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

RS4291

Incident date

December 28, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Russian warplanes launched substantial attacks upon various villages outside of Idlib on December 28th causing numerous civilian casualties.

Shaam News, reporting on December 29th, stated that civilian casualties resulted from Russian airstrikes upon many villages, including Mhambel and Sarja.  No names, ages, or other pertinent information was released.

The air raids were part of a large, coordinated efforted by Russian and pro-Assad forces to intentionally target civilian areas. Homes, schools, and businesses were all struck by missiles and cluster bombs.

Shaam News and local sources both reported that the raids were conducted by Russian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4290

Incident date

December 28, 2019

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that at least three civilians were wounded as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime forces artillery and missile attack on Mhambel in Idlib, Syria on December 28th, 2019.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a cluster missile fell near Al Kabir mosque in Mhambel town in the western suburbs of Idlib governorate causing damage to its building and furniture.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian warplanes launched violent airstrikes targeting the vicinity of the city of Saraqib and the towns of Masran and Dayr al-Sharqi, accompanied by artillery and missile shelling on the city of Maarat al-Numan, and the towns of Mahambel, Kafr Awwad, Sarja, Sufouh, Tlemans, Khan al-Sabil, Marshmarin, and M’amarshah. This led to civilian casualties”.

According to @FdzPWRe6ruAGFPd, there were three civilian casualties “as a result of missile shelling by the Assad forces stationed in Shaghel Al-Ghab in the northern countryside of Hama, targeting the automatic bakery in the town of #Mahbel”.

A tweet from @oulaalassaad identified the injured civilians as being displaced from the city of Maarat al-Numan.

The majority of the sources attributed the strikes to the regime, with only Shaam News blaming 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
    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
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Remnants of a cluster bomb allegedly fired by Syrian regime on Mhambel in Idlib on December 28th 2019 (via SN4HR)

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
    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
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4288

Incident date

December 24, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafrouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one person died in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Kafrouma in Idlib on December 24, 2019, according to local media. Local sources were conflicted as to whether the victims were civilians or militants.

Sources reported that the Russian strikes targeted members of the Ahrar al-Sham movement.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian aircraft targeted four-wheel drive cars, carrying the movement’s leader, Jaber Ali Pasha, and the two ‘Legitimists’ of the movement known by the names of Sheikh Abu al-Ghareeb and Sheikh Abu Iqbal. Jaber Ali Pasha survived the Russian raid, while the raid resulted in the death of the Sharia, Abu Iqbal, and a number of accompanying elements, and the Shari’a, Abu al-Gharib, was wounded, with varying injuries”.

However, the White Helmets said that civilian deaths occurred in Kafrouma, while the Shaam News Network noted “one martyr”.

The majority of sources attributed the airstrikes to Russian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ 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
    0 – 1
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4287

Incident date

December 24, 2019

Location

جوباس, Joubas, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 12 civilians including five children and two women were reported killed and seven others injured in Joubas, Idlib in Syria on December 24th, 2019 when Russian warplanes attacked a school building that is used as a shelter for displaced people in the village.

A Syrian Civil Defence statement said that “Russian warplanes launched raids on a camp for displaced persons near the village of Jobas village, east of Idlib, killing five children, two women and a man, and wounding seven others, including two children and two women.”

Images of the deceased children were tweeted by local sources, and the deaths were later confirmed by Al-Jazeera and their reporter Milad Fadl, along with Syrian Civil Defense, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The number of dead was later raised to ten, and the Syrian Human Rights Committee reported ten confirmed deaths and five wounded individuals, although one local source stated that twelve had been killed, but that number was not confirmed by any other source.  The victims were five children and five adults, with all five children being siblings. The adults were identified as Saleh Al Ashiq, Rahaf Saleh Al Ashiq Hamada, Rowaida Hammadi, Hanan Mazal Al Hammadi, and Fatuma Saleh Al Hammadi.  The five children were named Safa Ahmed Hammadi, Moataz Ammar Hammadi, Muhammad Ashiq Hammadi, Yamen Ammar Hammadi, and Aisha Saleh Hammadi.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the death toll is expected to increase as many of the wounded are in a serious condition.

The warplanes specifically struck a school that was being used as a home for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) within the village of Joubas.

All local sources stated that the warplanes were Russian planes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (8)

Aisha Saleh Hammadi عائشة صالح حمادي
killed
Hanan Mazal Al Hammadi حنان مزعل الحمادي
killed
Fatuma Saleh Al Hammadi فطومة صالح الحمادي
killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (5–6 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (51) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two of the children reported killed in the Russian airstrike on Jobas in Idlib (via EuphratesPost)
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @mahmoudalbakor1)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by Al Hurra News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (5–6 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (51) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4289

Incident date

December 24, 2019

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An elderly woman was reported injured along with at least one other civilian after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrike on Saraqeb in Idlib, Syria on December 24th 2019, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: “”An elderly woman was wounded in a bombing by the  Syrian regime on Saraqeb city in Idlib…warplanes carried out a strike using heavy machine guns on Saraqeb city in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on December 24.”

Zaman Al Wasl identified the elderly woman as being the ninety-year-old grandmother, “Ayush Qadoni” who was injured and rescued under the rubble of her son’s house.

According to Edlib Media Centre, “Civilians were wounded when the warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib, with rockets.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with Zaman Al Wasl blaming the regime while @abokusai8 attributed the strikes to Russia.

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
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • Destruction and injuries caused by alleged Russian strikes on Saraqeb on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @abokusai8)
  • An elderly grandmother rescued from under the rubble following alleged Russian strikes on Saraqeb on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @almaleh_amjad)
  • An elderly grandmother rescued from under the rubble following alleged Russian strikes on Saraqeb on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by Zaman Al Wasl)

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
  • 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

RS4282

Incident date

December 22, 2019

Location

خان السبيل, Khan Al Sabil, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians were injured after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on vehicles of displaced civilians on the international highway near the town of Khan al Sabil, Idlib governorate, on December 22nd, 2019, as reported by local sources.

Local tweets included video of the bombing raid that injured the three civilians and targeted Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Syrian Response Coordinators attempted to assess the numbers of IDPs in the area, with one estimate as high as 350,000, but they could only confirm 175,000.

Step News Agency reported that besides wounding a civilian, the Syrian and Russian airstrikes of cars caused the burning of a car, motorcycle and agricultural machinery.

@AM_AHMAD90 reported that three civilians were injured on the international road when Russian warplanes launched three raids against displaced civilians and arrivals.

Shaam News Network wrote that the airstrikes occurred “amid calls to stop the bombing and secure the exit of thousands of civilians in the area”.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the regime or Russia were responsible for the strikes. @oulaalassaad attributed the strikes to su22 warplanes and identified vacuum missiles as being used in the attack.

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
    1–3
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ 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
    1–3
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4286

Incident date

December 22, 2019

Location

عدة بلدات, Many towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to Shaam network, “Russian and Asadi warplanes launched violent airstrikes, accompanied with intense artillery and missile shelling targeting the cities and towns of Maarat al-Numan, Saraqib, Kafrnbel, Talmans, Babila, Jarajnaz, al-Ghadfa, Khan al-Sabil, Ma`radbis, al-Kinda, al-Najiya, al-Dir al-Gharb ومع, Mar`dbasa, Tal Mordikh and al-Ma`shurain, which resulted in the fall of 4 martyrs”.

No more details available yet.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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
    4
  • 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

RS4285

Incident date

December 22, 2019

Location

الطريق الزراعي الواصل بين الدانا و ترمانين, The agricultural road between Al Dana and Termanin, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed on the agricultural road linking Termanin to Dana in Idlib, Syria on December 22nd, 2019 when Russian or Syrian regime warplanes attacked the area, according to Shaam Network.

No other sources were found on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    1
  • 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]