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

RS3529

Incident date

July 30, 2018

Location

كويا, Kuya, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.748265, 35.819035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and nine civilians, including women and children, were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the town of Kuya, Dara’a governorate, on July 30th, 2018, according to local sources. Dozens were wounded.

Smart News Agency reported that, according to activists, six civilians were killed in likely Russian airstrikes on a camp for IDP in Kuya town. @OrientNews tweeted: “Nine civilians killed, including children and women from one family, by the bombing of Assad militia on the town of Kuya in the Yarmouk Basin.” The Dara’a Martyrs Documentation office reported “dozens of martyrs and wounded.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of eight civilians, mostly women. @alhafiz1allah reported the names of six civilians. Their ages are unknown.

Mohammad Al Sahri’a with the Dara’a martyrs Documentation office told Smart News Agency that “a man, a woman and two children were killed on Sunday by an artillery bombardment of a camp for displaced people in the town of Koya, under the control of the Khalid bin al-Walid Army, accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State Organisation in Yarmouk Basin, Dara’a.”

Smart News concluded that based on information provided by activists, Russia had likely been responsible for the bombing. Other sources blamed the Syrian regime, or both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmed Al Ibrahim أحمد الابراهيم
Age unknown male killed
Ghada Al Ibrahim غاده الابراهيم
Age unknown female killed
Mona Al Ibrahim منى الابراهيم
Age unknown female killed
Raghad Al Ibrahim رغد الابراهيم
Age unknown female killed

Family members (2)

Rana Al Safadi رنا الصفدي
Age unknown female killed
Ghazal Al Safadi غزل الصفدي
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a woman who was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on a IDP camp in the down ot Kuya on July 30th, 2018 (via We are all the martyr Hamza Ali al Khateeb).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of a woman and children who were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on a IDP camp in the town ot Kuya on July 30th, 2018 (via Mohammad Amin on Facebook).

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
    6 – 9
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3291

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

كفر بطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.511853, 36.372857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians from the same family died in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike – or rocket fire – on Kafar Batna, according to local media.

The Violations Documentation Centre named the two fatalities, and blamed warplanes belonging to the “Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Local Coordination Committees of Syria said that Russian warplanes had killed and wounded an unspecified number of civilians.

According to Erem News, artillery and rockets hit the town.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ismaeil al-Hallak
Adult male VDC said he was killed by "warplanes" belonging to "Syrian government and affiliated militias". killed
Ibraheem al-Hallak
Adult male VDC said he was killed by "warplanes" belonging to "Syrian government and affiliated militias". killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (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
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    2
  • (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
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3321

Incident date

March 20, 2018

Location

سلقين, Salqin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.13951, 36.45413 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A ballistic missile from an alleged Russian battleship reportedly landed near the town of Salqin, Idlib countryside, on March 20th, 2018. Sources gave conflicting reports regarding civilian casualties.

@HadiAlabdallah reported that “a ballistic missile landed near Salqin city of Idlib countryside, coming from Russian battleships in the Mediterranean.” Step News Agency reported that there had been reports of human casualties.

@BonnieKipperman reported that the ballistic missile targeted the Safsafa camp and that “initial reports indicated a massacre of IDPs [Internally Displaced People]”, adding that “the sound of the explosion was heard in most of the liberated areas.”

@IdlibPlus stated that “a high-explosive surface-to-surface missile landed near the town of Salqin, causing no injuries.”

However, the Step News Agency said there were “reports of human casualties” but gave no numbers. It added that the ballistic missile was loaded with cluster munitions.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3332

Incident date

March 23, 2018

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma'aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were killed and three civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib governorate, on March 23rd, 2018, according to local sources.

Activist Jaber Abu Muhammed told Al Araby that “Russian air forces launched raids on the town of Ma’aret Misrin and Burma farms in the northern Idlib countryside, killing one civilian and wounding three others.”

@IdlibPlus reported “one martyr and several wounded civilians, as a result of warplanes targeting Ma’aret Misrin city, Idlib countryside, with two airstrikes.”

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported five killed civilians as the result of Russian airstrikes.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Walid Awad Al Skifi, a displaced person from the city of Palmyra in the eastern Homs governorate, was killed by the Syrian regime’s warplane shelling in the town of Ma’aret Misrin in the northern Idlib governorate, on March 23.”

According to Smart News Agency, “a child whose condition was moderate” was one of the injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Awwad al-Skaifi وليد عواد السكيفي
Adult male originally from Palmyra killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Walid Awwad Al Skaifi was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Ma’arat Misrin in Idlib, Syria on March 23rd, 2018 (via VDC).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3458

Incident date

June 25, 2018

Location

درعا, Dara'a countryside, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was reportedly killed or wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the eastern countryside of Dara’a governorate on June 25th, 2018, according to Free Deir Ezzor.

Free Deir Ezzor wrote on Facebook that “Russia targets and burns displaced civilians in Dara’a’s eastern countryside as they travel to areas they think are safer.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3851

Incident date

June 27, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Russian or Syrian regime warplanes allegedly fired missiles at the city of Kafar Zeita in Hama, wounding three people.

The Civil Defense Hama said: “Targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Kafr Zita with two raids by warplanes, which resulted in the injury of 3 persons of varying degrees.” Shabab Al Latamina reported the same casualty toll quoting the Civil Defense.

Most sources accused Russia, while JisrTV and Smart News blamed the Syrian regime without mentioning civilian harm.

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
    3
  • 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
    Other

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Image caption: "Russian aircraft bombing the city of Kafr Zita" (via Syria.liveuamap)
  • Caption translation: "Russian warplanes bombard the town of Kafar Zeita in the countryside of Hama" (via Mahmood Al Hamwi)
  • White Helmets inspecting the site of an airstrike on Kafar Zeita on June 27th, 2019 (via Civil Defence Hama)
  • White Helmets inspecting the site of an airstrike on Kafar Zeita on June 27th, 2019 (via Civil Defence Hama)
  • White Helmet inspecting the site of an airstrike on Kafar Zeita on June 27th, 2019 (via Civil Defence Hama)
  • White Helmet inspecting the site of an airstrike on Kafar Zeita on June 27th, 2019 (via Civil Defence Hama)

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
    3
  • 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
    Other

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3165

Incident date

March 4, 2018

Location

الزكاة, Al Zakat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3406492, 36.5770697 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were reported to be wounded following air and artillery strikes on Al Zakat. Sources blamed both Russian and the Syrian regime.

Shaam was the only source to report on wounded civilians, while the rest simply stated there was bombing in the vicinity.

Sources do however mention that there was heavy shelling, artillery fire and phosphorous bombs all fired onto the vicinity.

There are no more 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
    2
  • 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 (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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3181

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and a child were wounded in airstrikes on Jisr Al Shougur, local media reported. According to sources Russia were to blame for the raids.

Members of the Syrian Civil Defence aided the wounded in the aftermath.

@SyrianCoalition reported that “four air raids from the warplanes on the neighbourhoods of the city of Jisr al-Shughour residential in the city of Idlib.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The moment airstrikes hit Jisr Al Shougur, 6th March 2018. (via IDLIB plust )
  • Civilians are rescued in the aftermath of airstrikes in Jisr Al Shougur, 6th March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Jisr Al Shougur, 6th March 2018. (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • The moment airstrikes hit Jisr Al Shougur, 6th March 2018. (via @apdalrhmah)

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]