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

RS1863

Incident date

January 26, 2017

Location

حوايج بومصعة, Hawaij Bu Mas'a, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0528105, 40.4941326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecific number of civilians were wounded following an alleged Russian raid on Hawaij Bu Mas’a. There are no reports of any civilian deaths. Additionally, all reporting blamed Russia for the strikes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4498a

Incident date

January 19, 2023

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four to nine civilians, including three children and a woman, were reported injured as a result of alleged Russian forces, Syrian regime, or Iranian militia artillery fire on January 19th 2023 in Qastoun, Idlib, according to local sources.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, four civilians were injured from the same family (three children and their grandmother). One child was reported to be in critical condition. The artillery fire hit their home in the village south of Idlib.

@mzmgr941 identified the injured as slightly different including two men, and three children, and that the names of those injured were: Riyad Radwan Ahmed Attia Al-Khalil, aged 7; Ahmed Radwan Attia Al-Khalil, aged five; Abdel-Dominant Khalil, aged 35; Khalil Juma Muhammad Al-Hamoud, aged 35; and another “injured girl.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of injured at five, including three children. Alaraby News put the number of casualties at nine injuries, adding that the shelling struck civilian homes and close to the vicinity of the Turkish base in Qastoun.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime forces, while the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces and @Almohrar1 identified the “Russian external occupation” as being responsible. Daily Sabah News, a Turkish pro-government source, quoted “civilian sources” who said that the Syrian regime and accompanying Iranian militias in the village of Jourin launched the artillery shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Riyad Radwan Ahmed Attia Al-Khali
7 years old injured
Ahmed Radwan Atiya Al-Khalil
5 years old injured
Abdel-Dominant Khalil Khalil
35 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Juma Muhammad Al-Hamoud
35 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Turkish Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • "3 children, their grandmother, and a child from another family were wounded in artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia, targeting their house in the village of Qastun in Sahl al-Ghab, south of Idlib" (@HalabTodayTV)
  • shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by @Almohrar1 )
  • "#injuries The child, Riyad Radwan Ahmed Attia Al-Khalil, 7 years old The child Ahmed Radwan Atiya Al-Khalil, 5 years old There is also an injured girl The young man, Abdel-Dominant Khalil Khalil, 35 years old The young man, Juma Muhammad Al-Hamoud, 35 years old" (Image posted by @AlsarwtJ)

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Turkish Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4529

Incident date

July 10, 2023

Location

كفرعمة, Kafer Amme, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Monday, July 10th 2023, an alleged artillery shelling by Syrian regime forces and Russian armed forces hit the village of Kafarama (or Kafr Amma), west of Aleppo, northwest Syria, injuring one civilian.

Sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, @HalabTodayTV twitter accounts, and Orient News reported one civilian, a woman, being injured by the airstrike on the village.

Orient, Baladi, and @SyriaCivilDefe twitter account also reported that the attack took place on the village of Kafarama, in the western countryside of Aleppo as a result of heavy artillery shelling.

The suspected attackers are alleged to be Russia and Syrian regime forces, as reported by most of the sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and @Almohrarmedia2 twitter accounts, with some accusing either Russia or the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (11) [ 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4556

Incident date

September 19, 2023

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two farmers were injured during the afternoon of September 19, 2023, by an artillery strike allegedly from the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces in the town of Al-Fatira, in the south of Idlib. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported the farmers were injured while picking figs and received treatment in a hospital in the city of Idlib.

According to a correspondent from the Baladi News, the farmers were injured to varying degrees of seriousness from artillery shelling, reportedly from the Syrian Regime and the militias supporting it. However, @VedengAgency1 and @ralshhwan9 attributed the shelling to Russian forces, who reportedly launched more than 30 rockets and artillery shells at the town of Al-Fatira.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2209B

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shelling allegedly carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in Harasta, Eastern Ghouta, wounded several civilians, local media reported.

Without identifying the responsible party, @mohamad_alshaar reported that the use of mortars injured civilians

Al-Jazeera reported that joint Russian and regime-shelling had been carried out in several areas in Eastern Ghouta, killing several civilians, mostly women and children, and wounding “dozens” more. However, there were no specific reports of casualties in Harasta.

While @RevoZamalka and Smart News attributed blame to the Syrian regime, al-Jazeera identified both the Syrian regime and Russia as the responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2847

Incident date

January 3, 2018

Location

العنز, Al-Anz, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.260291, 37.020502 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were wounded in airstrikes which struck the vicinity of Al-Anz. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame.

Elaph News blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia, reported that civilians were wounded in strikes on the towns of Latamna, Murk, Shakuzia, Rihan and Anz.

Smart News specified that two civilians were injured – and blamed Russia.

Alalam reported that “a number of terrorist supporters were killed in the vicinity of the town of Har itself and Anz.” They did not report of civilian harm.

Step News agency – who blamed the Syrian regime – reported that missiles injured civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In an article published on January 30th 2018 Russia reported: ”crews of the Aerospace Forces of Russia had successfully performed 34,561 sorties. The Minister of Defence pointed out that the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, as well as the Su-24M, Su-34 and Su-35S short-range aircraft had proved to be efficient. The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers delivered 66 strikes by cruise missiles, and each eliminated the assigned target. The Minister of Defence also stated that Russian UAVs provided complete control over the whole Syrian territory. The head of the military department paid attention to the significant contribution to the achievement of the operation made by the Navy. The naval surface forces carried out 171 combat missions. The ships and submarines carried out 100 high-precision attacks with the Kalibr cruise missiles. For the first time, the aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Kuznetsov" participated in combat operations. Due to high professional skills of deck aircraft, 1,252 terrorist objects were eliminated.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3810

Incident date

June 15, 2019

Location

حصرايا, Hasraya, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source reported “victims” in an airstrike on Hasraya, Hama, on June 15th.

Another source, Shaam News, also alleges the attack, but does not make reference to any civilian casualties.

Although victims are reported by Smart News in the “aerial bombardment”, no other information is known at this time with regard to how many civilians were harmed in the incident, or to what extent.

Airwars has set a possible injury range of one to two for this event – and is conducting ongoing research.

Shaam News names both Russia and the Syrian regime in the reporting of the event, while Smart News does not positively attribute blame for the airstrike.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Regime's warplanes strike Hasraya village."

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3304

Incident date

March 19, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was reportedly killed or wounded in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Zamalka on March 19th, 2018, according to local sources.

@SYR_REV_NEWS reported “martyrs and wounded civilians as a result of warplanes raids with vacuum missiles on the cities and towns of Zamalka, Arbeen and Hazza.”

@SyriaTwitte wrote that the Russians carried out dozens of airstrikes on civilians. @hamadaalhr reported “dozens of fierce rocket strikes targeting residential neighbourhoods in Zamalka, Irbeen and Hazza in conjunction with fierce artillery shelling and fierce clashes.”

Shaam News Network reported that both Russia and the Syrian regime had been responsible and that in addition to wounded civilians, material damage was caused.

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ 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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]