Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

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

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Incident Code

R4576

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

منطف, Mantef, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Thursday, October 5, 2023, an artillery shelling was allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on the village of Mantaf in the southern countryside of Idlib, reportedly killing at least one civilian, a woman later identified as Sulaf Abido.

The alleged attack was reported by the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) as well as the local media outlets, and a journalist, Ahmed Rahhal. Two Facebook users also circulated a list of the names of the identified victims of the attacks in Idlib, its countryside, and the western Aleppo countryside, including Sulaf Abido, who was the only reported victim of the attack in Mantaf.

One day after the alleged incident, on October 6, 2023, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) conveyed that the regime forces bombed the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib, corroborating the information shared by the majority of the sources regarding the attack in Mantaf village and conveying that the strike was attributed to the Syrian regime. An account on Facebook allegedly belonging to an individual, Omar Al Talawi, also suspected Russian militias. As of February 4, 2024, neither of the suspected belligerents has issued an official statement claiming their responsibility for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sulaf Abido سلاف عبيدو
Age unknown female killed

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Source: @globalJSN

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2690

Incident date

November 6, 2017

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that “a civilian was wounded by a bombardment of warplanes likely to be Russian, targeting the vicinity of the radio tower on the western outskirts of Saraqib.”

High explosive Russian rockets were allegedly used in the raid.

There were no reports of civilian deaths and no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2776

Incident date

December 1, 2017

Location

السيال, Sayyala, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

34.5713889, 40.9066667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured due to the bombing of Sayyala, Aleppo .Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

Baladi News reported that “several Russian planes were circling the villages of Sayala, Burj Sabna, Muraba’ Saloum and Muraba’ Bisha Square in the southern suburb of Aleppo, wounding a number of civilians, including critical cases.”

Local media added that “heavy machine guns” were used in the strikes which left civilians critically wounded. Smart News reported that wounded civilians were taken to medical points.

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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2478

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between zero and three civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Sarja in southern Idlib, according to local sources.

Some sources, including Step News Agency, reported that the airstrikes struck the local headquarters of Ahrar Al Sham and three of those injured were militants. Other sources did not mention that those injured were militants or directly referred to those injured as civilians, including the Revolutionary Forces of Syria.

The majority of sources, including Step News Agency and Aletihad Press, blamed Russian planes for carrying out the airstrikes against Sarja. However, conflicting reports were given by Al Araby and the Revolutionary Forces of Syria, which identified the regime as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 (7) [ 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3768

Incident date

June 5, 2019

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that in a night-time rocket attack on the town of Kafar Nabil near Idlib, more than 15 surface-to-surface missiles and rocket launchers were fired from the positions of Russia and the regime forces north of Hama province, causing fires in the city. Smart News initially claimed that five civilians were wounded, while in later post claimed a total of six wounded civilians, including two children and a woman. Local sources named the injured civilians saying that they endured light injuries.

However, some other sources blamed the regime for the civilian harm.

 

 

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhammad Khatib محمد خطيب
15 years old male injured
Iman Khatib إيمان خطيب
18 years old female injured
Maryam Al-Khatib مريم الخطيب
13 years old female injured

Family members (2)

Daher Al-Shayeb ضاهر الشايب
Age unknown male injured
Muhammad Al-Shayeb محمد الشايب
Age unknown male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Kafar Nabil after it was struck with rockets believed to have been fired by pro-Assad forces on June 5th (via Syria.liveuamap).
  • Images of regime targeting KafrNubul with rockets on June 5th, 2019. (via @Sy24ria)
  • Images of regime targeting KafrNubul with rockets on June 5th, 2019. (via @Sy24ria)
  • Images of regime targeting KafrNubul with rockets on June 5th, 2019. (via @Sy24ria)
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on the first day of Eid Al Fitre. (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on the first day of Eid Al Fitre. (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Rescuing the wounded after alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • Casualties among civilians as a result of alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • Alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • Civilians being rescued in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • An injured civilian as a result of alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • Destruction as a result of alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)
  • Casualties among civilians in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on June 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.)

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
    5–6
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3299

Incident date

March 18, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Seven or eight people, including two women and two children, were killed in air and artillery strikes on the city of Harasta on March 18th, 2018, according to several sources. The belligerent remains contested, with sources pointing both at Russia and the Syrian regime.

Syriahr reported the incident occurred in the evening, as warplanes carried out “several raids on areas in Harasta city”, which “coincided with the launch of more than 35 missiles believed to be ground-to-ground by the regime forces.”

While the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights mentioned four casualties, Harasta City and the Violations Documentation Centre Syria reported the names of seven victims, including two women and two children. One female victim reported by Harasta City remained unidentified, which makes it a possibility that this woman’s name was later published by the VDC.

@HalabTodayTV tweeted that “two children and two women are martyred due to shelling with surface-to-surface missiles on Harasta city.”

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Al Shatti (Abu Fadel) حسن الشطي ابو فاضل
Adult male killed
Ahmed Juma (Abu Fayez) احمد جمعة ابو فاي
Adult male killed
Member of the Al Akhras family
Adult male killed
Alaa Al Jabba Ji آلاء الجبه جي
Adult female wife of Abu Ismail Wehbe and mother of Ismail Where killed
Ismail Wehbe اسماعيل وهبه
4 years old male son of Alaa Al-Jabba Ji killed
Inam Al Abbas إنعام العباس
Adult female Wife of Abu Mansour Arab killed
Khaled Antar خالد عنتر
8 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2–3 children2 women3 men)
  • 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2–3 children2 women3 men)
  • 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

RS3338

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

حرش عابدين, Harsh Abdin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4681522, 36.5376978 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Harsh Abdin, Idlib governorate, on March 26th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network.

@RFS_mediaoffice reported that “this morning, Russian warplanes attacked the woods of the town of Adbin in the southern Idlib countryside with missiles loaded with cluster bombs.”

@HadiAlabdallah tweeted that “Russian warplanes launched several airstrikes on the towns of Abdin and Habit in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

According to Step News Agency, “Russian aircraft launched several airstrikes with cluster bombs targeting the Abdin area.”

Shaam News Network reported the following: “Russian aircraft launched fierce air raids on the cities and towns of Ariha, Al Taman’a, Harsh Abidin, Al Naqir, Harsh Al Habit in the southern countryside, and Jisir Al Shugur, Al Safyat and Zarzour in the western countryside, which led to the fall of a number of wounded civilians.”

As it is unclear in which specific incidents civilians were harmed according to the Shaam report, and other sources do not mention civilian casualties for this incident, Airwars has graded the civilian harm status for this incident as “weak”.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3356

Incident date

March 31, 2018

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian and/or regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to the Shaam News Network.

@GenevaUpdates reported that “warplanes bombarded the city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib countryside with two air strikes, causing damage to several residential houses, while no injuries were reported.”

However, the Shaam News Network reported “a number of injuries”, blaming both Russia and the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of two airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, March 31st 2018.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]