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

RS2791

Incident date

December 8–10, 2017

Location

Um Willat village in the southern countryside of idlib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.700000, 36.700000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Um Willat village in the southern countryside of idlib, according to sources on the ground.

The Step News Agency and EdlibEmc1 said that one civilian was wounded. Moreover, EdlibEmc1, published its report on December 8th, while all other sources reported the civilian harm on December 10th.

According to @HalabTodayTV, reporting on December 10th, “two civilians were injured in Russian air raids on the village of Um Wilat in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (3) [ 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3664

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

التمانعه, Al Tamani’a, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were reported wounded in an alleged Russian or regime strike on the town of Al Tamani’a in rural Idlib.

There was a report that Al Tamani’a hospital was struck by the regime.

Other sources pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike on Al Tamani’a, May 5th.

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3137

Incident date

March 1, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were left wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes in Arbeen, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local sources reported.

Douma.Revolution, who did not mention civilian harm reported: “since the morning, 12 warplanes have carried out air raids against the cities and towns of Douma, Arbeen, Kafratna, Hamuriya, Beit Siy, Jisreen, Ash’ari and Marj in the eastern Ghouta.”

Smart News Agency and @SyriaCivilDefe, however, reported that several civilians were left wounded.

Only Smart News Agency identified the culprit and pointed to Russia. However, it should be noted that eastern Ghouta in this period was subject to aerial shelling from both Russia and the Syrian regime why Syrian regime culpability cannot be ruled out.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense team on the scene helping the injured following the contested airstrike in Arbeen, Damascus, March 1st, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between March 1st - 31st 2018.

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
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS432

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Russian warplanes allegedly “carried out raids on several areas in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Saeed and Bostan al-Qasr in Aleppo.” They said that casualties had been reported in the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, but did not provide further details. 

Aleppo Media Center published a video depicting the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes.

Other sources, including Smart News , Al Souria.net and Al Buraq Media also said that Russia bombed the neighbourhood. Again, the sources said there had been casualties but did not provide numbers.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civilians attempt to clear the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Bustan al Qasr. (via, AMC)
  • Footage of a Russian helicopter which was flying around the region just hours before the alleged Russian raid. (via, Halab News Network)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

No Russian reports were published for January 21st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3803

Incident date

June 14, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns and villages, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians were injured when Russian and Syrian regime forces carried out air raids and shelled a number of cities, towns and villages, including Khan Sheikhun, Ma’arah al-Nu’man, Kafr Nabal, Habayt, Tirmala, Kafromah, Baarba, Arinbeh, Abidin, Al-Deir, Ahsem, Hachash, Tall Mardikh, Jericho, Kafarsganah, Tufnaz, Hayish, Sahihan, Masmudah and Hamra.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3337

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

النقير, Al Naqir, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.499547, 36.540818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Naqir in Idlib, Syria on March 26th, 2018 according to local sources.

According to @IdlibPlus: “Russian warplanes, using vacuum missiles, targeted the outskirts of Al-Naqir village in southern Idlib countryside.”

However, only one of the two sources – the Shaam News Network (SNN) – reported civilian harm. SNN said: “Russian aircraft launched fierce air raids on the cities and towns of Ariha and Al Taman’a and Harsh Abidin and Al Naqir and Harsh Al Habit in the southern countryside, and Jisir Al Shugur , Al Safyat and Zarzour in the western countryside. This led to the fall of a number of wounded civilians”. The source didn’t provide figures for Al Naqir.

 

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
  • 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

Sources (2) [ 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
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3028

Incident date

February 17, 2018

Location

كفرزيتا, Kaarzeta, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were possibly left wounded as aerial and/or artillery shelling struck Kaarzeta, Hama, local sources reported.

Numerous sources reported how the village of Kaarzeta had been subject to aerial, and possibly also artillery shelling, the latter reported by Hamah Now.

Horrya News said that unidentified warplanes struck a hospital in the village.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3564

Incident date

October 12, 2018

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was killed in the explosion of the remnants of a cluster bomb from earlier alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Adanan, Aleppo governorate, on October 12th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the raid took place.

@MasarPressNet tweeted that “a child was martyred when a cluster bomb exploded from the remnants of the Russian shelling in the city of Andan.”

Anadan Martyrs identified the victim as the boy Amer Hamza Mudlaj.

It is unclear when the air raid took place. All sources pointed to Russia as responsible for the unexploded ordnance.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amer Hamza Mudla عامر حمزة مدلج
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Aamir Hamza Mudlaj, a child, was killed in the city of Andan due to the explosion of a cluster bomb" (via @gahnnamm).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Amer Hamza Mudlaj was killed when a cluster bomb from previous alleged Russian airstrikes exploded on October 12th, 2018 (via @gahnnamm).

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]