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)

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Incident Code

RS1371

Incident date

September 30, 2016

Location

كقر بطنا, Kafr Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and nine civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Kafr Batna in Eastern Ghouta.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at three including one woman with “others” wounded. According to Enabbaladi, “nine people, including seven children, were killed as a result of the targeting of a residential area in the city.”

KafrbatnaCity2011 identified eight victims by name while one more victim who couldn’t be identified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Sidra Abdel-Alim,
Child female killed
Mohammed Abdul-Alim
Child male killed
Jojo Abdul Alim
Child killed
Ola Abdul-Alim
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul Razzaq al-Haristani
Age unknown male killed
Khayr Muta’a
Age unknown female killed
Maryam Derkzali
Age unknown female killed
Ngham Rabie
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4–7 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

  • A girl is being carried away from the destruction caused by the contested bombs in Kafr Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Skynewsarabia)
  • Injured or killed civilian is being carried away in the aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Karf Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Enabbaladi)
  • An injured boy is being carried away follwing the contested airstrikes that targeted Kafra Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Eldorar)
  • Chaotic aftermath in the town of Katna Bar follwing the contested airstrikes, 30th September 2016. (via Eldorar)
  • An injured child is being carried away follwing the contested airstrikes that targeted Kafra Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Eldorar)
  • Aftermath after the contested airstrikes that targeted Kafra Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Eldorar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the contested strikes on Kafr Batna showing the widespread destruction and injury it caused, 30th September 2016. (via Step News)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Kafr Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Douma.Revolution.2011)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Kafr Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Douma.Revolution.2011)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Kafr Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Douma.Revolution.2011)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Kafr Batna, 30th September 2016. (via Douma.Revolution.2011)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4–7 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

RS1405

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Location

الموحسن, Mohassein, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2257487, 40.3109038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including a mother and her child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mohassein in Deir Ezzor, according to sources on the ground.

According to Deir Ezzor 24, “Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes with cluster bombs of Al Abad which led to the martyrdom of two people, and wounding a large number of civilians as a result of the explosion of the cluster bombs”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hajja Maha
Adult female wife of Mot’eb Ramadan killed
And the son of Walid Al-Ayfan
Child male killed
Al Haj Salem al Mukhalaf
Adult male an elderly man, who later died from wounds sustained in this event. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Hajja Maha, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via MousaAlomar)
  • "Warplanes with cluster bombs target Al-Labed street in Mohssein in eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor." (via, Deirezzor24)
  • Al Haj Salem al Mukhalaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Euphrates Post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1437

Incident date

October 12, 2016

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, a mother and her two children, were reported killed in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Jarjanaz.

Shahba reported: “Two children were killed with their mom in a Russian warplanes shelling in Jarjanaz and others wounded.” Halab Today TV published a similar report.

All of the other sources reported that a woman and her two children were killed in the strike.

LCCSY, for example, wrote: “a woman and two children were martyred and dozens of others wounded due to Russian airstrikes with highly explosive rockets on Jarjanaz town east of Maarat Al Numan.”

However, Qasioun blamed the regime for the three deaths.

Anasanas84 tweeted that a man was found alive under the rubble, but his wife and two children died in the attack. The source added that the victims were displaced from Soran in Hama.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Jarjanaz, Oct 12th (via Smart News)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in in Jarjanaz, Oct 12th (via All4Syria)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Syrian News Desk)
  • A crater formed by an airstrike. (via Omar Alwan1)
  • Footage showing the damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via Maara Media Centre)
  • Damaged vehicles due to the alleged raid. (via Alidddd99)
  • Civilians stand by the crater which was formed by the alleged missile which hit Jarjanaz. (via Alidddd99)
  • Civilians stand by the crater which was formed by the alleged missile which hit Jarjanaz. (via Alidddd99)
  • Civilians stand by the crater which was formed by the alleged missile which hit Jarjanaz. (via Halab Today)
  • Footage showing the scale of destruction to civilian homes. (via EMC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jarjanaz (بنان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.617076, 36.783132. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1469

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.212011, 37.171227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians died in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Maysar neighbourhood, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russia, though one said that the Syrian regime was active in Aleppo’s skies on this day, meaning its involvement in this casualty event can’t be ruled out.

Halab News listed seven unidentified civilians as killed in a Russia strike. Shahba Press was among other sources also blaming Russia and putting the death count at seven.

However, according to Zamanalwasl, “warplanes of the regime and its Russian ally intensified its air raids on the neighborhoods in the eastern section of Aleppo”, including an Al Maysar. It also said seven civilians died in the attack.

A number of other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1501

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 10 civilians including one child and one woman died and as any as 30 more were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Douma, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame for the deaths, with sources reporting that both parties carried out actions on this day. Many sources referred to the use of cluster bombs and rockets.

But in a later post, the source said that “civilians were martyred due to Assad’s forces shelling on Douma city with cluster bombs”. A popular market was reportedly struck.

The Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and the regime putting the number killed at five with dozens more wounded.

However, other sources attributed the event to only the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that one child and a woman were among five people killed; the Syrian Observatory put the death toll at six; while the highest death count – of eight civilians with 30 more injured – was given by @syria1news1, who blamed “heavy shelling of markets and schools in Douma” – though the source didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Baraka
Child male named by LCCSY killed
Salah Bweidani
Age unknown named by LCCSY killed
Samer Muhammad Takla
Age unknown named by LCCSY killed
Ahmad Daloul
Age unknown named by LCCSY killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Damage in the streets of Douma following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • Damage to a car in Douma following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • Damage in the streets of Douma following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • Damage to a shop in Douma following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid, Oct 24th (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties are wrapped in white sheets by members of the White Helmets following an alleged raid on Douma, Oct 24th (via Douma Coordination Committee)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties are wrapped in white sheets by members of the White Helmets following an alleged raid on Douma, Oct 24th (via Yasser Al-Doumani)
  • Damage to vehicles in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via Enabbaladi)
  • Image showing damage to parts of the market in Douma. (via syria1news1)
  • Image showing huge amounts of destruction. (via Alamawi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1765

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

سَرْمِين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 10 civilians, including three to five children, a woman, and three men, were killed and at least 15 others were injured in airstrikes against the town of Sarmin in Idlib, according to sources on the ground – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The wounded were taken to a local field hospital to receive medical treatment. Most sources reported at least nine or 10 civilians were killed while only @HalabTodayTV published the low estimate of five civilian deaths.

According to Syria News Desk, the town of Sarmin was under the control of the opposition at the time of airstrikes. The airstrikes reportedly struck a popular market, causing widespread destruction of buildings and homes. Many of those killed were refugees from other besieged areas that were seeking shelter in Sarmin.

The majority of local sources, including the Local Coordination Committee of Syria and @MousaAlomar, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes. However, there were reports from Syrian Network for Human Rights that regime planes carried out the attacks.

Other sources, including Syria News Desk and @Alkhabar_Agency, were not able to definitively identify who to blames and listed both Russian and regime planes as carrying out airstrikes in the area.

Graphic images and videos from the scene of a civilian massacre in Sarmin showed the bodies of adults and children killed in the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleh Habab
Age unknown killed
Omar Faris Habab
Child killed
Tahseen Jamal Al-Din
Age unknown From Darayya killed
Mohammed Jamal Al-Din
Age unknown From Darayya killed
Ghaith Saleh Bare
Child killed
Jameleh Hafar
Age unknown female Wife of Mustafa Abboud killed
Tariq Majed Samoud
Child killed
Abdul Samad Mufid Samoud
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (3–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images from the scene of a civilian massacre, Sarmin - Dec. 6th (via youtube)
  • Civil Defense teams rescued civilians from the rubble following the airstrike, Sarmin - Dec. 6th (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The victims of airstrikes against Sarmin - Dec. 6th (via @SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sarmin (سَرْمِين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.904302, 36.728363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (3–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4495

Incident date

March 1, 2020

Location

كفرنتين, Kafar Natin, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians, including one child were killed, and three to six others were injured as a result of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on a residential gathering in Kafr Natin near Dar Ezza in Aleppo, on the morning of March 1st 2020 according to Local sources.

Most of the sources claimed that Russian forces were responsible for the airstrikes, while few others including SNHR blamed the Syrian regime.

Arabic news agencies and other local sources initially reported the killing of 4 civilians, however SCD-Aleppo documented the names of 5 killed civilians: young Mahdi Al-Jarr, young Raji Abdullah, young Hassan Ibrahim Jameel Al-Jarr, young Imran Jamil Al-Jarr, and the child Muhammad Abdul Kafi Mustafa who was a student at Al- Yarmouk school.

Ibrahim Abu laith from Syrian Civil Defense said that five civilians, including one child, were killed and three others were wounded as a result of air strikes by warplanes, targeting a house in the village of Kafar natin west of Aleppo. SCD-Aleppo named the injured as Jamil Al Jarr, Barakat Jamil Al-Jarr and Zaki Jamil Al-Jarr and mentioned that 3 other injured were unidentified patients. Syrian Civil Defense added that some of those that were wounded were in critical condition.

A few local sources including Halab today TV reported that the residential gathering attacked was close to a Turkish point. The Syrian Civil Defense added that two air strikes were carried out against the village of Kafr Natin.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Mahdi Al-Jarr مهدي الجر
male killed
Ibrahim Jameel Al-Jarr براهيم جميل الجر
male killed
Imran Jamil Al-Jarr عمران جميل الجر
male killed
Jamil Al jarr جميل الجر
male injured
Barakat Jamil Al Jarr بركات جميل الجر
male injured
Zaki Jamil Al Jar زكي جميل الجر
male injured

The victims were named as:

Raji Abdullah Hassan راجي عبد الله حسن
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Abdul Kafi Mustafa محمد عبدالكافي مصطفى
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Civilian homes were reportedly targeted in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Civilian homes were destroyed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Civilian homes were reportedly targeted in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers at the site after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Natin on March 2nd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).

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
    4 – 5
  • (1 child3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4528

Incident date

October 31, 2020

Location

نحلية, Nahliya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.847491, 36.600351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed, and three others, including one elderly woman, were injured as a result of alleged Russian or Iranian airstrikes or explosion of a suicide drone in the village of Nahlia, in the vicinity of the town of Ariha, south of Idlib on the afternoon of October 31st, 2020 according to Local sources.

One source only (@atif781Osman) mentioned the killing of “at least one civilian” due to airstrikes by a drone on a workshop while workers “were picking olives in the agricultural lands of the village of Nahlia”. No other source mentioned any detail on the number of civilians that were reported killed. However, all of the sources claimed that civilians were injured in this incident. The majority of the sources including Syrian Civil defense reported that three civilians, including an elderly woman, were wounded and added that “the civil defense teams responded to the incident and worked to aid the wounded and secure the place”. Step News agency claimed that the three civilians were “seriously injured”. On the other hand, some other sources such as Syrian journalists Mohamed Al-Daher (@Mohamed2Aldaher) and Ibrahim Yasouf (@ibraheem890) claimed that one woman and one man were injured.

Some sources including Syrian civil defense and Syrian Observatory of Human Rights mentioned that the attack was on people harvesting olives in the village of Nahlia. Other local sources (@SRoudinah2, @muhammadamory1) reported that a car in the village of Nahlia was attacked. Nevertheless, according to Enab Baladi News the commander of the Ariha sector in the Civil Defense, Walid Aslan, said that “civilians working in the olive fields in the vicinity of the village of Nahlia, were targeted by suicide drones. One of them exploded near a car belonging to civilians, injuring three people, including an elderly woman who sustained a head injury”.

Sham News and a tweet by (@SRoudinah2) pointed out the use of new weapons in the attack. Some of the sources including Step News Agency and Halab Today TV mentioned that there were airstrikes specifically from a drone, while others including Al-Jisr News agency and Idlib TV reported that there was an explosion of the suicide drone. However, One source on twitter called Resala post (@resalapost) claimed that the drone actually crashed to the ground.

The majority of the sources who named the belligerent in their reporting on the incident blamed Russian forces for the attack. However, few local sources including the journalist Mohamed Al-Daher (@Mohamed2Aldaher) and the activist Hafez Taraman (@hafeztaraman) claimed that the suicide drone that attacked the civilians was Iranian.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three civilians, including a woman, were injured after being targeted by a drone while they were working in the olive fields in the village of Nahle, south of the city of Ariha in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • A woman was injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via SCD).
  • A woman injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020 is assisted by SCD members. (via SCD).
  • SCD volunteers seen next to a car after it was struck by a Russian suicide drone in Nahla, Idlib on October 31st, 2020. (via SCD).
  • The woman who was injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • The woman who was injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via MMC)
  • The car that was struck by a Russian suicide drone in Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via MMC)
  • An image shared by MMC Facebook page of the suicide drone allegedly used by Russia on October 31st, 2020 on a car in Nahla village.
  • An image from the hospital after an alleged Russian attack with a suicide drone on Nahla village. (via MMC)
  • An image from the hospital after three civilians were injured in alleged Russian suicide drone attack on Nahla village in Idlib. (via SY24)
  • Three civilians were injured in alleged Russian suicide drone attack on Nahla village in Idlib. (via SY24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the village of Nahliya (نحلية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.847491, 36.600351. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (36) [ collapse]