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

R4352

Incident date

July 22, 2021

Location

ابلين, Iblin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.716665, 36.499157 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least seven civilians, including three to four children and a woman, were killed and seven other civilians, including two children and one to two women, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling the morning of July 22, 2021.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “the strikes have killed seven civilians including a woman and three children, in the morning, in a new ground bombardment by the regime forces on two neighborhoods in Ibleen village”. They also added that “the number of deaths is expected to rise because some of those wounded sustained serious injuries.”

Syrian Civil Defense also reported that seven civilians were killed, including 4 children and a woman, and “7 others were wounded, including two girls and a woman, all of them from the same family.”

Activist “Abdul Razzaq Al-Madhi” from the village of “Iblin” said in an interview with “Zaman Al-Wasl” that “7 others were wounded, including two girls and two women, as a result of the bombing”.

Step News Agency referred to “children, women and the elderly, from the Harmoush family” as being among the seven civilians killed.

@NagiNajjar tweeted the names of the victims who were killed: Emad Fouad Harmoush (man), Fouad Mustafa Harmoush (man), Khadija Mustafa Al-Fouad (child), Alaa Mustafa Al-Fouad (child), Maryam Mustafa Al-Fouad (child), Fouad Mustafa Harmoush (Child), Fatima Nimr (Mustafa’s wife). A tweet from @77yBFnqQYzUS2Ot identified Fouad Mustafa Harmoush as being the grandfather.

Civil Defense volunteer Hossam Al-Sheikh talked about the moments of saving the two girls, Hanadi and her sister Doaa Mustafa Harmoush, from under the rubble of their house in Iblin, south of Idlib: “At the moment of a call, defense, evacuate the place. It will return to work. The option that follows immediately and without thinking, we must take is evacuation, but when you see the eyes of two children under the rubble, the look of fatigue, pain and fear, and a voice crying “Don’t leave us”, here is over. The decision is no longer thought of, and the only option is that We don’t leave, either we follow before the double targeting or we are a victim with them, at this moment I felt them my daughters, how do we want to leave our daughters and evacuate the place, our fate is their fate if what happened. The situation is very difficult and the options are even more difficult, and thank God, we were able this time to catch up with them before the bombing is repeated and we evacuate the place, but at the same moment we looked at them, I remembered my fellow volunteers whom we lost, and many of them in the same position today lost their lives by the double bombing.”

Rozana News reported that one Syrian woman exclaimed “Oh, they died, all of them,” upon her arrival to check on her family’s home, which was destroyed by artillery shelling. They mention another video clip showing “a child in Ibelin, crying when inspecting the bodies of his father and grandfather, and screaming, “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, I want to see my grandfather.. Oh, my grandfather, my grandfather.”

Shaam News Network also reported that the White Helmets “indicated that the bombing was carried out with laser-guided shells (Krasnopol), and pointed out that its field teams rescued the injured and retrieved the bodies from under the rubble of their house.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes. While various sources, including Shaam News Network, attribute the bombings to both Russia and the regime, a tweet from @abuhuzaifa_ blamed Russia in contrast to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who identified the regime as being responsible.

Just after the massacre, a convoy of Turkish military vehicles passed near the site, a video posted by @syriapostnew1 shows.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3–4 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (24) [ collapse]

  • Victims trapped under the rubble following strikes on the town of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims is trapped in the rubble as Civil Defense crews try to rescue them following the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Rescue crews search for victims trapped under the rubble following strikes on the town of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    There is no sound above the cries of pain and separation, in a place where hardly a day goes by without blood. In Jabal Al-Zawiya...Eid is different
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Words can no longer describe the scene... They all died. Here is Jabal Al-Zawiya, Ibelin, Idlib countryside
  • Rescue crews search for victims trapped under the rubble following strikes on the town of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Victims of the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Destruction caused by the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @Blal_Haj_Ahmad)
  • Mourning the victims of the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @hamzasyriafree)
  • Destruction caused by the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @hamzasyriafree)
  • Victims of the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @hamzasyriafree)
  • Victims of the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @hamzasyriafree)
  • Smoke caused by the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @Reemjihad1)
  • Victims of the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @Reemjihad1)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the victims of the the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @ibrahim78197182)
  • Destruction caused by the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Destruction caused by the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Personal items belonging to the family whose home was destroyed in the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • One of the victims of the bombing of Iblin on July 22, 2021. (Image posted by Wael Harmoush via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Iblin (إبلين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.716665, 36.499157. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    7
  • (3–4 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4353

Incident date

July 24, 2021

Location

بداما, Bidama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians, including a woman and up to two children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Bidama on July 24, 2021.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, “a woman and her child were injured by artillery shelling by the regime and Russia forces targeting residential neighborhoods in the town of Badama”. The majority of other sources also identified a woman and a child as being injured.

A tweet from @abo_aljod84 identified “the injury of two children and a woman” from the strikes while @jisrtv referred to “children and women” but did not identify how many.

Syria TV reported that a woman and her child “sustained moderate injuries” from the shelling.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes. While @EdlibNN attributed the strikes to Russia, @baladinetwork blamed the regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A woman and her child were injured by artillery shelling by the regime and Russia forces in Bidama on July 24, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Strikes on Bidama on July 24, 2021. (Image posted by @EdlibNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bidama (بداما), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.811903, 36.202275. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    2–3
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4354

Incident date

July 29, 2021

Location

اليادودة, al-Yadouda, Daraa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians, including three to five children and a woman, were killed and at least one other civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a woman and her little son and three other children in al-Yadouda” were killed. Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that five civilians were killed from the same family, including three children and a woman while @DaraaMartyrsOF identified that among the five killed included “a man, a woman and 3 children from the same family”.

Syrian Civil Defense put the toll of civilians killed a six, including “4 children, their mother and another child” and NPA Syria also identified “a woman and five children” as being killed.

A video posted by Horan Free Media shows the mother of three of the children saying goodbye to them as they’re wrapped in white sheets.

A tweet from @NagiNajjar identified the names of the victims: Nahla Al-Zoubi (wife of Ibrahim Al-Zoubi) (F), Hamza Ibrahim Al-Zoubi (M), Baraa Ahmed Rakan Al-Zoubi (M), child Mohammed Ahmed Rakan Al-Zoubi (M), and girl Ritaj Ahmed Rakan Al-Zoubi (M). @chessrabaa confirmed that Ritaj, Muhammad, and Bara’a were siblings, the children of Ahmed Rakan Al-Zoubi.

A post from Suliman Al Zou’bi added that Sari Abd al-Rahman al-Zoubi was also killed in the strikes.

@NagiNajjar also identified Hamza Ibrahim Al-Zoubi as being the child of Nahla Al-Zoubi, both of whom were killed.

Horan Free Media was not able to provide an estimate of how many were wounded, only identifying “a number of wounded”. Syria TV added that “the young man, “Samer Al-Hammadi” from the “Al-Sad” road, was also wounded by the bombing.

Daraa 24 reported that the civilians were killed when their house collapsed on them while they were inside.

Syrian Civil Defense identified surface to surface missiles as being used in the attack while Horan Free Media reported that “a number of “elephant” missiles” led to the massacre.

According to Horan Free Media, the strikes also led to a “large displacement movement” following the strike as many residents of al-Yadouda fled the town for fear of future strikes of that severity.

The majority fo sourced attributed the strikes to the regime and NPA Syria specifically identified “the 285th Artillery Brigade of the government forces, which is stationed on the northern outskirts of Daraa city” as carrying out the attack. @omar_alharir posted a video alleged to show the regime forces launching the rockets that struck al-Yadouda. However, Syrian Civil Defense identified both Russia and the regime as carrying out strikes on the Dara’a countryside.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult female wife of Ibrahim Al-Zoubi killed
Sari Abd al-Rahman al-Zoubi
male killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Victims of the strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • With six civilians already declared dead, rescuers worked to find another who was still stuck under the rubble following strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by Horan Free Media)
  • Smoke caused by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by Horan Free Media)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @chessrabaa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @chessrabaa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @chessrabaa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of two of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @chessrabaa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @nourabohsn)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @nourabohsn)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @nourabohsn)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of two of the children killed by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @nourabohsn)
  • Rescuers worked to find others who were still stuck under the rubble following strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @waelwanne)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Damage to buildings caused by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @BaselAlghazawi)
  • Damage to buildings caused by strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @BaselAlghazawi)
  • Rescuers worked to find others who were still stuck under the rubble following strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by NPA Syria)
  • Building collapsed following strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by Daraa martyrs via Facebook)
  • Sari Abd al-Rahman al-Zoubi, killed in strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by Suliman Al Zou’bi via Facebook)
  • Ritaj, and Bara'a and Muhammad, killed in strikes on al-Yadouda on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @FARED_ALHOR)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4355

Incident date

July 29, 2021

Location

جاسم, Jassim, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.991344, 36.060136 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians were killed and others were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the city of Jassim on July 29, 2021.

According to @MasarPressNet, “two civilians were killed and others were injured as a result of artillery shelling by Assad forces on the city of Jassim”. @DeirEzzore added that among those killed and injured were children but did not give specifics.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll at one man killed in Jassim.

Baladi News reported that the strikes “led to the death of two people, one of whom was a civilian”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights named two of the men killed, referring to then as civilians: Ali Abdul Razzaq al Halqi and Abdou Ahmad al Halqi.

@abazeid89 reported that the shelling occurred “after local fighters attacked the security centers of the regime inside the city”.

Over 50 shells fell on the city of Jassim during continuous shelling for 2 hours, according to @chessrabaa.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the regime and @Step_Agency specifically identified “regime forces stationed in the Jadiyah Brigade” as being responsible for the shelling. However, Syrian Civil Defense identified both the regime and Russia as carrying out artillery shelling across Dara’a.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali Abdul Razzaq al Halqi
male killed
Abdou Ahmad al Halqi
male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • One of the civilians killed in strikes on the city of Jassim on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @chessrabaa)
  • One of the civilians killed in strikes on the city of Jassim on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @chessrabaa)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Jassim (جاسم), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.991344, 36.060136. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4356

Incident date

July 29, 2021

Location

درعا البلد, Dara'a Al Balad, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.607961, 36.099127 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and six civilians were killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Daraa al-Balad on July 29, 2021.

According to Syria TV, “the death toll of civilians as a result of the bombing of the neighborhoods of Daraa al-Balad by the regime forces has risen to two after the death of the young man, Yazan Adnan al-Mutlaq al-Muhaisen al-Mahamid, was confirmed. This morning, shelling the besieged neighborhoods of Daraa al-Balad with artillery and high-explosive “elephant” missiles killed the young Ahmed Farhan Aktifan.”

Ikhwan Online posted on their Facebook that Issam Muhammad Al-Masri was also killed in Daraa al-Balad.

Al-Majs Agency reported that only one civilian was killed and others were injured. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified “a man and a child” as being killed in Daraa al-Balad. Horan Free Media gave the toll as “6 martyrs and the fall of many civilians wounded” and @freedom4daraa reported that five civilians were killed.

A tweet from @freedom4daraa identified Muhammad Yusuf al-Mahamid as also being killed in the strikes but classified him as a “fighter”.

Syria TV also reported that others were wounded and “the people of the neighborhood issued a distress call for the lack of any first aid materials after the closure of the only medical point in the neighborhood yesterday, as a result of being targeted by the “Fourth Division” snipers.” @shaimaalshariif added that the medical point had previously been targeted by Russian/Iranian forces.

The strikes came after “the negotiating committees in Daraa al-Balad submitted a final proposal to the Assad regime, threatening in the event of its rejection of displacement or war and confrontation, after a meeting held between the negotiating committees and representatives from the “Eighth Brigade” of the “Fifth Corps” linked to Russia”, reported Syria TV.

A source told Al Hurra that “artillery, missile and mortar shelling are still continuing on neighborhoods in which nearly 50,000 civilians live” at the time of reporting. Al Rafidin reported that “regime forces are trying to storm Daraa al-Balad from three axes, while the people of the area are confronting them, as violent clashes are taking place amid intense artillery shelling that targets houses and roads in the city”.

The majority of sources identified the strikes as being carried out by the regime. However, Syrian Civil Defense attributed strikes across Dara’a as being from regime and Russian forces.

Baladi News and other sources identified “elephant missiles” and/or surface to surface missiles as being used in the strikes.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Adult killed
Issam Muhammad Al-Masri
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Smoke from strikes on Daraa Al-Balad on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @syria55s)
  • Smoke from strikes on Daraa Al-Balad on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @freedom4daraa)
  • Smoke from strikes on Daraa Al-Balad on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @freedom4daraa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Ahmed Farhan Al-Qatifan “Ahmed Al-Ghazwa”, killed in strikes on Daraa Al-Balad on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by Omar.alhourani.756 via Facebook)
  • Image of Yazan Adnan Al-Muhaisen Al-Mahamid, killed in strikes on Daraa Al-Balad on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by MartyrsDaraaAlbalad2 via Facebook)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Dara’a Al Balad (درعا البلد), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.607961, 36.099127. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Dara'a Al Balad (درعا البلد).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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 – 6
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4357

Incident date

July 29, 2021

Location

انخل, Ankhil, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

33.021349, 36.130382 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a child, was killed and two other civilians, children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Inkhil on July 29, 2021.

Ikhwan Online reported that the bombing of Inkhil “resulted in the injury of two children”. Horrya specified that the injuries of the children were to varying degrees and Dara`a 24 added that “the two children’s injuries are not serious, and their wounds were treated in a medical clinic in the city”.

@Daraa24_24 pointed out that the injuries to the children occurred when a mortar shell fell on their home.

According to Nabaa News, at 5:27pm, “a child was killed in the city of Inkhil” and was the only source that reported that a death occurred.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to the regime and Resala Post specifically identified “positions in the 15th Brigade” of the regime forces as being responsible for the mortar shelling. However, Syrian Civil Defense identified both Russia and the regime as having carried out strikes in Dara’a.

The incident occured at 17:27:00 local time.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ankhil (انخل), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.021349, 36.130382. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 child)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4358

Incident date

July 29, 2021

Location

طفس, Tafas, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.735089, 36.067813 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and five others were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Tafas on July 29, 2021.

@tommycats4 tweeted that “one person was killed and a number of wounded in the city of Tafas, west of Daraa, as a result of artillery shelling on the city by the Assad regime militia”. @Step_Agency also reported “a civilian was killed and a number of wounded” from the bombing.

According to a correspondent from Dara’a News, “at least five people were wounded, as a result of the bombing of residential neighborhoods in the city of Tafas”.

A tweet from @omar_alharir also identified civilians as being injured and in order to treat the injured, “the city hospital appealed to donate blood”.

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the regime. However, Syrian Civil Defense identified both Russia and the regime as carrying out strikes across Dara’a.

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
    1
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tafas (انخل), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.735089, 36.067813. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4359

Incident date

July 29, 2021

Location

دَرْعَا‎, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.616667, 36.100011 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The journalist Atef Al-Saadi was injured while covering the conflict in Daraa by alleged Russian or regime strikes on July 29, 2021.

According to @Nabel_othman023, “the revolutionary journalist, Atef Al-Saadi, was injured due to the shelling and clashes in Daraa”. @FARED_ALHOR identified Atef as being a photographer.

@syria1agency added that Atef was injured “while covering the military confrontations in the western countryside of Daraa”.

The majority of sources did not identify who was responsible. However, a tweet from @FARED_ALHOR blamed “Iranian militias and Assad forces” for the shelling while the Syrian Civil Defense attributed strikes across the countryside to both Russia and the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Journalist Atef Al-Saadi, who was injured while covering the battle in Daraa Al Balad on July 29, 2021. (Image posted by @JamousKasem and various other sources)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the city of Daraa (دَرْعَا‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.616667, 36.100011. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]