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

R4460

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

معارة النعسان, Maarat Al-Nasan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

The town Maarat al Naasan was attacked by cluster bombs allegedly as a result of Syrian and Russian regime forces after midnight on August 16th 2022.  Local sources also blamed Iranian-backed militas. While no civilian deaths are reported, a seven year old boy got lightly injured on his arm by a life bullet, while he was playing in front of his house.

Local sources report that a family survived the attack on the town Maarat al Naasan when 32 explosive bullets were fired through Syrian and Iranian militias while the family was sleeping. They added that the regime forces targeted primarily civilian homes, their land and their livestock when they attacked the town from the eastern side.

One local newspaper reports that the towns al Barah, Ruwaiha, Horsh Msaibin, Horsh Bsanqoul, Maklabis, al Baytroun, and Maarat al Naasan were exposed to the attack, yet the news agency did not share information about civilian casualties.

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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that one child was injured after a Russian or Syrian regime attack in Maarat al-Naasan on August 16th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)

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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4462

Incident date

August 18, 2022

Location

قرية كدورة, Kadora village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Russian or regime shelling of the village of Kadora on August 18, 2022.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two civilians picking figs were injured by artillery shelling carried out by Russian or regime forces on a farm near Kadora village.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Russian and regime forces while @abualisar18 identified only Russia as responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers help an injured civilian following shelling by alleged Russian or regime forces on August 18, 2022. (Image posted by SCD)

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4463

Incident date

August 29, 2022

Location

الغانية, Al Ghaniya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022.

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that a woman was injured by intense artillery shelling carried out by the regime or Russian forces on the town of Al Ghaniya. @snhr also identified a woman as being wounded, and added that several houses were damaged.

According to @shaamnews and @thiqanewsagency, “civilians” were wounded by artillery without specifying how many civilians.

@1973syr1 tweeted that the heavy artillery was against “terrorist movements” but did not specify whether those injured were civilians or “terrorists”.

The majority of courses attributed the shelling to the regime forces, while the Syrian Civil Defense identified both the regime and Russia as being responsible.

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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the site of shelling by alleged Russian or regime forces on Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4464

Incident date

September 3, 2022

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one elderly woman was injured when alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling struck the town of Al Fatira on September 3, 2022.

According to @SyriaCivilDefe, an elderly woman was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the regime and Russian forces on civilian homes in the town of Al Fatira. The Civil Defense volunteers took the injured elderly woman to the hospital.

A tweet from @Amaar77Dyab referred to “civilian casualties” in Al Fatira but did not specify how many and whether they were injured or killed.

@abojrhom, a pro-regime source, tweeted that the shelling targeted the “locations and movements of terrorists” without providing details of who was killed or injured.

Activist Mustafa Muhammad told Al Araby that the Syrian regime forces intensified shelling of various villages and towns including Al Fatira, which coincided with the continuous flight of Russian reconnaissance planes. The majority of other sources that reported on the incident also attributed the shelling to the regime forces, while @Almohrar1 and @ibrahim78197182 attributed the shelling to Russian forces and the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both Russian and regime 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 (15) [ 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4465

Incident date

September 6, 2022

Location

شنان, Shanan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one to four civilians were reported wounded as a result of artillery shelling reported to be from either Syrian regime or Russian forces.  The shelling targeted Shanan village in Jabal al Saweya, south of Idlib on September 6th 2022.  Most sources reported that one civilian, a woman, was injured, but @HalabTodayTV was the only source to report that there were four injuries as a result of this incident.

Several shells were reported to hit residential buildings in the village and houses were damaged as a result. According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, the shells hit the main road near Omar bin al Khattab Mosque in the village, partially damaging the mosque.

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
    1–4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • SNHR exclusive photo showing the damages to a house in the village (Image via SNHR)
  • SNHR exclusive photo showing the damages to a house in the village (Image via SNHR)
  • "Civilian casualties in artillery shelling by the regime forces on the village of "Shanan" in Idlib countryside" (Image via @HalabTodayTV / 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
    1–4
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4466

Incident date

September 8, 2022

Location

حفسرجة, Hafsarja, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between two to seven civilians were killed including one to three children and seven to 16 other civilians were wounded, in an alleged Russian airstrike destroying a house and a stone sawmill in Hafsarja in Idlib province on September 8th, 2022.

Al Khabour news reported the lowest number of civilians killed at two and the Syrian Civil Defense, Shaam News, and multiple other sources reported the highest death toll with seven civilians killed including between one to three children. Abdo Al-Tayfur Abu Lama and his two children Ahmed Al-Tayfur and Madyan Al-Tayfur were reportedly killed in the strikes. They were internally displaced persons from a village named Dana who were living in Idlib and the father worked at the sawmill. Hafsarja deaths also named Bilal Abdul Majid Staifi, a young adult as a victim of the airstrikes. Furthermore, Abdulkarim Khaled Awaida (Oweida) and Shahem Abdul Eid were also killed. Awaida was a child and Abdul Eid was either a young adult or a teenager. Additionally, the reports named Tayseer Mohammed Al-Daher as killed in the attack. @MMCSYR noted that the victims of the attack were workers ‘trying to survive and support their children’ and that it was a ‘massacre’. @omar_madaniah also posted a photo of a man holding a hand torn from the body of one of the victims after the strike.

The number of civilians wounded varied from seven injured according to @MMCSYR, 11 according to SNHR and 16 according to @fatina_sam98. Overall, the @SyrianCoalition confirmed that the toll was ‘indefinite’ and continuously rising.

The airstrike was allegedly undertaken by three to four Russian ‘fixed-wing warplanes’ who launched 11 to 16 consecutive air raids on a house and a stone sawmill as they took turns firing the missiles. These were reportedly ‘loaded with cluster bombs’ and the SOHR alleged that surface-to-surface missiles were used. Furthermore, Radio Al Kul news and SY-24 noted that vacuum missiles were simultaneously used in the attack. The air traffic observatory reported that four planes were seen taking off from the Russian Hmeimim base which then circled above Hafsarja, launching the attack. The debris and shrapnel resulting from the attack also hit an informal IDP camp located 200 metres away from the workshop causing mass damage to the infrastructure. The SNHR stressed that the attack by Russian forces violated the ceasefire agreement in place between Russia and Turkey which came into place on March 6th, 2020.

The incident seemed to take place during the day as the videos and photographs indicate. More specifically, ‘Observatory 80’ wrote to Enab Baladi informing them that two Su-24, Su-34, and Su-35 warplanes departed from the Russian air base at 10:22 in the morning to launch their attack. The location of the incident was in the west of Idlib city in the town of Hafsarja.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Abdo Al-Tayfur Abu Lama
Adult male father of Ahmed and Madyan killed
Ahmed Al-Tayfur
Child male
Madyan Al-Tayfur
Child female

The victims were named as:

Bilal Abdul Majid Staifi
Age unknown male reportedly a young adult killed
Abdulkarim Khaled waida
Child male killed
Shahem Abdul Eid
Age unknown male reportedly either a young adult or a teenager killed
Tayseer Mohammed Al-Daher
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–16
  • 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 (77) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (62) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians were killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting a sawmil on the outskirts of the village of Hafsarja (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • @abuhuzaifa_ reported that among the dead was a father and his son and others that were wounded (Image via Twitter)
  • "Smoke rising as a result of Russian raids targeting the vicinity of the town of Hafsara in the Roj Plain, west of Idlib." (Image via @EdlibEmc1 / Twitter)
  • "Smoke rising as a result of Russian raids targeting the vicinity of the town of Hafsara in the Roj Plain, west of Idlib." (Image via @EdlibEmc1 / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of Russian warplanes targeting Sahel al-Rouj and Sheikh Yusuf areas, west of Idlib city" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of Russian warplanes targeting Sahel al-Rouj and Sheikh Yusuf areas, west of Idlib city" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of Russian warplanes targeting Sahel al-Rouj and Sheikh Yusuf areas, west of Idlib city" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Seven civilians were killed and seven were injured as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes today, Thursday, September 8, near the town of Hafsarja in the western Idlib countryside" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Seven civilians were killed and seven were injured as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes today, Thursday, September 8, near the town of Hafsarja in the western Idlib countryside" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Seven civilians were killed and seven were injured as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes today, Thursday, September 8, near the town of Hafsarja in the western Idlib countryside" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Seven civilians were killed and seven were injured as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes today, Thursday, September 8, near the town of Hafsarja in the western Idlib countryside" (Image via @MMCSYR / Twitter)
  • "Exclusive photo for SNHR showing the destruction caused to a stonemason’s workshop by Russian airstrikes in the south of Hafserja village." (Image via SNHR)
  • "Exclusive photo for SNHR showing the destruction caused to a stonemason’s workshop by Russian airstrikes in the south of Hafserja village." (Image via SNHR)
  • "The death toll of Russian warplanes bombing Hafsara, west of Idlib, has risen to 7 civilians." (Image via @nahermedia / Twitter)
  • "Seven Syrian civilians, including a child, were killed and 10 others were injured in a Russian bombing targeting a stone quarry in the village of Hafsara in Idlib, in the de-escalation zone in northern Syria" (Image via @AJArabic / Twitter)
  • "Seven Syrian civilians, including a child, were killed and 10 others were injured in a Russian bombing targeting a stone quarry in the village of Hafsara in Idlib, in the de-escalation zone in northern Syria" (Image via @AJArabic / Twitter)
  • "Seven Syrian civilians, including a child, were killed and 10 others were injured in a Russian bombing targeting a stone quarry in the village of Hafsara in Idlib, in the de-escalation zone in northern Syria" (Image via @AJArabic / Twitter)
  • "Seven Syrian civilians, including a child, were killed and 10 others were injured in a Russian bombing targeting a stone quarry in the village of Hafsara in Idlib, in the de-escalation zone in northern Syria" (Image via @AJArabic / Twitter)
  • "This man holds a "hand left of a body" that was torn by the raids of Assad's and Russia's planes in Hafsarja, west of Idlib…" (Image via @Omar_Madaniah / Twitter)
  • "Direct hits by more than 9 air strikes by the Russian and Syrian air forces, targeting the sites and hideouts of mercenaries belonging to Turkey in the vicinity of the village of Hafsarja, west of Idlib " (Image via @idleb_online / Twitter)
  • "The two martyrs, Abdo Al-Tayfur and his son Ahmed Al-Tayfur, from the village of #Dana, north of #Maarat_al-Numan, as a result of the raids of the #Russian occupation this morning on the outskirts of the village of #Hafsara, west of #Idlib" (Image via @Anasanas84 / Twitter)
  • AFP capture the destruction caused by the missiles (Image via AFP)
  • "A new massacre committed by the Russian occupation militia, which resulted in 5 martyrs and more than 10 wounded, after 16 air strikes carried out by the Russian occupation aircraft on Hafsara, west of Idlib" (Image via @ibrahim78197182 / Twitter)
  • Blood after the attack on a sawmill in Hafsarja on September 8th 2022 (Image via @SDpwVt32qoeu9ih / Twitter)
  • "The death toll from the bombing of the Russian warplanes on the outskirts of the town of Hafsarja, west of Idlib, has risen to 15 wounded and two martyred The martyrs are Abdo Tayfur and his son from the town of Dana, north of Maarat al-Numan, south of Idlib." (Image via @lyalraq13900368 / Twitter)
  • Those that were killed after a Russian missile reportedly hit a sawmill in Hafsarja, west of Idlib (Image via @SatamRslan / Twitter)
  • Baladi uploaded photos of the site of the destruction (Image via Baladi)
  • Baladi uploaded photos of the site of the destruction (Image via Baladi)
  • Baladi uploaded photos of the site of the destruction (Image via Baladi)
  • "The eye sheds tears and the heart grieves God is enough, and yes, the agent" Nasser Haj Yusuf posted on Facebook about a loved one (Image via Facebook)
  • Bilal Abdul majid Staifi, reportedly killed in a Russian attack on a sawmill in Hafsarja (Image via Hafsarja deaths / Facebook)
  • Abdulkarim Khaled Awaida reportedly killed in a Russian attack on a sawmill in Hafsarja (Image via Hafsarja deaths / Facebook)
  • Shahem Abdul Eid reportedly killed in a Russian attack on a sawmill in Hafsarja (Image via Hafsarja deaths / Facebook)
  • "Martyrs so far. The child Abdul Karim Khaled Owaida Child Shahem Abdo Eid And the young man, Bilal Bakour Stefi From the village of Hafsarja Abdo Tayfour and his sons Ahmed and Madyan Displaced people from the town of Al-Dana, near Maarat al-Numan." (Image via Hafsarja / Facebook)
  • "Martyrs so far. The child Abdul Karim Khaled Owaida Child Shahem Abdo Eid And the young man, Bilal Bakour Stefi From the village of Hafsarja Abdo Tayfour and his sons Ahmed and Madyan Displaced people from the town of Al-Dana, near Maarat al-Numan." (Image via Hafsarja / Facebook)
  • "Martyrs so far. The child Abdul Karim Khaled Owaida Child Shahem Abdo Eid And the young man, Bilal Bakour Stefi From the village of Hafsarja Abdo Tayfour and his sons Ahmed and Madyan Displaced people from the town of Al-Dana, near Maarat al-Numan." (Image via Hafsarja / Facebook)
  • "The two martyrs, Abdo Al-Tayfur and his son Ahmed Al-Tayfur, from the village of #Dana, north of #Maarat_al-Numan, as a result of the raids of the #Russian occupation this morning on the outskirts of the village of #Hafsara, west of #Idlib" (Image via Green Idlib / Facebook)
  • "The two martyrs, Abdo Al-Tayfur and his son Ahmed Al-Tayfur, from the village of #Dana, north of #Maarat_al-Numan, as a result of the raids of the #Russian occupation this morning on the outskirts of the village of #Hafsara, west of #Idlib" (Image via Green Idlib / Facebook)
  • "The two martyrs, Abdo Al-Tayfur and his son Ahmed Al-Tayfur, from the village of #Dana, north of #Maarat_al-Numan, as a result of the raids of the #Russian occupation this morning on the outskirts of the village of #Hafsara, west of #Idlib" (Image via Green Idlib / Facebook)
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.
  • MMC posted photos of the destruction and the recovery operation.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–16
  • 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 (77) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4467

Incident date

September 8, 2022

Location

الغفر, Al Ghafir, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian air raid injured five civilians using surface-to-surface missiles loaded with cluster bombs in Al Ghafar in Idlib province on September 8th, 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported that 5 civilians were injured and that the strikes killed dozens of goats and sheep owned by a local shepherd and farmer. The strikes also caused substantial infrastructural damage according to Baladi news. There were no further reports of civilian harm.

Furthermore, the SCD pictured the surface-to-surface missiles used that were 9M79 Tochka that carried 9N24 cluster bombs which “don’t explode and turn into time bombs”. The attack took place in the late morning as four warplanes took off from the Russian Hmeimim base at 10:22 and first struck in Hafsarja before moving on to Al Ghafar, a small village in the Sahel al-Roj plain, west of Idlib. There were more than 10 consecutive air strikes. Additionally, the incident took place near an internally displaced persons camp in the area.

The incident was first reported on September 8, 2022 at 10:30 am by .

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Baladi posted an image of the missile in Al Ghafar
  • @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted a photo of the missile which hit Al Ghafir area on September 8th 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • Image via @rana_alassad / Twitter of location of alleged Russian strike in Al Ghafir
  • Russian warplanes allegedly hit Al Ghafir on September 8th 2022 (Image via @tommycats4 / Twitter)
  • Russian warplanes allegedly hit Al Ghafir on September 8th 2022 (Image via @HammamGhazzawi / Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4468

Incident date

September 8, 2022

Location

ديرسنبل, Deirsnbul, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One woman was wounded by reported artillery shelling as a result of either Russian or Syrian regime forces on Deir Sunbal village, south of Idlib, on September 8th 2022.

Apparently the villages of Benin and Shanan were also bombed but there were no injuries reported.

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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

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 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 (4) [ collapse]