Russian Military in Syria

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

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

Incident Code

RS4277

Incident date

December 21, 2019

Location

سراقب , Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Seven or eight civilians, including four children and between one and three women, were reportedly killed and more than twenty civilians, including women and children, were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on a popular market in the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three out of the eight killed civilians were women while Enab Baladi put the number at two children, a woman, and five men killed. Wasim Alkhalaf identified 10 children as being injured.

A tweet from @Ala_hacioglu also pointed to civilian homes that were damaged in addition to the market, with @NEDAAPOST classifying it as “massive property damage”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that Mrs. Abir Al Daher, a biotechnology engineer who served civilians, was killed while at work in a laboratory in the city.

Orient News quoted Dr. Hassan Kaddour who knew Mrs. Abir: “The blood of patients was mixed with the blood of the martyr engineer Abeer Al-Daher, the biotechnology engineer who works in my laboratory, who was martyred today because of the criminal bombing of the Assad and Putin gangs that the informant was exposed to today. Her name is Abeer, and she is a rose that smells of him. The fragrance, religion, morals, science and kindness. She is eager to work and provide service to her community and her people. This morning, I was expecting that she would not come to the informant because of the security situation, and when I entered the informant, I told her: I was expecting what you would come today. She answered me with a smile: No doctor, and directly, I drew blood for a patient .. I ask God to accept her as a martyr and dwell in his vast gardens. Except for what pleases our Lord, God is sufficient for us and He is the best agent.. I ask God to heal the lab, Nour, who was injured at the same time.. He is capable of everything.”

A tweet from @Ahmad_1alshble listed the name of four other victims killed in the strikes: Muhammad Louay Daaboul, Seif Al-Hawash, Rayan Al-Qasim, Khidr from “Ma`art alya”. A Facebook post from Abu Bassel added the names Farhan Hawash Al-Farhan and Renad Louay Amara and another young man from Beit Brik killed. The post also included the names of those injured: Manahel brik (fragments from the hand and head), Hani Brik (shards in the head), Naglaa Yassin (foot bruised), Randa Al-Qasim (fracture by hand + fracture by foot), Hassan Amara (fracture in the foot), Darren Amara (broken by hand), Omar Kafrtouni (bruised), Nahid al-Qasim (splinters in the head), Yasser Al-Qasim (splinters in the head), Esraa al-Qasim (minor bruising), Alaa….. (shards with feet), Muhammad Hammoud (splinters in the foot), Samah Kafrtouni (a shrapnel in the foot), Ahmed El Karmo (hand + foot injury), Hani Brik, Muhannad Al Sufi.

@almohamadi84 also identified that two children of his uncle, 20 and 18 year olds who had a shop for birds, were killed but did not give their names.

@SyriaCivilDefe reported that Ahmed Alwani, a volunteer in the Civil Defense, was injured while he was at the site of the raid helping people.

Syrian Civil Defence spokesperson Hassan Abu Al Fadi told SMART News Agency that “the regime’s warplanes launched a raid with three missiles, one of which was on the main market of the city, killing eight civilians, including four children and a woman, and wounding 25 others, including children, women and a member of the Civil Defense”. Step News Agency stated that Russian forces were responsible for the incident. A tweet from @Blackpearls6464 identified four raids as being carried out in Saraqib.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Adult female a biotechnology engineer who worked in a laboratory in Saraqib killed
Ahmed Alwani
Adult male injured
Khidr "Ma`art alya شاب اسمه خضر من معارة عليا
Age unknown killed
Farhan Hawash Al-Farhan فرحان هواش الفرحان
Age unknown killed
Renad Louay Amara ريناد لؤي أمارة
Age unknown killed
Manahel brik مناهل بربك
Age unknown fragments from the hand and head injured
Hani Brik هاني بريك
Age unknown shards in the head injured
Naglaa Yassin نجلاء ياسين
Age unknown foot bruised injured
Randa Al-Qasim رندة القاسم
Age unknown fracture by hand + fracture by foot injured
Hassan Amara حسن أمارة
Age unknown fracture in the foot injured
Darren Amara دارين أمارة
Age unknown broken by hand injured
Omar Kafrtouni عمر كفرطوني
Age unknown bruised injured
Nahid al-Qasim ناهد القاسم
Age unknown splinters in the head injured
Yasser Al-Qasim ياسر القاسم
Age unknown splinters in the head injured
Esraa al-Qasim أسراء القاسم
Age unknown injured
Alaa علاء
23 years old shards with feet injured
Muhammad Hammoud محمد حمود
31 years old splinters in the foot injured
Samah Kafrtouni سماح كفرطوني
8 years old a shrapnel in the foot injured
Ahmed El Karmo احمد الكرمو
Age unknown hand + foot injury injured
hani brik هاني بريك
Age unknown injured
Muhannad Al Sufi مهند الصوفي
Age unknown injured
Majd Hamoudi
31 years old injured
Ola Habib
10 years old injured
Ali Al-Hajji
30 years old injured
Kamal Hajji
15 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (4 children1–3 women2–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • 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 (56) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (35) [ collapse]

  • Destruction after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights).
  • Mrs. Abir al Daher, a biotechnology engineer, was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via SNHR).
  • Photo of a wounded man in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via EMC on Facebook).
  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via EMC on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via EMC on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via S.N.N. on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via S.N.N. on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via S.N.N. on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via S.N.N. on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via S.N.N. on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019 (via S.N.N. on Facebook).
  • Alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @HadiAlabdallah)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @khaleedalkhteb)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @blackpearls6464)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @blackpearls6464)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @blackpearls6464)
  • Mrs. Abir Al Daher, a biotechnology engineer killed in strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @HEBA_Qk)
  • Blood of the victims of alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @blackpearls6464)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @almohamadi84)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by @zamanalwsl)
  • White Helmets rescue victims of alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by Enab Baladi)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by Saraqeb123 via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by Saraqeb123 via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by Saraqeb123 via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib on December 21, 2019. (Image posted by Saraqeb123 via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (4 children1–3 women2–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • 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 (56) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4308

Incident date

January 15, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to Shaam Network, Russian and Syrian regime forces targeted many towns in Idlib with airstrikes, injuring civilians.

The news read: “The raids also led to the fall of many wounded people in the cities of Ma`rat al-Nu`man, Ariha, and Kafr Nabl, and the towns and villages of Talatah, al-Barah, Ma`saran, al-Hartamiyah, al-Ghadfa, Shanan, Abu Jarif, Talmans, the churches, Tal al-Sheikh, Ma`rmsha, al-Hamidiyya, Benin, Hantutin, Karsiyan, Benin, Mantef, Khan al-Sabil, Dadekh, Maarizita, Kafroma Appointed, as the civil service center for the defense came out in the village Bzabor.”

The source considered these airstrike the announcement of the end of the ‘fragile’ ceasefire that lasted for four days.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

RS4326

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Location

كفرتعال, Kafar Ta’al, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians including a whole family of six children and their parents, in addition to another man were reported killed, and nine others reported injured when Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes targeted Kafr Ta’al village in Western Aleppo countryside on January 21st, 2020 according to local sources.

One of the victims identified is Mustafa Jdou’e, aged 22, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Local Coordination Committees of Syria named Omar Abdul Qadir Al-Sheikhwife of Omar Al Sheikh, five of Omar Al-Sheikh’s children are Manar, Aya, Radiya, and Abdul Qadir.

@shahbaPress reported the “martyrdom of nine people, including six children from one family, with their parents, and the injury of other civilians as a result of raids by Russian occupation warplanes on the town of Kafr Taal in the western countryside of Aleppo.”

Al Jazeera identified nine other civilians as being injured in the strikes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the airstrikes targeted a farm in the vicinity of Kafr Ta’al village.

The Syrian Civil Defense in Aleppo showed their volunteers recovering the bodies of the victims, including body parts of some of them.

@ShahbaPress, Macro Media Center, Step Agency, SMART Agency, Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed Russia for the incident, while Shaam Network and Nors for Studies blamed both the regime and Russia for the incident. Zeiton Agency reported that two air strikes were carried out against Kafr Ta’al.

The Local Coordination Committee of Syria provide the time of the strikes as 11:16 local time.

The incident occured at 11:16:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Omar Abdul Qadir Al-Sheikh
male killed
wife of Omar Al Sheikh
female killed
Manar
killed
Aya
killed
Radiya
killed
Abdul Qadir
killed

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Jdou’e
22 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5–6 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (47) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (37) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • A house destroyed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • A house destroyed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • A house destroyed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Funeral of civilians reported killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Funeral of civilians reported killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Funeral of civilians reported killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Damage to civilian properties in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on a farm in Kafr Ta'a in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Body part of civilian killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Body part of civilians killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • SCD volunteers recovering bodies of those killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • SCD volunteers rescuing injured civilians in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • SCD volunteers recovering bodies of those killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Ta'al in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • A collapsed building from strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A collapsed building from strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A collapsed building from strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A collapsed building from strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A collapsed building from strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Farm equipment damaged by strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • A vehicle damaged by strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • A collapsed building from strikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)

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
    9
  • (5–6 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (47) [ 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

RS4390

Incident date

February 1, 2020

Location

الباب, Al Bab , Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man was reportedly killed and at least six civilians had been reportedly injured in an alleged Syrian regime artillery attack on Al Bab, Aleppo, on February 1st, 2020.

While most sources only reported that six civilians had been injured, EMC reported that the attack also killed one man. According to Baladi News, the civilians were subsequently transferred to the city’s hospital.

Most sources blame the Syrian regime for the shelling.@shahba press reported that “rocket launchers” were employed by Assad whilst the other sources said “artillery shelling” caused the damage.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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
    Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets at the scene in Al Bab, Aleppo, following suspected Russian or Regime airstrikes, February 1st (via SCD Aleppo)
  • A man is examined by a member of the White Helmets rescue team in Al Bab, Aleppo, following suspected Russian or Regime airstrikes, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Photograph shows a bloodied hand, one of the victims of an alleged airstrike on Al Bab Aleppo (via SCD Aleppo)
  • The White Helmets check over the body of a victim of the alleged airstrike on Al Bab, Aleppo, February 2nd (via SCD Aleppo)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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
    Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1513

Incident date

October 31, 2016

Location

Arbin, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes or regime artillery shelling on Arbin, according to sources on the ground – though specific casualty figures were not given.

LCCSY reported that Russia conducted “two airstrikes with thermobaric missiles on the neighborhoods in #Arbin city” alongside regime artillery shelling, resulting in an unspecified number of civilian casualties.

Smart was among other sources reporting regime artillery fire.

Radio Alkul said that “several civilians were injured when the military aircraft targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of Arbin”.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Dfence moving the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via SCDrifdimashq)
  • The exact moment the raid hit. (via Qasioun news)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS4440

Incident date

February 12, 2020

Location

أبين سمعان, Abin Samaan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and six others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Abyan Samaan, Aleppo governorate, on February 12th, 2020, according to local sources.

An employee for the media office of the Directorate for the Civil Defence, Hamza Al Youssef, told SMART News that the six injured civilians were taken to nearby medical points. The agency said “Three civilians were also killed and six others were injured, as they were taken to nearby medical points for treatment, as a result of the bombing of a Russian warplane on the village of Abyan Samaan of Atarib district.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS4473

Incident date

February 23, 2020

Location

أبديتا, Abdita, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man, was reported killed as the result of alleged Russian and/or Regime airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on the village of Abdita in the southern Idlib countryside in the afternoon of Sunday, February 23, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, Bsklaa16, among others, reported that Marei al-Asaad Abu Ahmed, a man from the village of Abdita, died as a result of artillery shelling by regime forces targeting the village.

The television network Al Araby was the only source that reported injuries, stating that “the Syrian regime forces renewed, last night, missile and artillery shelling on most of the villages and towns of the southern countryside of Idlib. The bombing resulted in the killing of a civilian and the wounding of nine others in the village of Abdita.” However, since all other sources reported that those nine injuries were among other villages in Idlib it seems likely a translation error that attributed the injuries to Abdita – the Al Hadath news channel said that on Sunday, February 23 air and artillery shelling on the Idlib countryside killed one civilian and injured nine others. However, when talking specifically about civilian casualties in Abdita, Al Hadath only reported the death of one man, and no wounded.

Aside from civilian casualties, both Al Hadath and the Syrian Civil Defence reported that the attack on Abdita resulted in the destruction of residential neighborhoods.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strike, with the Syrian Network for Human Rights and EHSEM506 attributing the to Regime forces, while Al Hadat referred to the Russian Armed Forces as having carried out the strike. Shaam and the Ahrar al-Mayadeen News Network claimed that both Russian and Regime forces were involved in the attack, stating that “[t]he Russian and Assad occupation warplanes launched air raids amid artillery and missile shelling targeting multiple cities, towns and villages, including Abdita which led to the death of one civilian.”

The incident allegedly took place in the afternoon based on written reports and video evidence from @Bashar of smoke rising above Abdita during the attack. The exact local time of the incident is unknown.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Bombing Abdita
  • One of the missiles that fell on Abdita

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]