warplanes, resulting in the wounding of numerous civilians.

The Shahba Press reported that numerous civilians were wounded in airstrikes but did not release any names or specific numbers. A correspondent for Step Agency reported that warplanes struck Al Houta but do not confirm any wounded.

Local sources noted that warplanes struck Al Houta and civilians were the only intended target.

Local sources along with Shahba Press noted that the strike upon Al Houta was carried out by Russian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4376

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

خان السبل, Khan Al Subl, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Khan Al Subl, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

SMART News Agency reported that the Syrian regime and Russia carried out air and artillery strikes on several cities and towns in Idlib governorate, among which Khan Al Subl.

Shaam News Network reported that two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were wounded Russian airstrikes on the town. This was later confirmed by the Civil Defense, but no names or specific numbers were released.

The Baladi News Network reported that Khan Al Subl is among the densely populated villages specifically targeted by missiles and barrel bombs. According to the Syrian Civil Defense Response Coordination Team, these air strikes have led to the displacement of over ten thousand families.

Local sources along with Baladi News and the Syrian Civil Defense noted that the bombings were conducted by Russian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4377

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

كفرلاته, Kafarlata, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two brothers were killed and others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafarlata, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

Step Agency reported that “two civilians were killed and others wounded due to artillery shelling by the Syrian regime forces targeting the village of Kafarlata in Jabal Al Arbaeen, south of Idlib”. Ariha Today reported the incident occurred around 8:50 PM and identified the victims as Walid and Mostafa Farouk Al Nemr. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the men were brothers.

According to a Facebook post by Anastracey Official, “two men were killed as a result of Assad’s forces bombing the town of Kafr Lata with missiles carrying cluster bombs”. @Syrianewsar added that in addition to the two men killed, “others” were injured but did not specify how many.

Whereas most sources point to the Syrian regime as the belligerent, Shaam News Network blamed Russian airstrikes.

The incident occured at approximately 8:50 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Walid Farouk Al Nemr وليد فاروق النمر
male brother of Mostafa Farouk Al Nemr killed
Mostafa Farouk Al Nemr مصطفى فاروق النمر
male brother of Walid Farouk Al Nemr killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Brothers Walid and Mostafa Farouk Al Nemr, killed in airstrikes on Kafarlata on January 28, 2020. (Image posted by @mohamad.safah.5)
  • Brothers Walid and Mostafa Farouk Al Nemr, killed in airstrikes on Kafarlata on January 28, 2020. (Image posted by @mohamad.safah.5)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4378

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

حاس, Hass, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Hass, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

According to a tweet from @JennRollins1002, three to six men were killed in the town of Hass by regime helicopters that dropped barrel bombs on the town. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that six men were killed because of the bombing of civilian homes.

Shaam News also reported that there were six victims of Russian strikes but did not specify whether these victims were killed or injured. Various other sources were conflicted over who was to blame, reporting that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–6 men)
  • 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 (8) [ 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
    3 – 6
  • (3–6 men)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4379

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a child, were injured in several alleged Syrian regime and Russian airstrikes and/or artillery strikes on an international road near Saraqib, Idlib governorate on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that four civilians were injured in alleged Syrian regime airstrikes “targeting the international road near Saraqib city, during the flight of the people from the city to escape”. Edlib Media Center reported that “several people were injured as a result of the regime’s warplane targeting a car for the displaced in Saraqeb, east of Idlib”.

Macro Media Center said the road targeted was the international road M5. Zaiton Mag added that because of the flight of people from the city of Saraqib, the city was nearly empty of residents.

Ariha Today reported the following airstrikes near Saraqib on January 28th, 2020:

“00:08 Russian raid targeting the vicinity of Saraqib
00:16 Russian raid targeting the vicinity of Saraqib
01:28 Missile bombing by regime forces targeting the outskirts of Saraqib.
11:21 The regime’s warplane raid targeting the outskirts of the city of Saraqib, wounding three civilians, including a child.
11:56 A regime’s warplane raid targeting the outskirts of Saraqib city and resulted in one civilian casualty.
13:01 A regime’s warplane raid targeting the city of Saraqib.”

The conflicting reports make it difficult to assess which belligerent caused which civilian harm, with local sources attributing airstrikes and artillery strikes to both the regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrikes on a road near Saraqib, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020 (via Liveuamap).

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
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4373

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

عنجارة, Ainjara, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One girl died and her mother and up to four siblings were wounded in alleged Russia or regime airstrikes on Ainjara village, according to local media. All but one source (the Step News Agency) blamed solely Russia for the strikes and associated civilian harm.

The Smart News Agency reported: “A girl was killed and others, all of them from the same family, were wounded on Tuesday [Jan 28th], by Russian air strikes on the village of Ainjara (18 km west of Aleppo) in northern Syria…local sources said that a child had been killed and four children and their mother were injured as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the village of Ainjara.”

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria reported one death and four others wounded, including three children; this story was corroborated by Smart News. Smart News also reported that the deceased child’s mother was among the wounded. Thiga News reported that one wounded child was brought to Turkey for medical attention. Syrian Civil Defense later confirmed that all the casualties were from one family, with two sisters and their mother wounded, and one sister killed. Halab News reported that the family’s house was specifically targeted.

Smart added that some of the wounded – among them critical cases – were treated in Turkish hospitals, “while the rest of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in the region by the civil defense teams.”

The White Helmets put the wounded toll lower, reporting that “a child was killed and her mother and two sisters from the Hassan Dergham family were injured”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights named the girl as Hasan Dergham Rustum.

While the overwhelming majority of sources attributed the raids to Russia, The Step News Agency said that the regime also carried out strikes on Ainjara village on this day.

Halab News noted that Ainjara was civilian area, and the house of the casualties was targeted by warplanes.

According to @SyrianCoalition, the strike occurred in the afternoon, though the White Helmets said that it happened “in the morning”.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child female killed
Mother of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Adult female injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child female injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child female injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ainjara, Jan 28th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ainjara, Jan 28th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ainjara, Jan 28th (via White Helmets)
  • The ruins of a family's home following an alleged Russian airstrike in Ainjara, Jan 28th (via SyrianCoalition)

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4127

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

سرج,, Sarja, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source, Syrialiveua, reported that four civilians were killed in “raids” on Sarja.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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 attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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 attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4374

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

بشنطرة, Bashantra, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One person died and an unspecified number of others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strikes on Bashranta on January 28, 2020, according to local media. The Violations Documentation Center whether the person killed was a civilian.

Both the Shahba Press and Zaiton Agency released reports of multiple civilians killed due to the strike upon Bashantra. These reports were later amended by Halab Today, Step Agency, and Shaam News to be one individual was killed and others wounded.  No exact numbers or the name of the deceased was released.

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria reported that a non-civilian was killed in Russian missile attacks on Bashantra.

The airstrikes on the 28th on Bashantra were resorted to be part of a coordinated set of strikes upon civilian areas.

Halab TV reported that the warplanes involved were those of the Assad regime while Jesr Press attributed the strikes to Russia.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (18) [ collapse]