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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
172 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

R4452

Incident date

July 25, 2022

Location

شنان, Shanan village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was injured as a result of artillery shelling by Russian or Syrian regime action targeting the village of Shanan, south of Idlib on Sunday 24th July 2022.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that they took the injured child to hospital for treatment and that he was injured “lightly”.

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
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense rescue a child who was injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime attack on Shanan, south of Idlib on July 25th 2022 (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4453

Incident date

July 27, 2022

Location

كفرتعال, Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man, was injured when Russian or Syrian regime forces shelled Kafr Taal in the western Aleppo countryside on July 27th 2022.  There is no further information at this time.

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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • One person was injured when an alleged Syrian regime or Russian forces shell hit the village of Kafr Taal on July 27th 2022 (Image via @AsharqNewsSYR / 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
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4454 YS145

Incident date

July 30, 2022

Location

كفرتعال, Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.152222, 36.893333

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed and up to two others were injured in artillery shelling allegedly carried out by Russian forces, the Syrian regime, or the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Syrian Civil Defense tweeted (@SyriaCivilDefe) that two children, Youssef and Abdul Baset Jadoua, were killed and the father of Youssef, named Mustafa Jamil Jadoua, and Ahmed Naji Doreesh were injured, one of them seriously, when Syrian regime and Russian forces shelled the village of Kafr Taal. Civil Defense volunteers inspected the location of the bombing and transferred the injured civilians to hospitals. A tweet and image posted by the Civil Defense indicated that the victims were drinking tea together when the shelling happened.

@anasanas84 also reported that two children were killed but identified only one “young man” as being injured in the shelling.

According to the correspondent of “Zaytoun Agency” in Aleppo countryside, residential neighborhoods of Kafr Taal were struck with three artillery shells. Shaam news added that the shelling occurred on a public street in the center of the town.

A video posted by @77Mikiy is said to show the mother of one of the victims saying goodbye to her child who was killed in the shelling.

The majority of sources, including Shaam News and @OrientNews, attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime while the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces while Al Souria news stated that the Syrian regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Youssef Jadoua يوسف جدوع
Child killed
Abdul Baset Jadoua عبدالباسط جدوع
Child killed
Mustafa Jamil Jadoua مصطفى جميل جدوع
Adult male Father of Youssef injured

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Naji Doreesh أحمد ناجي دوريش
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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, YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteer inspects the site of blood of one of the victims of shelling of Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Blood of one of the victims of shelling of Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteer inspects the site of shelling of Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteer evacuates one of the victims of shelling of Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • According to the Syrian Civil Defense, civilians were killed while drinking tea by shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted on Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the children killed in shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteer inspects the site of blood of one of the victims of shelling of Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video from the Kafr Taal massacre, which was committed by the Assad terrorist militia today, "The mother, her child and the last farewell" #Kafr_Tal_massacre #Alepp

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic images of the victims of shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @thawra_sy4)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Survivors recount their testimonies to Orient... Victims, including children, in shelling by Assad militia on Kafr Taal village, west of Aleppo

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of one of the children killed in shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @ahmads2021)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of one of the children killed in shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @Hanzpal2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the victims of shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @tw67462611)
  • One of the victims of shelling on Kafr Taal on July 30, 2022. (Image posted by @ezaldeen_98)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Taal (كفرتعال), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.152222, 36.893333. 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

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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, YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4455

Incident date

August 2, 2022

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian farmer was injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian thermal missile attack which destroyed his car on the morning of August 2nd, 2022 in Al Bara, a southern town of Idlib. No further reports of civilian harm have been reported.

The farmer was named by @abualisar18 and @g5VgKRPXfPQdfz9 as Ammar Mustafa Al-Qajji. He was watering the fig trees on his land when the missile struck his car. Syria TV reported that the White Helmets transferred him by ambulance to receive medical attention and secured the premises.

The missile was a guided anti-armor thermal missile according to all sources. The strike was contested as both Russia and the Syrian regime were reportedly responsible for the strike. @mzmgr941 added Iranian forces were also allegedly behind the strike.

The incident occurred in the morning according to the Syrian Civilian Defence. The photographs and video evidence demonstrate that it took place at some time during the day.

The incident took place in Al-Bara in the south of Idlib. @ala_hacioglu specified that it occurred on the Al Bara Dirsanbel road and @abualisar18 noted that it struck on a road formerly known as Aziz Nasouh Park Road.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Mustafa Al-Qajji
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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • One civilian was injured when a contested Russian or Syrian regime missile hit him in Al Bara on August 2nd 2022 (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • A man was injured when his car was targeted in a reported Russian or Syrian regime missile attack in Al Bara on August 2nd 2022 (Image via @jisrtv / 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
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4458

Incident date

August 13, 2022

Location

بالقرب من بلدة النيرب بريف إدلب الجنوبي الشرقي, Near the town of Neirab in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, Amer Hussein al Asmar, from the town Halfaya was killed by a landmine explosion of the remnants of the battles near Jubas while he was collecting figs near the town of Neirab in the southeastern countryside of Idlib on August 13th 2022. Local media sources state that the victim was married and left behind his two children. One sole report by TvIdlib, identifies the victim by the name Amer Abu Khaled.

According to local sources, the landmine was a remain of the recurring bombings in northwestern Syria as a result of Syrian regime and Russian forces actions. The northwestern area of Syria has allegedly thousands of unexploded landmines from continued bombings, preventing ordinary civilians to harvest their crops.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amer Hussein al Asmar
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One civilian was reportedly killed by a landmine explosion in Jubas on August 13th 2022 (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • One civilian was reportedly killed by a landmine explosion in Jubas on August 13th 2022 (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • One civilian was reportedly killed by a landmine explosion in Jubas on August 13th 2022 (Image via @defense_syr / 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

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

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]