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

Incident Code

RS4205

Incident date

November 27, 2019

Location

بكفلا أو النهر الأبيض, Bkafla or Al Naher Al Abyad, near Jisr Ash Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One young male civilian was reportedly killed and at least nine others, including one woman and at least four members of the Syrian Civil Defense, were reportedly wounded in an alleged Russia and/or Syrian regime forces artillery strike on Bkafla or Al Naher Al Abyad, near Jisr Ash Shughour in the evening of November 27th 2019.

Ahmad Nasim, a civilian resident from Jisr al Shoghour was reportedly killed during the attack. Zaman al-Wasl identified him as a young man.

Most local sources reported that ten civilians had been injured, including five members of the Syrian Civil Defense, while @alhariri58 reported that an overall of nine civilians had been injured. According to the Syrian Civil Defense and other local sources, only four civil defense volunteers had been injured. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

The White Helmets were reportedly inspecting the damage during a rescue operation in the affected area in the aftermath of an attack consisting of three missiles, when an additional one or two missiles hit the area and injured the volunteers.

The White Helmets listed the names of their injured volunteers as Ali Qayqouni, Osama Al Hussein, Alaa Hawash, and Ahmad Al-Shughri. Some local sources claimed that Juma`a Jarar, also a White Helmet volunteer, had suffered injuries. JSR.alshughor.now identified the injured civilians as Talal Masri (35), Khaled Fujaina (44), Hazar Amoudi (35), Samer Amoudi (32), Ma`en Khatib (48).

While some sources claimed that the Russian Armed Forces were responsible for the attack, others claimed that Regime forces conducted the strikes. Zaman al-Wasl claimed as the only source that Iranian militias stationed in the “Jorin” camp were responsible for the attack.

Syriahr News reported that a total of six long-range surface-to-surface missiles, some of them loaded with cluster bombs, had been fired, while other sources reported that between four to five vacuum and/or ballistic missiles had been shot.

Some sources claimed that the missiles had been fired from an area near the Russian base of Hmeimim in Latakia countryside, or from Russian troops in the Mediterranean. Syriahr News reported that the missiles were believed to come “from the Hayalin camp northwest of Hama”.

According to Syriahr News, the incident occurred after “continuous calm and the absence of the Russian Air Force and the Syrian regime for more than 22 hours, in light of the bad weather conditions in the area since after midnight Tuesday-Wednesday”.

Ahmed Yazigi, commander of the civil defense sector in the Jisr al-Shughour area, told Zaman al-Wasl: “The village of Bikfla, located on the northern edge of the city of Jisr al-Shughur, was targeted with three long-range missiles. The first missile was of a vacuum type, followed by two other missiles. They were loaded with cluster bombs, several civilians were wounded, and our teams went to evacuate the wounded, inspect the place and remove the cluster bombs from the public road because it is the main road to the city of “Jisr al-Shughur” west of Idlib, and while the team was there and working to remove the remnants, the team was targeted by a fourth long-range missile carrying cluster bombs. It resulted in the death of a civilian and the injury of 5 volunteers from our teams and a civilian, some of whom were moderately injured and others were light, in addition to damage to some of our teams’ vehicles.”

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Ali Qayqouni
Adult male Member of the White Helmets injured
Osama Al Hussein
Adult male Member of the White Helmets injured
Alaa Hawash
Adult male Member of the White Helmets injured
Ahmad Al-Shughri
Age unknown male Member of the White Helmets injured
Age unknown male killed
Juma`a Jarar
Age unknown male Member of the White Helmets injured
Ma`en Khatib
48 years old male injured
Samer Amoudi
32 years old male injured
Hazar Amoudi
35 years old female injured
Khaled Fujaina
44 years old male injured
Talal Masri
35 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russia or regime strike on Al Naher al Abyad , Nov 27th 2019, (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russia or regime strike on Al Naher al Abyad , Nov 27th 2019, (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russia or regime strike on Al Naher al Abyad , Nov 27th 2019, (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russia or regime strike on Al Naher al Abyad , Nov 27th 2019, (via White Helmets)
  • SCD member injured in the attack (via SN4HR)
  • An injured civilian in a wheelchair with a leg injury in the aftermath of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the northern edge of the city of Jisr al-Shughur on November 27th, 2019.
  • An injured civilian during a medical inspection in the aftermath of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the northern edge of the city of Jisr al-Shughur on November 27th, 2019.
  • A male civilian with a leg injury during a medical inspection in the aftermath of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the northern edge of the city of Jisr al-Shughur on November 27th, 2019.

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4240

Incident date

December 7, 2019

Location

تلمنس, Talmans village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

As many as three civilians, one man, one woman and a child, were killed and as many as 14 others, including three women and a child, were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on a marketplace in the village of Talmans, Idlib Governate on December 7th, 2019 local media reported.

According to Jamil Lababidi and Syrian Human Rights Committee, the man killed in the strike was named Nasser Abdul-Jabbar Al-Hassan. The Syrian Human Rights Committee and the Syrian Press Center identified the female victim as Amna Khaled Al-Mar’i. The Shaam News Network said that a child had been killed in the strike but did not name the victim

Shahba Press, Ariha Today, and other sources said the strike resulted in seven injuries, including three women and a child. Images published by @media_idlib show a child being attended to in the back of an ambulance. The Syrian Human Rights Committee said 14 people were injured in a barrel bomb attack that targeted a popular market in Talmans.

The majority of the sources said Syrian regime helicopters carried out the strike using barrel bombs. One source, Ebaa News Agency, said the strike had been carried out by “Russian occupier’s warplanes”. Other sources said the strike had been carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia.

One source said the strike took place in the evening, while footage from the scene shows it took place during daylight hours.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–14
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Talmans, Idlib Governate on December 7th, 2019. (Uploaded by @media_idlib)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on a popular marketplace in the town of Talmans, Idlib Governate on December 7th, 2019. (Uploaded by @media_idlib)
  • A first responder assists a man and two children following an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Talmans, Idlib Governate on December 7th, 2019 (Uploaded by @media_idlib)
  • A first responder attends to an injured child following an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Talmans, Idlib Governate on December 7th, 2019. (Uploaded by @media_idlib)

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
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–14
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4275

Incident date

December 20, 2019

Location

كوسنيا, Kosniya, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians, including a woman, were reportedly injured in an alleged Russian  or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kosniya in Aleppo governorate on December 20th, 2019, according to local sources.

Whereas SMART News Agency reported three wounded, including a woman, the Syrian Civil Defence reported that two civilians were injured. SMART reported that Syrian Civil Defence teams took the wounded civilians to Saraqib hospital for treatment. Reports furthermore mentioned damage to civilian property.

Whereas SMART blamed Russian forces for the airstrike, along with the majority of other sources, SCD wrote on Facebook that Syrian regime planes raided the village four times.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kosniya on December 20th, 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kosniya on December 20th, 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Injured civilians after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kosniya on December 20th, 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kosniya on December 20th, 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kosniya on December 20th, 2019 (via SCD Aleppo on Facebook).
  • Injured civilian after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kosniya on December 20th, 2019 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Russian warplanes targeted with several air raids the vicinity of the village of #Kusnia in the southern countryside of Aleppo a while ago

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4305

Incident date

January 15, 2020

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'arat Al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On January 15th, 2020 several civilians were wounded in Maarat Numan following an alleged Russian bombing raid.

Shaam News reported only that many civilians were wounded in the bombing raid but did not announce any deaths or a specific number of wounded.

Local sources detailed the target as a residential neighborhood without military significance.

AlarabyTV and Civil Defense both detailed Russian warplanes carrying out the attack. @HadiAlabdallah added that vacuum missiles were used in the strikes.

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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ 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
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4346

Incident date

January 22, 2020

Location

كفرناها, Kafar Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, an adult male, was wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike in Kafar Naha, according to local sources on January 22nd 2020.

The White Helmets reported: “A person was injured as a result of the bombing of a factory in the town of Kafr Nanaha, in the western countryside of Aleppo. Our team assisted him to the hospital.”

A subsequent post by the White Helmets added that there have been raids “that targeted a building used as a petrol station”.

Local Coordination Committees of Syria named the victim as 35-year-old Mahmoud Al-Khader. The source said that a raid by a “warplane”.

There is some discrepancy around the timing of this incident. One local source said the airstrike happened at 08.36, but Local Coordination Committees of Syria indicated that this happened at 14.12. However, DW News reported that airstrikes have been targeting the area since the morning, noting that the regime and Russian forces struck more than 110 targets throughout the day and it is unclear whether this also continued into the afternoon.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

35 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Kafar Naha, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Kafar Naha, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Kafar Naha, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Kafar Naha, Jan 22nd (via White Helmets)
  • "The village of Kafr Naha in the western Aleppo countryside after a Russian raid."

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4376

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

خان السبل, Khan Al Subl, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Khan Al Subl, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

SMART News Agency reported that the Syrian regime and Russia carried out air and artillery strikes on several cities and towns in Idlib governorate, among which Khan Al Subl.

Shaam News Network reported that two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were wounded Russian airstrikes on the town. This was later confirmed by the Civil Defense, but no names or specific numbers were released.

The Baladi News Network reported that Khan Al Subl is among the densely populated villages specifically targeted by missiles and barrel bombs. According to the Syrian Civil Defense Response Coordination Team, these air strikes have led to the displacement of over ten thousand families.

Local sources along with Baladi News and the Syrian Civil Defense noted that the bombings were conducted by Russian warplanes.

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
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ 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
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4387

Incident date

January 30, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Shaam Network reported that “Russian and Assad warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes targeting the areas of Ariha, Jisr al-Shughur, Saraqib, Kafrbikh, Ahsim and Nayrab in Idlib, Syria, on January 30th, 2020, causing civilian casualties.”

No further details are available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4437

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

الاتارب , Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, a man and a child, were killed and an elderly man was reportedly injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Atarib, Aleppo governorate, on February 11th, 2020, according to local sources.

According to @HalabTodayTV, “a man and a child were killed when warplanes targeted their car with machine guns on the road to the city of Atarib”.  However, Smart News Agency reported that an elderly man was injured in the strikes.

The Violations Documentation Center provided data that a child was killed and nine others were injured in strikes on the city of Atarib, Urma al-Kubra town and Kafr Taal village without specifying how many of the casualties occurred in Al Atarib.

Activist Ahed al-Salibi, quoted by @muslim2day, also reported that “thousands of families are fleeing on foot towards the Syrian-Turkish border as a result of the violent Russian bombardment targeting the city of Atarib”.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the casualties resulted from Russian or regime attacks, with @baladinetwork reporting that “regime forces bombard with artillery and rocket launchers the city of Al-Atareb” while @jisrtv said that “warplanes of the Russian occupation bombard the city of Atarib”.

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Thousands of families are fleeing on foot towards the Syrian-Turkish border as a result of the violent Russian bombardment targeting the city of Atarib. (Image posted by @muslim2day)
  • Shelling of the city of Atarib with missiles. Coolness and safety, God willing.. 11, 2, 2020

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]