Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS0605

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R529RS603)

Up to five civilians died in airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that multiple Russian warplanes targeted Aleppo on February 13th, adding that there were 20 strikes on Tel Rifa’at, but they did not report any casualties. Shahba Press also blamed Russia for carrying out more than 20 strikes, and put the death toll at five.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights at least five victims died when regime warplanes missiles fired on Tel Rifa’at. Step News Agency referred to strikes by both Russian warplanes and Syrian military helicopters.

One victim was named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The VDC later named five other victims killed in a Russian strike.

According to a tweet by Sharafabood, an “Emir of Jabhat el Nusra, Abdul Salam el Sun“, was also killed. Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also named him as killed in a Russian strike.

Victims

Individuals

Adult male Listed by VDC, also known as Abo Jameel killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC, possibly same as Hassam Hamadeh killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
4–5
4–5 Men

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tall Rif`at (تل رفعت), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.472576, 37.096272. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed