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
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS3297

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was reportedly killed or injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Saqba on March 17th, 2018, according to local sources.

The pro-regime source @addouniatv reported: “Martyrs and wounded residents of Saqba as a result of terrorists targeting civilians as they leave their towns”.

Step News Agency, however, stated that Syrian regime and Russian warplanes continued to carry out airstrikes and artillery attacks on several locations in eastern Ghouta, among which Zamalka, Harasta and Saqba, killing in total 45 civilians. It is unclear if and how many civilians died in Saqba.

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
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    2
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3821

Incident date

June 19, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’arat Harma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was reportedly injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Ma’arat Al Harma on June 19th, 2019, according to local sources.

@nabdalthwra reported that “a civilian was wounded as a result of the Assad warplanes targeting the town of Ma’arat Harma in the southern countryside of Idlib.” Other sources, such as JisrTV, however, reported that multiple civilians were injured, but did not specify the number.

While most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the strikes, Resala Post wrote that Russian aviation targeted the town with four airstrikes. Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3335

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shugour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shugour, Idlib governorate, on March 26th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network.

@RFS_mediaoffice reported that “Syrian regime warplanes launched several airstrikes with rockets on the city of Jisr Al Shughour in the western Idlib countryside”.

Step News Agency reported that warplanes targeted the bridges of Al Shaghour and Al Tmana’a in Idlib countryside, but that no casualties were recorded. @dored1pash also stated that there were no casualties. @IdlibPlus reported three airstrikes, not specifying the belligerent.

Shaam News Network, however, reported the following: “Russian aircraft launched fierce air raids on the cities and towns of Ariha, Al Taman’a, Harsh Abidin, Al Naqir, Harsh Al Habit in the southern countryside, and Jisir Al Shugur, Al Safyat and Zarzour in the western countryside, which led to the fall of a number of wounded civilians.”

As it is unclear in which specific incidents civilians were harmed according to the Shaam report, and other sources explicitly stated there were no civilian casualties in the airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughour on March 26th, Airwars has graded the civilian harm status for this incident as “weak”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3559

Incident date

September 9, 2018

Location

بلدات متعددة في حماة, Several towns in Hama, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that a number of civilians were killed and injured in a group of towns in Hama on September 9th, 2018 as a result of Russian forces and Syrian regime operations there.

Shaam Network reported “The Russian planes, the warlords and the helicopter continued to launch heavy air raids on the cities and towns of the province amid artillery and missile attacks. [] While the cities of Qal’t Al Madiq,Al Arba’in, Al Sakher, Al Jisat,M’arbaka, Myadan Ghazal, Al Huwayz, Al Twina, Bab Al Taqqa, Al Hamra, Al Karkat and Al Shari’a in northern and western countryside were targets of artillery and missile bombing.”

Rozana said “Civilians were killed and injured as a result of the resumption of the Syrian regime and Russia’s bombing attacks on the towns of rural Idlib and Hama, after the failure of the tripartite summit (Russia, Iran and Turkey) around Idlib.” A source from Syrian Civil Defence told Rozana that “”the aerial bombardment resulted in the death of a number of civilians, including children, and the wounding of others in towns including Habit, Khan Sheikhoun and Abdin in the southern Idlib countryside, Kafr Zita, Qalaat al-Madiq and other villages in Hama countryside.”

Local sources said that also a militant who belongs to the National Liberation Front was killed in these attacks.

@ahmad589199 tweeted images of a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer carrying a wounded child.

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Leader of the National Liberation Front, Khaled al-Hassan Abu al-Walid Karnaz was killed due to the artillery shelling of the regime on the road linking the Qalat al-Mudhiq and Jabal Shahshabo. (via @omar_alhalaby).
  • The military leader of the Ahrar al-Sham movement, Abu al-Walid Kurnaz, was killed after a shell landed near his car on the Karakat junction. (via @fadihussein8).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Leader of the National Liberation Front, Khaled al-Hassan Abu al-Walid Karnaz was killed due to the artillery shelling of the regime on the road linking the Qalat al-Mudhiq and Jabal Shahshabo. (via @omar_alhalaby).
  • Leader of the National Liberation Front, Khaled al-Hassan Abu al-Walid Karnaz was killed due to the artillery shelling of the regime on the road linking the Qalat al-Mudhiq and Jabal Shahshabo. (via @omar_alhalaby).

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3854

Incident date

June 27, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma’aret Al Nu’man, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians was reported killed and four others were wounded in airstrikes on Ma’aret Al Nu’man, Idlib, on June 27th.

Significant damage to property was reported as a result of the incident.

Syria Civil Defense alleged “three air strikes targeting the town of Ma’arat al-Nu’man in the village of Idlib, resulting in the injury of four civilians, and material damage to houses and property.”

While @SyrianCoalition named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident, four sources did not positively attribute blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "Injured 4 civilians and significant damage to their property, as a result of the terrorism of the Assad regime and # Russia by air bombing on the city of Maarat al-Nu'man in rural Idlib" (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image caption translation: "Three air strikes targeting the town of Ma'arat al-Nu'man in the village of Idlib, which resulted in the injury of four civilians and material damage to houses and property." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "Photos The effects of the destruction caused by the bombing of the military aircraft city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image caption translation: "Photos The effects of the destruction caused by the bombing of the military aircraft city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image caption translation: "Photos The effects of the destruction caused by the bombing of the military aircraft city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man south of Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image caption translation: Civilian casualties caused by the targeting of military aircraft A residential neighborhood in Ma'arat al-Nu'man." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Image caption translation: Civilian casualties caused by the targeting of military aircraft A residential neighborhood in Ma'arat al-Nu'man." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Image caption translation: Civilian casualties caused by the targeting of military aircraft A residential neighborhood in Ma'arat al-Nu'man." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Image caption translation: Civilian casualties caused by the targeting of military aircraft A residential neighborhood in Ma'arat al-Nu'man." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Images from airstrikes on Ma'aret Al-Nu'man on June 27th, 2019. (via @liveuamar from MMC).
  • SCD volunteer seen amid airstrikes on Ma'aret Al-Nu'man on June 27th, 2019. (via @liveuamar from MMC).
  • SCD volunteer seen amid airstrikes on Ma'aret Al-Nu'man on June 27th, 2019. (via @liveuamar from MMC).
  • Images from airstrikes on Ma'aret Al-Nu'man on June 27th, 2019. (via @liveuamar from MMC).

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
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (13) [ collapse]