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

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:

Atef Al-Saadi
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]

Incident Code

R4391

Incident date

September 18, 2021

Location

الكندة, Al Kinda, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.765353, 36.207676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a man, was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Kinda on September 6, 2021.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, one civilian was killed in Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Kinda.

Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the name of the civilian killed: Loay al Hajji. They also added that the strikes on Al Kinda seriously damaged multiple civilian homes, with @abo_aljod84 identifying the area that was bombed as being a residential neighborhood.

@anasanas84 added that Loay was out working to support his family when he was killed and a tweet from @mahmad_al_ommr identified Loay’s job as cutting firewood.

Various sources reported that others were injured in the airstrikes but did not identify how many civilians were injured.

The correspondent of “Zaman Al-Wasl” pointed out that two air raids were carried out on the center of the village of Al Kinda, resulting in casualties, while “4 other air raids targeted the outskirts of the town, which caused widespread destruction of civilian property, without causing any human casualties”.

All of the sources that reported on the airstrikes attributed them to Russia, with only Enab Baladi News referring to “joint bombing of the regime forces and Russia”. A tweet from @jisrtv identified vacuum missiles as being used in the attack while Baladi News referred to “high-explosive missiles”.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Loay al Hajji لؤي الحجي
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets remove the body of a civilian killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the body of Loay al Hajji, killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by @mhmdfaisel)
  • Loay al Hajji, killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Kinda on September 18, 2021. (Image posted by @z0UdP8TRY3EZAix)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kinda (الكندة), for which  the generic coordinates are: 35.765353, 36.207676. 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

Summary

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

Incident Code

R4421

Incident date

November 28, 2021

Location

كفرتعال, Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.154183, 36.893768 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and several other civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021.

A tweet from @anasanas84, a local Syrian reporter, identified that the initial toll from shelling of Kafr Taal was one person killed and several civilians wounded. @SRoudinah2 referred to the person killed as being a “civilian”.

Multiple other sources also referred to “civilians” being injured but none specified how many.

@Almohrar1 provided the names of two of the victims: Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Shahid, killed, and Yassin Khaled Al-Shalabi, injured.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes, with @AliAlHu69859396 attributing the shelling to Russia while @IdlibPlus blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Yassin Khaled Al-Shalabi ياسين خالد الشلبي اصابة
Age unknown male injured
Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Shahid محمد إبراهيم لمحمد شهيد
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Shahid, killed in strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yassin Khaled Al-Shalabi, injured in strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Taal (كفرتعال), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.154183, 36.893768. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4443

Incident date

March 16, 2022

Location

معارة النعسان, Miznaz, Maarat Al-Naasan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.035556, 36.838611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Mustafa Haidar, aged 11, was injured while grazing sheep, when a Russian or Syrian regime forces shell hit him on March 16th 2022, in the town of Miznaz, on the outskirts of Maarat al-Naasan, in the northeastern countryside of Idlib.

The Syrian Civil Defense said that they inspected the site that was bombed and made sure that there were no other casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Mustafa Haider
11 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • One child was injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian shelling on the outskirts of Maarat Al-Naasan on March 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • Mustafa Haider, aged 11, was injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian shelling on the outskirts of Maarat Al-Naasan on March 16th 2022 (Image via @Almohrar1 / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Maaret Al Nassan (معارة النعسان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.035556, 36.838611. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1866

Incident date

January 28, 2017

Location

الشندخيات, Shandkhiyat, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.783016, 37.409542 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that an alleged Russian aircraft struck the village of Shandkhiyat in the vicinity of Palmyra.

Reportedly, the incident wounded several civilians.

No further information is currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes for January 28th, 2017.

Summary

  • 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]

Incident Code

R4474

Incident date

October 6, 2022

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of Al Abzimo on October 6, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was injured by artillery shelling launched by the Syrian regime and Russian forces. @HalabTodayTV referred to “civilians” as being wounded without specifying how many while @alaskari_media reported that “several civilians” were injured. All of the other sources referred to “civilian casualties” without further information.

The majority of sources, including @HalabTodayTV, attributed the shelling to Syrian regime forces while @Syrian_Kasura referred to “ro-Assad forces” as carrying out the shelling. However, @Almohrar1 blamed “the militias of the Russian occupation” and the @SyriaCivilDefe referred to both the Syrian regime and Russian 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 (13) [ 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1879

Incident date

February 4, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were injured in airstrike on Akeirbat, Hama, according to local media. Only two known sources reported on the attack and only one identified a belligerent, it is therefore unclear if Russia were responsible for the raid.

Step News Agency reported that “Russian planes carried out raids on Akeirbat in eastern Hama which led to the wounded civilians”.

Whilst the only other known source, @fawaaaa4, tweeted: “Warplanes bombed a town that caused some civilian casualties” and did not positively identify the warplanes. 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4506

Incident date

March 23, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to one civilian was killed, plus one woman and a man were reportedly injured as a result of contested action by Russian forces or the Syrian regime when a marketplace and a residential neighbourhood was hit by artillery and missile shelling in the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo, Syria. This attack took place on March 23rd 2023, the first day of Ramadan, in the evening.

Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Syrian regime and reported that “Syrian regime artillery forces fired multiple shells targeting Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate. A number of shells landed on civilians’ homes, while the remainder landed in the popular market in the city center, injuring one man and woman as well as inflicting moderate damage and partial destruction on shops in the popular market, as well as in the street.”

Al Araby news blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces and reported that the attack led to the cancellation of “Tarawih” prayers in the town. @HalabTodayTV reported that the attack happened “at the moment of breaking the fast.”

@KawtharQshqosh was the only source to report that this attack killed a “person”, the other sources all reported that two civilians were injured.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "Artillery shelling by the Russian external occupation during Iftar on the city of Atarib, west of Aleppo, causing civilian casualties" (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • "Residents announce the cancellation of Tarawih prayers in the city due to the intense shelling" (Image via @Aishasapri / Twitter)
  • "The sounds of children's cries rose above it" (Image via @rami498 / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured in artillery shelling by the forces of the Assad regime and loyal militias, targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, in the first minute of breaking the fast on the first day of the holy month of #Ramadan." (Image via @khaleedalkhteb / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / 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

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
    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, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]