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

RS1844

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

كفر حلب , Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians from the same family (a man, woman and their child) died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local media.

The White Helmets reported that “three people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Abdulla Mahmoud
Adult male killed
Wife of Abdulla Mahmoud
Adult female killed
Yousef Abdulla Mahmoud
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The effects of the bombing and destruction caused by massive targeting by Russian air space missiles of the town of Kafr Halab in Aleppo West Aleppo # Syria'
  • Translation: 'Russian planes kill 3 civilians in Kafa Halab.
  • '3 people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017'
  • '3 people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017'
  • '3 people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4455

Incident date

August 2, 2022

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian farmer was injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian thermal missile attack which destroyed his car on the morning of August 2nd, 2022 in Al Bara, a southern town of Idlib. No further reports of civilian harm have been reported.

The farmer was named by @abualisar18 and @g5VgKRPXfPQdfz9 as Ammar Mustafa Al-Qajji. He was watering the fig trees on his land when the missile struck his car. Syria TV reported that the White Helmets transferred him by ambulance to receive medical attention and secured the premises.

The missile was a guided anti-armor thermal missile according to all sources. The strike was contested as both Russia and the Syrian regime were reportedly responsible for the strike. @mzmgr941 added Iranian forces were also allegedly behind the strike.

The incident occurred in the morning according to the Syrian Civilian Defence. The photographs and video evidence demonstrate that it took place at some time during the day.

The incident took place in Al-Bara in the south of Idlib. @ala_hacioglu specified that it occurred on the Al Bara Dirsanbel road and @abualisar18 noted that it struck on a road formerly known as Aziz Nasouh Park Road.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Mustafa Al-Qajji
Adult male injured

Summary

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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • One civilian was injured when a contested Russian or Syrian regime missile hit him in Al Bara on August 2nd 2022 (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • A man was injured when his car was targeted in a reported Russian or Syrian regime missile attack in Al Bara on August 2nd 2022 (Image via @jisrtv / Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

R4486

Incident date

November 6, 2022

Location

اّفس, Afes, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 6th, 2022, a civilian – a woman – was reportedly injured by artillery shelling and/or by an airstrike in Afes village, East of Idlib.  According to the Syrian Civil Defence, the shelling was carried out by Syrian and Russian forces but other local sources argued that it was either conducted by the Syrian regime or by Russian forces only. @Step_Agency reported that the “artillery and missile” bombing by the Syrian regime in Afes village coincided with “the flight of Russian reconnaissance airplanes” in the area. @mhmdalk66278540 noted that the shelling led to “casualties among civilians”, without further precisions.

The Syrian Civil Defence added that they sent an ambulance to carry the injured to a hospital.

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
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Summary

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4524

Incident date

July 4, 2023

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between four and five civilians, including four children, were injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four children were injured to varying degrees by regime shelling, coinciding with the flight of Russian reconnaissance aircraft, on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza. The Syrian Human Rights Committee added that two of the children were injured seriously and @iyadhomse stated that all four children were from the same family.

According to Baladi News, five civilians were wounded, most of them children, by the shelling.

@Son0fAleppo tweeted the names of three of the children injured: Zahraa Tasho, Oday Tasho, Sondos Tasho. The @SyriaCivilDefe referred to Zahraa and Sondos as cousins, adding that they were playing in front of their house when they were injured by the shelling.

The majority of sources reported that the shelling was carried out by the Syrian regime. However, the @SyriaCivilDefe attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime and Russian forces.

A video posted by @idleb_online shows “Syrian” artillery being fired, and refers to “targeting terrorist sites in the city of Darat Izza” with no mention of casualties. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that the shelling occurred in residential neighborhood and near a school

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Zahraa Tasho زهرة طشو
Child injured
Oday Tasho عدي طشو
Child injured
Sondos Tasho سندس طشو
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by Daret ezza media via Facebook)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by Daret ezza media via Facebook)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by Daret ezza media via Facebook)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by Daret ezza media via Facebook)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by Daret ezza media via Facebook)
  • Shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Step_Agency)
  • Shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Step_Agency)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • The first moments of aiding four injured children from one family, including a very critical condition due to the bombing of the external #Russian and #Iranian occupation on the western countryside
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @RaedAlSaleh3)
  • Syrian artillerymen 🇸🇾 target terrorist sites in the city of Darat Izza, west of #Aleppo
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Human Rights Committee)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • A child injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • White Helmets respond to alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • White Helmets respond to alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • White Helmets respond to alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The first moments of our teams' response to artillery shelling by the Russian regime forces targeting residential neighborhoods and near a school in the city of Darat Izza, west of #Aleppo, today, Tuesday, July 4, which resulted in the injury of 4 children from one family, two of whom are in critical condition.

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4570

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 5 October 2023, intense artillery and missile bombardments allegedly by the Syrian regime and/or Russian Military caused the death of at least one civilian and the injury of 14 civilians, including 4 children and 3 women, in the city of Ariha (Jericho).

A Facebook post from local source “Jericho, the bride of the north” included the names of some of the identified victims: a woman named Bushra Habboush who was killed by the attack, and Ahmad Al Jasem from Hawir Al-Eis, Ahmad Al Zain, Mohammed Bassam Zanab, Shahed Yousef Saado, Fatima Ahmad Saynon, a 3-year old and a 14-year old child, all of them injured.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that a missile bombardment on the city of Ariha (Jericho) resulted in the death of a woman and the injury of 14 civilians, including 4 children and 3 women. However, the Political Keys correspondent @political_keys identified one person killed and eight injuries resulting.

According to Syrian Civil Defense the bombings affected a considerable number of vital and public facilities in the city. Additionally, the ambulance and the center’s fire annex were damaged. The bombardment consisted of dozens of shells fired from rocket launchers that led to great destruction in the city. Other sources report that the attacks consisted of the bombardment of 40 missile launchers. In the midst of this, the Syrian Defense team responded by working on the removal of the rubble that blocked the roads.

The Al-Masdar News Agency reported to be monitoring the effects of the destruction from the intense bombardment in Ariha.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the shelling, with sources including @​​Najdat567 reporting that Syrian regime forces stations in checkpoints were responsible while Revolution Coordination identified both the Syrian regime and Russian forces as responsible, and other sources only mentioned “militias” as being involved.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bushra Habboush بشرى حبوش
Age unknown female killed
Ahmad Al Jasem أحمد الجاسم
Age unknown injured
Ahmad Al Zain أحمد الزين
Age unknown injured
Mohammed Bassam Zanab محمد بسام زعنب
Age unknown injured
Shahed Yousef Saado شهد يوسف سعدو
Age unknown injured
Fatima Ahmad Saynon فاطمة أحمد صينون
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–14
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (39) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @Military_OSTX
  • Source: @Military_OSTX
  • Source: @Military_OSTX
  • Source: @Najdat567
  • Source: @HalabTodayTV
  • Source: @ralshhwan9
  • Source: @ralshhwan9
  • Source: Ariha Today
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Al-Masdar News Agency
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Civil Defense Idlib
  • Source: Civil Defense Idlib
  • Source: Idlib today
  • Source: Al mohrar
  • Source: Al mohrar
  • Source: Muhammad Al-Rihawi

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Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–14
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2253

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

خشام, Khisham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3020098, 40.2914143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of injuries resulted from alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Khisham in the eastern suburb of Deir Ezzor, according to local sources.

Some of the injuries were severe enough to have caused amputations, published @Deirfree.

The majority of sources, including Shaam Network, reported that Russian planes carried out the airstrikes while the rest did not identify who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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

  • 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

RS2511

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma'arat Horma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5497387, 36.5422624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a girl, were injured in airstrikes against the town of Ma’arat Horma in southern Idlib, local media reported.

According to the Smart News Agency, the bombs used in the attack were cluster bombs. Smart News Agency was the only source to report on the incident and blamed Russia as the likely culprit of the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the raids.
  • The aftermath of an airstrike. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2617

Incident date

October 9, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians were left wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes in the city of Khan Sheikhoun, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

While the reports varied from two to five wounded, all sources, who identified a culprit, agreed that Russian was responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “Two warplanes carried out strikes that targeted areas in Khan Shaykhun city in the southern countryside of Idlib, which resulted in the injury of five persons. One of them was seriously wounded and as a result, his leg was amputated (…)”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the moment alleged Russian-waged airstrike hit Khan Sheikhoun, Deir Ezzor, October 9th, 2017 (via Mohammad Saloum Al Khalaf)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]