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 date

March 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS742

LOCATION

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria

Two civilians died in an airstrike on Hasreen, eastern Ghouta, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. According to the Shaam News Network, the raids were “launched by a Russian Sikhoi 24“. The network reported: “Activists said the shelling today focused on the

Summary

First published
March 23, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
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 belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

March 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS740

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

One young adult male civilian died in an airstrike on Palmyra according to local sources, though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Qasioun reported: Palmyra City was the target this morning of intensive raids by Russian aviation, amounting to about 35 strikes, in which aircraft

Summary

First published
March 23, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS741

LOCATION

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Ten civilians including four children died in airstrikes on Deir ez-Zor, according to local sources. Most reports blame the Assad regime. Shaam News said the strikes had been carried out by “Syrian and Russian planes”. It reported 20 injured non-combatants in addition to the ten killed. However, both Step News Agency and Baladi said that

Summary

First published
March 23, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10
(4 children1 man)
Civilians reported injured
20
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

RS739

LOCATION

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

According to two sources – Syria_Omar and Syrian Press Center – two power station workers died in a strike on plant in Maskanah. Syria_Omar reported: “Warplanes launched 12 air strikes on the city of Maskaneh on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of workers of the power plant in the city after the station targeted by

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

RS738 CS192

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident. The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
39 – 43
(5 women8 men)
Civilians reported injured
60
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition
Named victims
14 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 18, 2016

Incident Code

RS737

LOCATION

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

One civilian died in Talbisah while trying to defuse a Russian cluster bomb, according to multiple sources. Other reports said that both Russian strikes and regime artillery shelling killed a number of other civilians, though didn’t specify numbers. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Houssien Abdul Kareem Al Deheik, a 38-year-old trainer in

Summary

First published
March 18, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 18, 2016

Incident Code

RS736 CS191

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Between 15 and 20 civilians including up to eight children and five women died in airstrikes on Ar Raqqah, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one source suggesting the warplanes responsible may have belonged to the

Summary

First published
March 18, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 20
(3 children3 women4 men)
Civilians reported injured
25–40
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition, US-led Coalition
Named victims
10 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 17, 2016

Incident Code

RS735

LOCATION

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One child, Hozaifa Hasan al Enaizan, from the village of Tabya Shameih was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mahimideh, Deir ez-Zour, according to the Violations Documentation Center. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that he died after the explosion of a cluster bomb left from a previous Russian bombing. Four other sources

Summary

First published
March 17, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS190 RS734a

LOCATION

أبو قلقل, Abu Qalqal, Aleppo, Syria

Two civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the town of Abu Kalkal. Opinion was split as to whether the attack was Russian, Coalition or Syrian regime in origin. Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Media, the Syrian Observatory, the Syrian Network, the Syrian Human Rights Committee, Shaam News and al Hall Media all said the attack

Summary

First published
March 13, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Incident Code

RS734

LOCATION

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

At least one child was killed in Douma according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was a Russian airstrike or the result of regime artillery. Shaam News, reported: “Russian planes carried out raids on Douma neighbourhoods which was preceeded by artillery shelling. One civilian was killed and others were

Summary

First published
March 13, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Incident Code

RS731

LOCATION

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Between five and ten civilians died and 10 more were injured in an airstrike on Al Salheen which violated a ceasefire, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime. Janobia reported that Russian raids on Al Salheen killed 10 civilians and wounded

Summary

First published
March 13, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 10
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Incident Code

RS732

LOCATION

كفرنبل‎, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

One adult male civilian may have died in an airstrike on Kafr Nabil, according to two local sources. The VDC listed Jameel al Ekel as a victim of a Russian strike but says the victim is from Kafr Nabil, and doesn’t state where he was killed. Fresh News reports the same victim killed  “in warplane

Summary

First published
March 13, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Incident Code

RS733

LOCATION

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Between seven and eight civilians including three children and one or two women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sukhna, according to local sources. Shaam News reported that eight civilians including were killed and more than 10 others injured on alleged Russian raids on Sukhna. SNN added: “The co-ordinating city of Palmyra said that in

Summary

First published
March 13, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 8
(3 children1–2 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 12, 2016

Incident Code

RS729

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

The Violations Documentation Center listed one unidentified woman as a victim of an alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
March 12, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 12, 2016

Incident Code

RS730

LOCATION

ماضي, Maadi, Aleppo, Syria

Two civilians including one woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maadi, Aleppo, according to local sources. Ana Press reported that a Russian strike “resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians and massive destruction of the residential buildings”. The victims were also named by Syrian Human Rights Committee and other sources.  

Summary

First published
March 12, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS727

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

One 14-year-old girl, Nour Ahmad al Abdulla ‘al Najm’, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hazm farms, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS728

LOCATION

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Between 15 and 19 civilians died in an alleged airstrikes on a public bus in Palmyra,  according to local sources. According to Alarby, Homs Media Center and Shaam News, 15 died and 20 more were injured when Russian warplanes targeted a bus on the road from Palmyra to Raqqa. Eldorar reported that Russia continued to

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 19
(1 woman8 men)
Civilians reported injured
20
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
9 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS726

LOCATION

الجنينة, Al Jneina, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between two and six civilians including one woman and one girl died when the remains of a bombed exploded in the village of Al Jneina. The Violations Documentation Center listed two unidentified adult male victims, and said that they died from an explosion of remnants of a cluster bombed that had been dropped by Russia.

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 6
(1 child1 woman2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS724

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Several civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Palmyra, according to local sources. Al Jazeera reported that “a number of people were killed, including women and children, as a result of dozens of continuous Russian air raids days ago on residential neighborhoods and archaeological city. others were injured in the city of Palmyra in

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS725

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

According to the Shaam News Network: “four people were killed when Russian enemy planes targeted a civilian transport vehicle on the road from Palmyra to Deir Ezzor.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that “four people were killed from the same family when the Russian warplane targeted their truck (which is a refrigerated

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS721

LOCATION

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

A woman and her teenage son died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local sources. The victims were named by Halab News – who blamed Russia – as Anas Ahmad Khatib and Fatima Khatib. Two additional sources, Allairamon Today and Anas Naif, also named them and said that Russia was responsible

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS722

LOCATION

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Seven civilians died and at least 10 others were injured in airstrikes on the Salheen neighborhood of Aleppo. While three sources alleged that Russia was responsible, a fourth said this was the work of Assad regime warplanes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was “informed that no less than 5 people were killed

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(2 children2 women3 men)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Incident Code

RS723

LOCATION

أبو دالية, Abu Dalia, Hama, Syria

Three civilians including two women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Abu Dalia, according to local sources. Baladi News reported: “One male and two females were killed in warplane raid targeted center of Abu-Dalyeh town in Eastern countryside of Hama.” The Shaam News Network said: “In the eastern countryside Russian enemy planes

Summary

First published
March 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 10, 2016

Incident Code

RS720 CS188

LOCATION

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

At least two civilians including a girl and a woman died in airstrikes on the town of Khusham. While the majority of the sources allege that this was a Coalition incident, other reports say Russia was responsible. According to Free Deir Ezzor, Russian raids targeting oil fields in Khusham killed two civilians displaced from Qaryatain,

Summary

First published
March 10, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 20
(1–8 children1 woman)
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 belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 10, 2016

Incident Code

RS719

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

One woman and her child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Palmyra, according to multiple sources. Shaam News Network reported that a girl was killed and several others injured in dozens of alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra. It published a video showing bombing on neighbourhoods – though it is not clear whether this is

Summary

First published
March 10, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 9, 2016

Incident Code

RS718

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

At least three civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra, according to local sources. Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes launched more than 150 raids targeting neighbourhoods in Palmyra, resulting in the dozens of civilians being killed and injured “as well as significant damage and the outbreak of

Summary

First published
March 9, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 8, 2016

Incident Code

RS717

LOCATION

الجنينة, Al Jneina, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One adult male civilian died in an explosion from the remains of a cluster bomb in Jneina, Deir Ezzor, allegedly dropped by a Russian warplane, according to multiple sources. Four sources named the civilian as 45-year-old Sawadi Salloum, all saying he was killed in a cluster bomb explosion following a raid that morning.  

Summary

First published
March 8, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Incident Code

RS715

LOCATION

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Six civilians including two to three children and one woman died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Orm al Kubra according to multiple local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported a “massacre due to suspected Russian forces shelling on regime forces shelling in Owrm Al Kubra town in Aleppo governorate in March 7“. It said

Summary

First published
March 7, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(2–3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Incident Code

RS716

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Two civilians – one woman and a child – died in an airstrike on Palmyra according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. Shaam News Network reported: “Russian planes supported Assad’s forces by bombing clash points. They targeted the city of Palmyra with

Summary

First published
March 7, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 woman)
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 belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Incident Code

RS714

LOCATION

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Between 15 and 23 civilians died and up to 132 were injured in airstrikes on Abu al Duhur, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. There were claims of a ‘double tap’ strike – with aircraft returning to attack rescuers. In a series

Summary

First published
March 7, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 23
(1 child3 women11 men)
Civilians reported injured
30–132
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
11 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident