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
4802 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS4488

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on several cities, towns and villages in Idlib governorate on February 26th, 2020, according to Shaam News Network.

Shaam reported that “Russian and Assad’s air forces launched dozens of airstrikes amid artillery and missile shelling” which led to “a number of wounded people in Idlib, Sarmin, Benish, Jisr Al Shughour, Kansfara, Nayrab, Afs, Qinas and Al-Barah, Alia Billion, Al Muzarra, Jouseph, Sufouhan, Kefir, Badama, Zarzour, and Al Barnas Farms.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

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
  • 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4487

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

قرية بيلون في جبل الزاويه, Billion village in Jabal Al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four victims from the same family were killed by pro-Assad regime or Russian planes as an airstrike hit the town of Balion on February 26th. Information about the attack emerged on February 28th.

Numerous tweets reported the death of the four victims, including @syr_television, thethr Zaitun Agency, and Smart News put forth the same information that a man, his wife, and two children perished during a Russian airstrike in Balion. Kana posted that the family was originally from Kafranabel, but were internally displaced and settled in Balion. The Syrian Civil Defense volunteers removed the bodies on the 28th after civilians in the area discovered them.

The names and ages of the victims were not released.

Shaam News reported that local activists said the family were hit as they were attempting to move a motorcycle near the home where they were living.  Balion is a town replete with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and did not have military significance.

SMART and Step News Agency blamed Russia for the airstrikes, whereas Shaam mentioned both Russia and the Syrian regime.

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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4492

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 27th, 2020 radio reporter Muhammad Fawaz Hammoud was injured during an airstrike in Saraqib, outside of Idlib.  Hammoud is an employee of Radio Al-Kul.

In a post from Almodon, Hammoud was born in 1996 and is known as Asmar Aslan.  According to a report from The Syrian Journalists Association and specifically media activist Fayez Al-Daghim, the radio reporter was struck by shrapnel that impacted his body, head, feet, hands, and back. Al-Daghim went on to say that Hammoud was covering an airstrike when he was wounded, but his condition has stabilized. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the airstrike was carried out by fix-winged warplanes using Russian-made missiles.

The attack upon Saraqib and the wounding of Hammoud represents an increase in the targeting of civilian activists.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the strike was carried out by fixed-wing planes believed to be Russian with Russian-generated missiles.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Asmar Aslan
24 years old male reporter for Radio al Kul, from Saraqeb city injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Asmar Aslan, a reporter for Radio Al Kul, was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Saraqeb city on February 27th, 2020 (via SNHR).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS4489

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

قرية مشون, Mashoun village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were wounded in the village of Mashoun on February 27 following a Russian raid.

A correspondent for Halab Today noted that two people were injured in Mashoun in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in southern Idlib. A tweet from @AleppoAMC also indicated that two civilians had been hurt.

The wounded pair of civilians lived in the southern Idlib countryside in the village of Mashoun.

Halab Today TV and @AleppoAMC both noted that the raid was conducted by Russian planes.

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
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4493

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

طرنبة, Trunba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

In the village of Trunba, a civilian was killed on February 27, 2020 by alleged Russian warplanes, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The SNHR identified the victim as Hussein Ahmad Al-Hassan and posts from ibn Baladi and Nihad Al Assad referenced the “martyrdom” of Al-Hassan as a victim of increased airstrikes in the area surrounding Saraqib.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights noted Russian warplanes carried out this attack while a Facebook post from Ibn Baladi noted that he was killed in the clashes between forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Ahmad al Hasan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (4) [ 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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4490

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

شلخ, Shalakh, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least four civilians, including up to four women and a child, were reported to have been killed and others were wounded by alleged Russian or regime air strikes in the village of Shalakh on February 27th, 2020.

A tweet from @almo3tasem91 stated that five “martyrs, including four women and a child” were killed in the village of Shalakh.  A tweet from @zaitunagency noted that three women and a child were killed by a bombing raid from Assad forces planes. Al-Jisr Tv correspondent reported that three women and a child were killed. A tweet from @EyadHoms20 noted “a number of wounded” along with the four civilians who were killed. Edlib News did report that five people were killed, including four women and a child, but Idlib TV reported that the death toll was four, with three women and a child. The majority of posts, from Ssyrian2011, Bsklaa16 and Ali Albd detailed the deaths of four civilians. The four names were later identified as Mrs. Maryam Shaaban Dweik, Mrs. Aisha Mustafa Shaaban Dweik, the wife of Safwan Shaaban Dweik and the daughter of Maryam Shaaban Dweik, with no ages given. A post from Rahmoo123 described four civilians killed through an air raid, while Freedom Press noted “five martyrs” along with “many wounded”.   A report from Alaraby News reported a series of bombing raids from Russian planes targeting civilian areas, with five people killed in Shalakh.  This number contrasted with the number reported to be killed. Shaam News reported that Syrian Defense Forces removed the bodies of four women and a girl from rubble in Shalakh.

The area of Shalakh was an area with a significant civilian population.

Smart News cited the Directorate of the Civil Defense in Idlib Governorate, Firas Khalifa, stated that Russian warplanes conducted the deadly raid while other sources attributed the strikes to the regime.

The incident occured at 15:48:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mrs. Maryam Shaaban Dweik السيدة مريم شعبان دويك
female killed
Mrs. Aisha Mustafa Shaaban Dweik السيدة عائشة مصطفى شعبان دويك
female killed
The wife of Safwan Shaaban Dweik السيدة زوجة صفوان شعبان دويك
female killed
Daughter of Maryam Shaaban Dweik ابنة مريم شعبان دويك
female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Airstrikes on the village of Shalakh in the northern countryside of Idlib on February 27, 2020. (Image posted by @our_syria)

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
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4491

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

جنوب مدينة ادلب, Idlib city (south), Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

The death of at least one child and the wounding of civilians was reported on February 27th, 2020 the result of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the outskirts of Idlib. The brothers were displaced from the city of Kafranbel and relocated to a rural area of Idlib.

A post from Bsklaa16 noted that the boys killed were named Ghad Mustafa Al-Qadah and Majd.  Ghad was killed and his brother was wounded as, according to this post, Sukhoi-24 warplanes used vacuum missiles. Posts from Shohada Baskal, Khaledsy2, and Ayham.alkarjy referenced the “martyrdom of the child”, acknowledging the death of Ghad Mustafa Al-Qadah. Shaam News reported that alleged Russian warcraft “repeated the shelling on the city several times”. Smart News later quoted Abdul Razzaq Ghafir, an administrator working with local hospitals, as saying “regime’s warplanes” specifically struck this neighborhood in Idlib and in addition to the dead child, seven civilians were wounded. Reports of the dead and wounded continued to conflict as Step Agency reported four wounded civilians, and the Syrian center for Human Rights reported that both brothers were killed.

Local witnesses reported that civilian areas outside of Idlib, including those with displaced individuals, were struck by warplanes.

Both news agencies including Step and the Syrian Center for Human Rights as well as local witnesses attributed this attack to Russian warplanes while Smart News attributed the incident to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ghaid Mustafa al Qadah
Child male killed
Majd Mustafa al Qadah
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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

R4251

Incident date

February 28, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were killed in the city of Saraqib on February 28th. In addition to the three civilian deaths, there are reports of numerous wounded people as well.

Posts and tweets from IdlibPlus and the Step Agency reported that Russian planes using vacuum missiles launched an assault upon the area around Saraqib.  The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a child was among the killed due to an attack upon a civilian home. The SCHR noted that the assault was conducted by what the organization believed were Russian warplanes. A tweet from @EyadHoms20 said that the victims were killed while they were inspecting their homes after an initial raid. The Syrian Civil Defense organization posted that its volunteers retrieved the bodies despite ongoing shelling occurring around them. The three victims were identified in a post by Mohammed Baresh as Ahmed Assad Badr, Jalal Muhammad Hamidi, Muhamamd Othman Al-Alewi, and  Ibrahim Muhammad Hajj Ali Al-Aboud, indicating that four civilians were killed.

The three civilians were struck and killed in a densely populated civilian area in which alleged Russian planes struck homes.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights specifically reported that the warplanes that carried out the attack were Russian planes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Asaad Badr احمد اسعد بدر
Age unknown killed
Jalal Muhammad Hamidi جلال محمد حميدي
Age unknown killed
Muhammad Othman Al-Alewi محمد عثمان العليوي
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Muhammad Hajj Ali Al-Aboud ابراهيم محمد حج علي العبود
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • "Three civilians were killed, today, Friday, when Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes in the city of Saraqib. Civil Defense teams arrived at the site despite the danger and the city was targeted by dozens of air raids and artillery shelling, and they retrieved the bodies of the dead and handed them over to their families." Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense
  • "Three civilians were killed, today, Friday, when Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes in the city of Saraqib. Civil Defense teams arrived at the site despite the danger and the city was targeted by dozens of air raids and artillery shelling, and they retrieved the bodies of the dead and handed them over to their families." Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense
  • "Three civilians were killed, today, Friday, when Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes in the city of Saraqib. Civil Defense teams arrived at the site despite the danger and the city was targeted by dozens of air raids and artillery shelling, and they retrieved the bodies of the dead and handed them over to their families." Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense
  • "Three civilians were killed, today, Friday, when Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes in the city of Saraqib. Civil Defense teams arrived at the site despite the danger and the city was targeted by dozens of air raids and artillery shelling, and they retrieved the bodies of the dead and handed them over to their families." Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense
  • Jalal Muhammad Hamidi, killed in alleged Russian strikes on Saraqib

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 – 4
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]