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

RS4344

Incident date

January 22, 2020

Location

القلعجية, Al Qal’ajiya, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of one child and the injury of his brother in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Qal’ajiya.

According to Shahba Press, “A civilian youth was martyred and his brother was injured as a result of air strikes on the village of Al Qal’ajiya in the southern countryside of Aleppo, Thursday morning.”

Justice Organisation and other local sources named the victims as Muhammad Eid Nour, aged 14, who was killed, and his brother, Abd al-Hakim, who was wounded.

Aramme News reported that “it is worth noting that the Russian warplanes launched intensive raids on the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib on Tuesday, ignoring the recently announced ceasefire; as a result, dozens of civilians were killed and wounded, including an entire family.”

@abuhuzaifa published distressing footage showing the children’s mother “collecting the parts of her child that were scattered and holding each piece in her hand.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhammad Nour
14 years old male killed
Abd al-Hakim
Age unknown male brother of Muhammad Nour injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Civil Defense: A civilian youth was martyred and his brother was injured as a result of air strikes on the village of Al Qal’ajiya in the southern countryside of Aleppo #, Thursday morning."
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a civilian following an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal'ajiya, Jan 22nd (via Justice Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a civilian following an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal'ajiya, Jan 22nd (via Justice Organisation)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal'ajiya, Jan 22nd (via Justice Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressing: a mother collects body parts from her child, following his death in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal’ajiya, Jann 22nd.
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal'ajiya, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal'ajiya, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Qal'ajiya, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • Horrya documented the alleged death and destruction as a result of reported Russian actions in Syria during January 2020 (Image via Horrya News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    14 year old Muhammad Nour was killed by an alleged Russian forces airstrike on January 22nd 2020 (Image via @Abdhasa41673390 / Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    14 year old Muhammad Nour was killed by an alleged Russian forces airstrike on January 22nd 2020 (Image via @Abdhasa41673390 / Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    14 year old Muhammad Nour was killed by an alleged Russian forces (Image via JesrPress)
  • 14 year old Muhammad Nour was killed by an alleged Russian forces (Image via Talhadaya Alhadath / Facebook)
  • Destruction after an alleged Russian forces airstrike on January 22nd 2020 in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, Syria (Image via Fawaz.jwaid91 / Facebook)
  • Destruction after an alleged Russian forces airstrike on January 22nd 2020 in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, Syria (Image via Fawaz.jwaid91 / Facebook)
  • The mother of Muhammad Nour, aged 14, who was killed allegedly by a Russian airstrike, looks for the remains of her son (Image via Aramme)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (17) [ 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)

Child female killed
Adult female injured
Child female injured
Child female 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

RS4405

Incident date

February 3, 2020

Location

افس, Iffes, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes as they attended the site of an earlier airstrike in the village of Iffes, Idlib governorate, on February 3rd, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defense and several other sources named the injured men as Ahmed Ali Pasha and Muhammad Ali Pasha. 

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the brothers Muhammad and Ahmad Ali Basha, members of Civil Defense – Binnesh Center, were injured as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles near Civil Defense team in Iffes village in the northeastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, while they were checking the site of previous bombing by Syrian-Russian alliance forces on the village, partially destroying a service car, on February 3.”

Footage uploaded by @SyriaCivilDefe showed its members assisting an injured colleague after what it called “double air raids” on the town.

@Step_Agency said: “Warplanes of the Syrian regime forces target the villages of Iffes and Tal al-Sultan in conjunction with the bombing with barrel bombs by helicopters targeting the city of Sarmin in the eastern countryside of Idlib”.

Hosn, Shaam News Agency and Vdcsy said Russian and Syrian regime aircraft carried out dozens of airstrikes against towns and cities including Iffes

@baladinetwork said: “Regime forces bombard with artillery shells and rocket launchers the city of Saraqib and the towns of Iffes and Al-Qarmeed factory in the southeastern countryside of Idlib”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male volunteer for SCD in Binnish injured
Adult male volunteer for SCD in Binnish injured

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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The brothers Muhammad and Ahmad Ali Basha, volunteers for the Syrian Civil Defence in Binnish centre, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes as they attended the site of an earlier airstrike on the town of Iffes, Idlib governorate, on February 3rd, 2020 (via SN4HR).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4443

Incident date

February 13, 2020

Location

محيط مدينة ادلب, Vicinity of Idlib , Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least seven civilians, including five to seven children and two to five women, were reported injured as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on the western side of the vicinity of Idlib, on February 13th, 2020 according to local sources.

@IdlibPlus reported that “seven civilians, five children and two women were injured as a result of Russian airstrikes on an IDPs’ building on the outskirts of the city of Idlib from the western side today, [Thursday, February 13th]. Civil defense teams assisted the injured to hospitals and inspected the place and confirmed that there were no other injuries.”

Syrian journalist Anas Tracy first reported that seven children and five women had been injured die to a bombing raid near Idlib. The journalist identified Russian raids occurring at 16:35,16:38, and 19:02, with the civilian casualties resulting from the 16:38 strike.

@SyrianDeveloper pointed out that the strikes occurred in the vicinity of the prison. A tweet from @our_syria reported that the civilian casualties resulted in strikes on a farm containing displaced persons. Al Hadath identified the location of the strikes as being in the village of Khirbet on the outskirts of western Idlib.

@ShahbaPress, SMART Agency and @IdlibPlus blamed Russia for the incident. A tweet by @mohmad_rasheed reported that high explosive missiles were used in the attack.

The incident occured at 16:38:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–12
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Air raids by alleged Russian warplanes target with high-explosive missiles the vicinity of Idlib. (Image posted by @mohmad_rasheed)

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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–12
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4477

Incident date

February 24, 2020

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man, was reported killed and five civilians reportedly sustained injuries during alleged Russian or Regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on the vicinity of the town of Al Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 24, 2020.

According to Syria Violence Monitoring and KMC, Russian warplanes bombed the road between Kafranbel and Al Bara. Doa’a, a Facebook page that provides prayers for the dead, said that Russia attacked the forest of the city of Kafranbel and Alhadath.Magazine stated that Russia striked around the city of Kafranbel.

Regarding civilian harm, SNHR said that “[Muhammad Anwar al-Othman al-Hasaki] from Kafrnabel city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as fixed- wing warplanes fired missiles on the road linking Kafranbel city and [Al Bara] village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on February 24.” Baladi Network reported that one civilian was killed in airstrikes on the town of Al Bara, without identifying the victim.

Edlib Network News stated that “[a] civilian was killed and five others were wounded in the bombing of the Russian warplanes on the town of Al-Bara in the Idlib countryside.” Similarly, @abo_aljod84, a local reporter and journalist, claimed that “[a] civilian was killed and 5 others were wounded as a result of a Russian air strike targeting the town of Al-Bara, south of Idlib.” Both sources didn’t provide any details about the civilians that were harmed by the attack.

Sources are contested as to who was responsible for the strike. SNHR and Aljaeesh Alhor attributed the attack to Russia, with Alhadath Magazine saying that “Mohammed Anwar Al-Hasaki died, as a result of the targeting of the Russian warplanes with vacuum missiles around the city of Kafr Nabl, south of Idlib.” Contrary, Trendsyra11 and I42e3oXib8OK27z referred to the Regime forces as having carried out the attack on Al Bara. Shaam News claimed that both armed forces were involved in the attack, however they consolidated the incident into a larger report of strikes across the Idlib governorate.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "Muhammad Anwar al Hasaki, from Kafrnabel city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as fixed- wing warplanes fired missiles on the road linking Kafranbel city and al Bara village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on February 24th." (Hamody Alhasaky via Facebook)
  • "Muhammad Anwar al Hasaki, from Kafrnabel city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as fixed- wing warplanes fired missiles on the road linking Kafranbel city and al Bara village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on February 24th." (Hamody Alhasaky via Facebook)
  • "Muhammad Anwar al Hasaki, from Kafrnabel city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as fixed- wing warplanes fired missiles on the road linking Kafranbel city and al Bara village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on February 24th." (Hamody Alhasaky via Facebook)
  • The moment Russian warplanes targeted the town of Al-Bara in the southern Idlib countryside with high-explosive missiles.

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3277

Incident date

March 15, 2018

Location

حمورية , Hamouriya , Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 26 civilians including at least four children and four women were reported killed as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Hamouriyah in Rif Damascus, Syria, on March 15th, 2018 according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Eastern Ghouta area witnessed heavy shelling in the evening because of intensive aerial and ground shelling.

The Observatory reported that “regime forces started intensive bombing operations on Hamouriya, as its warplanes targeted it amid rocket launching and heavy shelling, leading to dozens of killed and injured, raising to 26 the number of martyrs today in Hamouriya, including six children and four women.”

Step Agency blamed Russia reporting that “Russian airstrikes with rockets loaded with napalm, incendiary, cluster bombs and explosive barrels targeted the cities of Saqba, Harasta, Hamouriya, Jisreen, Kafar Batna, Hazza, Zamlaka,Al Rayhan and Ein Tirma in the eastern Ghouta, killing 13 people in Hamouriya, in addition to intensive artillery and missile attacks targeting the areas.”

Battles in the area surrounding Hamouriya continued between the regime forces and Fateh Al Rahman fighters, as the regime tried to control Hamouriya and was able to achieve some progress and control some farms and buildings in its surrounding amid resistance from Failaq Arrahman fighters.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 26
  • (4–6 children4 women)
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    13 – 26
  • (4–6 children4 women)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4524

Incident date

October 4, 2020

Location

الطيبة, Al Tayba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children were reportedly injured as a result of an alleged explosion of a cluster bomb left over from Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Tayba, east of Deir Ezzor, on the dawn of October 4th, 2020 according to two local sources.

Ahrar Al Mayadeen news agency and a tweet by (@DeirEzzor24) claimed that an alleged Russian cluster bomb explosion in Al Tayba town injured the child Luai Thamer Al-Sawma’i and Mahmoud Al-Thiab’s son.

None of the sources mentioned anything about claimed killed civilians, and both sources that reported on the incident mentioned that the cluster bomb was Russian.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • One of the two children injured in the explosion of an alleged Russian cluster bomb in the town of Al Tabya, Deir Ezzor governorate on October 4th, 2020 (via D@DeirEzzor24).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4303

Incident date

March 21, 2021

Location

مشفى المغارة, Al Maghara Hospital, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.154972, 36.842553 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and eight civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed and between 11 and 22 others were injured in alleged regime or Russian strikes at Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb, Aleppo in the morning on March 21, 2021.

Syrian Civil Defense and other sources, including @HalabTodayTV, identified artillery shelling as the cause of the injuries and damage and France 24 reported that six shells struck the city while Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported about six rocket-propelled grenades and Syrian Network for Human Rights reported three mortar shells striking the hospital. According to DW News, dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells struck Al Maghara Hospital. Syrian Archive reported the time of the incident from 8:41-8:45AM.

In a preliminary outcome reported by Syrian Civil Defense, “3 civilians, including a child and a woman…and 15 other medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital and the visitors were injured this morning.” Syrian Civil Defense later posted that the death toll ” increased to 5 civilians, including a child and a woman… and wounding 9 medical personnel (5 doctors and 3 Nurses and technicians) and in a later video, increased the count to seven people killed and more than 15 others injured, including nine hospital staff. France 24 news reported that six people were killed including a child and a hospital worker and 11 others were wounded. Baladi News reported 22 people injured to varying degrees. Reuters reported that “Syrian army artillery killed seven civilians and injured 14 medics” and that the Turkish Defence Ministry had earlier said that ” five people were killed and 10 injured” in the artillery attack. Syrian Network for Human Rights published a report a week later that identified “eight civilians [were killed], including one child and one woman, and injuring about 17 others, including five of the hospital’s medical staff. Other sources also identified between three to seven civilians killed.

A tweet by @anasanas84 and Facebook post by Zakariya Mohammed Zilo named those killed as Muhammad Abdel Hamid Haji Ahmed (male from Al Atareb), Hikmat Hussein Al Khalaf (male from Al Khalaf), Mustafa Ayoub (male from Al Atareb), Mustafa Ahmad Hallaq (male), Sami Ali Kaddour (from Abyanas), and Ahmed Khattab (from Kafr Nouran) as well as an unidentified male child and an unidentified woman. Syrian Archive also named Ahmed Abdel Qadir Ayoub, a child, as being killed. The director of the Free Aleppo Health Authority, Nawar Kurdiya, was injured in the eye as a result of artillery shelling. Mahmoud Khalifa, a maintenance technician at Al Atarib Surgical Hospital, was also injured in the attack.

Syrian Archive reported that Mohammed Abdul Hamid Haji Ahmed, who was only 18 years old and recently married, was killed while taking his mother, who was injured in the bombing, to the hospital for treatment. His daughter was born five days after he was killed in the hospital attack.

The Directorate of Education in Aleppo posted on Facebook that two of its teachers and one of its students were killed in the attack on Al Atarib. The student named by the directorate is Ahmed Abdullah Ayoub (known as Ahmed Rajab Hallaq) and the teachers named are Mustafa Ahmed Ayoub and Ahmed Khattab Khattab.

Images and videos posted by @IndyArabia and other sources show severe damage to the hospital and injured patients being removed on stretchers. France 24 reported that according the the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the courtyard and the entrance to the hospital were struck by shells. DW News reported that an AFR reporter witnessed damage to the hospital entrance, shells penetrating the roof, windows of the information room shattered, and blood stains spread around. According to The New Arab, in a statement by Fadi Hakim,a spokesman for the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports the hospital, said the structural damage includes destruction of the orthopedic clinic and the emergency room and One News added that the electric generators on the roof of the hospital were knocked out. Syrian archive reported that “the first artillery shell hit near the hospital’s emergency room entrance and the other two shells followed hitting the orthopedic clinic and the waiting area in the hospital yard as well as the hospital roof near the obstetrician room and hospital staff accommodations.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the hospital is located far from residential areas and there is no military equipment. Al Jazeera and various other sources also pointed out that this occurred in a rebel-held part of Northwest Syria.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, the attack resulted in physical damage to the hospital so severe that the hospital could no longer serve patients. An Al Jazeera correspondent Adham Abu Al-Hussam pointed out that the hospital served more than 100,000 civilians in the city of Atarib and the surrounding areas but no longer can from the damage. Syrian Archive reported that the hospital conducts general as well orthopedic, urologic, and ENT operations and the average number of hospital beneficiaries ranges from 5,000 – 6,000 patients a month.

Following the attack, civil defense teams took the injured to the nearest hospital and transported those killed to their families. Baladi News reported that six of those injured were transferred to Turkish hospitals and the rest went to hospitals across the northern countryside of Idlib. Images posted by @MMCSYR also show the victims being buried.

France 24 and most other sources identified regime forces as responsible for the artillery shelling, including a post by Al Atareb City on Facebook that specifically identified the 46th regiment of the regime and DW News identifying the regime forces stationed in the town of Urem Al-Soghra as responsible. However, a tweet from @ZaitunAgency attributed the attack to both the regime and Russia. According to Syrian Archive, the 46th regiment is about 5km away from the hospital and could be the potential launch point.

Russian media posted a video following the attack showing Russian surveillance guided the artillery strike. Analysis by @Charles_Lister also shows that Russian “Kasnopol” laser-guided artillery shells were used in the attack. The missiles require external laser markers and the target must be illuminated with a laser for an accurate strike. By analyzing the remnants from the attack, they were able to point out that they closely match the laser-guided “Krasnopol” used in Ukraine. A tweet from @rien4djri also identified the times that Russian and regime planes get over Al Atarib, showing Russian involvement.

Anadolu Agency News attributed the attack to the regime and Iranian-backed foreign terrorist militias.

Anadolu Agency News and France 24 both pointed out that the shelling occurred in a UN de-escalation zone that was agreed upon by Turkey, Russia and Iran but the regime has recaptured three of the four areas covered by the deescalation. Al Jazeera also pointed out that the hospital is located underground, which is a tactic often used by the opposition to avoid targeting. Also, as Syrian Archive pointed out, “Al Atarib Surgical Hospital is remotely located, meaning it is situated distinctly separate from main centres of population and is not near to or surrounded by many other, unrelated (non-medical) structures.”

Rehana Zawar, the IRC’s country director for northwest Syria, said in a statement “Although SAMS shared the hospital’s coordinates through the UN’s notification system, it came under attack and has now been damaged so severely that it can no longer be used. Health facilities are protected under international law and should be safe havens in times of crisis, but after 10 years of war this is not the case in Syria.”

Aljazeera reported that the White Helmets released a statement that the attack is a “continuation of the regime and Russia’s systematic policy of targeting medical facilities and hospitals.”

The Turkish Defense Ministry released a written statement that “the Assad regime once again has carried out a brutal attack on innocent civilians” according to Daily Sabah.

The US Department of State also released a statement, “Reported artillery shelling on the Al-Atareb Surgical Hospital in western Aleppo killed several patients, including a child, and injured more than a dozen medical staff.  This hospital’s coordinates had been shared with the UN-led deconfliction mechanism.”

The incident occured between 8:41 am and 8:45 am local time.

The victims were named as:

18 years old male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male Teacher killed
Child male Ahmed Abdullah Ayoub (or as he is known in his village Ahmed Rajab Hallaq) killed
Age unknown Director of the Free Aleppo Health Authority, injured in the eye injured
Sami Ali Kaddour
Age unknown (or as he is known in his village Ibin Sami Ali Al Kheir, where he was the goal keeper for the Al Fajr Sports Club) killed
Ahmed Khattab
Age unknown Teacher killed
Ahmed Abdel Qadir Ayoub
Child male killed
Mahmoud Khalifa
Age unknown male maintenance technician at Al Atarib Surgical Hospital injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman4 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–22
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (81) [ collapse]

  • Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense show the damage and injuries caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense show the damage and injuries caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense show the damage and injuries caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense show the damage and injuries caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense show the damage and injuries caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense show the damage and injuries caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Image posted by Anadolu Agency News shows the damagecaused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Zakariya Mohammed Zilo show the victims of the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images posted by Zakariya Mohammed Zilo show the victims of the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Abean Saman martyrs identifies Sami Al Qaddour as a victim of the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Ahmad Fou'ad on Facebook identifies Mustafa Ahmed Ayoub as a victim of the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Mohammed Mahmoud Haji Ahmed on Facebook identifies Ahmed Khattab as a victim of the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Image posted by Mohammed About Omar on Facebook identifies Muhammad Abdul Hamid Haji Ahmed as a victim of the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights show the damage to the hospital caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Images posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights show the damage to the hospital caused by alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Image posted by Al Atareb city shows Director of Health in Free Aleppo, doctor "Nawar Kurdiya" who lost an eye from the alleged regime shelling on Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • A man walks past a damaged room at the entrance of a field hospital in the the village of Atareb in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on March 21, 2021, after it was reportedly targeted by regime shelling. (Photo by AAREF WATAD / AFP)
  • A man stands amid the debris at the entrance of a field hospital in the the village of Atareb in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on March 21, 2021, after it was reportedly targeted by regime shelling. (Photo by AAREF WATAD / AFP)
  • Syrian mourners pray during a funeral in the the village of Atareb in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on March 21, 2021, for civilians killed in regime artillery fire on a hospital. - Regime artillery fire killed five civilians including a child when it hit a hospital entrance in Syria's last major rebel bastion of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. (Photo by AAREF WATAD / AFP)
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images posted by @Charles_Lister of the artillery parts used to attack the hospital in Al Atareb on March 21, 2021 and linking the attack to Russia as well as the regime.
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Images from the Syrian Archive report detailing the alleged Russian/regime airstrike against Al Atarib Hospital on March 21, 2021
  • Image translation: One of the Syrian pain stories One of the victims of artillery bombardment of Al-Atarab Hospital is the young orphan ′′ Mohamed Abdel Hamid Haji Ahmad ′′ (18 years old) who married nearly (10 months ago) and his wife is eighth month pregnant with his father and sister are martyrs of victims Assad's regime bombardment and brought his mother to the hospital for a doctor, but Assad bombardment killed a young man ′′ Muhammad ′′ and his sick mother was shrapneled after which was transferred to Bab Al-Hawa Hospital to receive aid. (Image posted by Mahmood Talha via Facebook)
  • Image caption translation: After the funeral of his father.. the wife of the martyr ′′ Mohamed Abdel Hamid Haji Ahmad ′′ who was killed by Russia in Al-Atarab Hospital.. makes an orphaned child. (Image posted by Thiqa Agency via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • A tweet from @MarkCutts shows the damage caused by the airstrike on the Al Atarib hospital on March 21, 2021
  • A tweet from @rien4djri shows a schedule of Syrian regime and Russian planes flying over Al Atareb on March 21, 2021.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.
  • Caption translation: Medics stand next to the body of a victim following an artillery attack on at Al-Atareb City Hospital. 7 civilians including a child and a woman were killed and 15 medical personnel working at Al-Atareb City Hospital, Aleppo together with visitors were wounded as the Assad regime forces targeted the hospital with several artillery shells, making the hospital out of service. Syrian Civil Defense teams are treating the wounded at the nearest hospital and transported the bodies of the dead to their families.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Maghara Hospital (مشفى المغارة), within Al Atarib (أتارب‎), for which the exact coordinates, as reported by The Syrian Archive, are: 36.154972, 36.842553.

  • Imagery:
    Google Earth

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman4 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–22
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]