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

R4457

Incident date

August 13, 2022

Location

معارة النعسان,, Maret Al Nassan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A seven-year old boy, Mohammed Abdel Kafi, also referred to as Zain Abdul Kafi Al-Masli, was injured by a shrapnel from artillery fire while playing next to his home in Ma’arat Al Nassan, east of Idlib on August 13th 2022. According to @hafeztaraman, the incident occured in the evening before the Maghrib call to prayer.

The injury was the result of heavy machine gun fire. Local media @ZaitunAgency reported in total 23 bursts.

The Syrian Civil Defense suggested in a Facebook post that “forces of the [Syrian] regime and Russia” are responsible for the attack. However, most tweets about the event blame pro-Assad forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Abdel Kafi, also referred to as Zain Abdul Kafi Al-Masli
7 years old injured

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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Abdel Kafi, also referred to as Zain Abdul Kafi Al-Masli, injured by a contested Russian or Syrian regime artillery fire (Image via Syrian Civil Defense / Facebook)
  • "A child was injured as a result of regime forces targeting with heavy artillery the town of Maarat al-Naasan in Idlib countryside" (@IdlibPlus / Twitter)
  • Mohammed Abdel Kafi, also referred to as Zain Abdul Kafi Al-Masli, injured by a contested Russian or Syrian regime artillery fire (Image via @Almohrar1 / Twitter)

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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4459

Incident date

August 15, 2022

Location

بلدة قسطون جنوبي ,ادلب, Qastoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An eleven year old boy called Abdul-Wahhab Ibn Hassan Al-Hanawi was reportedly killed as a result of the remnants of a cluster bomb in the town of Qastoun, west of Hama on the August 15th 2022. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, the killing of Abdul-Wahab marks the second death through unexploded remnants within three days in the countryside of Idlib.

The remnants were reportedly as a result of Russian or Syrian regime incidents in the past.

While some reports state that Abdul-Wahhab was playing in front of his house in the town of Qastoun when the explosion occurred, other sources report that the boy was searching for scraps to sell near his family village.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Wahab Hinnawi
11 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (12) [ 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4460

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

معارة النعسان, Maarat Al-Nasan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

The town Maarat al Naasan was attacked by cluster bombs allegedly as a result of Syrian and Russian regime forces after midnight on August 16th 2022.  Local sources also blamed Iranian-backed militas. While no civilian deaths are reported, a seven year old boy got lightly injured on his arm by a life bullet, while he was playing in front of his house.

Local sources report that a family survived the attack on the town Maarat al Naasan when 32 explosive bullets were fired through Syrian and Iranian militias while the family was sleeping. They added that the regime forces targeted primarily civilian homes, their land and their livestock when they attacked the town from the eastern side.

One local newspaper reports that the towns al Barah, Ruwaiha, Horsh Msaibin, Horsh Bsanqoul, Maklabis, al Baytroun, and Maarat al Naasan were exposed to the attack, yet the news agency did not share information about civilian casualties.

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
  • 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]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)

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
  • 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]

Incident Code

R4461

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two people were killed and between one and two others were injured when a previous shelling remnant exploded in the town of Kansafra, south of Idlib on the 16th of August 2022.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two people were killed and another was injured. According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, Muhammad Omar Khalil and Saddam Dani were killed through the explosion of a landmine while harvesting figs between the villages Kansafra and al Fatira. A third person, Ahmad Aflouk was injured through the explosion, as reported by @jamlyyyyy. One local source, Shaam News, mentions that two civilians were injured, yet further information is not available.

A local reporter from Shaam News stated that the area was subjected to artillery shelling by allegedly Syrian regime forces immediately after the explosion, which hindered the arrival of civil defense teams being able to offer immediate aid to the victims.

The Syrian Civil Defense attributed the original source of the artillery shell that exploded to Russian or regime forces, while other sources reported that the source was unknown while @ZaitunAgency directly attributed the cluster bomb remnant to Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Omar Khalil أبو عمر خليل
Adult male killed
Saddam Dani صدام داني
Adult male killed
Ahmad Aflouk أحمد عفلوك
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers assist a civilian injured by an artillery shell remnant allegedly launched by Russian and regime forces. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the two civilians killed by the remnants of a landmine that exploded on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by @jamlyyyyy)
  • One of the two civilians killed by the remnants of a landmine that exploded on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by @jamlyyyyy)

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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4462

Incident date

August 18, 2022

Location

قرية كدورة, Kadora village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Russian or regime shelling of the village of Kadora on August 18, 2022.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two civilians picking figs were injured by artillery shelling carried out by Russian or regime forces on a farm near Kadora village.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Russian and regime forces while @abualisar18 identified only Russia as responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers help an injured civilian following shelling by alleged Russian or regime forces on August 18, 2022. (Image posted by SCD)

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 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4463

Incident date

August 29, 2022

Location

الغانية, Al Ghaniya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022.

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that a woman was injured by intense artillery shelling carried out by the regime or Russian forces on the town of Al Ghaniya. @snhr also identified a woman as being wounded, and added that several houses were damaged.

According to @shaamnews and @thiqanewsagency, “civilians” were wounded by artillery without specifying how many civilians.

@1973syr1 tweeted that the heavy artillery was against “terrorist movements” but did not specify whether those injured were civilians or “terrorists”.

The majority of courses attributed the shelling to the regime forces, while the Syrian Civil Defense identified both the regime and Russia as being responsible.

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
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the site of shelling by alleged Russian or regime forces on Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4464

Incident date

September 3, 2022

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one elderly woman was injured when alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling struck the town of Al Fatira on September 3, 2022.

According to @SyriaCivilDefe, an elderly woman was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the regime and Russian forces on civilian homes in the town of Al Fatira. The Civil Defense volunteers took the injured elderly woman to the hospital.

A tweet from @Amaar77Dyab referred to “civilian casualties” in Al Fatira but did not specify how many and whether they were injured or killed.

@abojrhom, a pro-regime source, tweeted that the shelling targeted the “locations and movements of terrorists” without providing details of who was killed or injured.

Activist Mustafa Muhammad told Al Araby that the Syrian regime forces intensified shelling of various villages and towns including Al Fatira, which coincided with the continuous flight of Russian reconnaissance planes. The majority of other sources that reported on the incident also attributed the shelling to the regime forces, while @Almohrar1 and @ibrahim78197182 attributed the shelling to Russian forces and the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both Russian and regime forces.

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
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ 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
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4465

Incident date

September 6, 2022

Location

شنان, Shanan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one to four civilians were reported wounded as a result of artillery shelling reported to be from either Syrian regime or Russian forces.  The shelling targeted Shanan village in Jabal al Saweya, south of Idlib on September 6th 2022.  Most sources reported that one civilian, a woman, was injured, but @HalabTodayTV was the only source to report that there were four injuries as a result of this incident.

Several shells were reported to hit residential buildings in the village and houses were damaged as a result. According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, the shells hit the main road near Omar bin al Khattab Mosque in the village, partially damaging the mosque.

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
    1–4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • SNHR exclusive photo showing the damages to a house in the village (Image via SNHR)
  • SNHR exclusive photo showing the damages to a house in the village (Image via SNHR)
  • "Civilian casualties in artillery shelling by the regime forces on the village of "Shanan" in Idlib countryside" (Image via @HalabTodayTV / Twitter)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]