Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1578

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1435RS1570)

Up to five civilians were killed, including a woman and a girl, and as many as dozens more were wounded in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on the Civil Defence Centre for Rehabilitation and Training, and a boys’ school in Al Atarib, according to sources on the ground.

It is unclear as to whether these were two separate locations, or a boys’ school which had been turned into a training centre for the civil defence. Imagery showed desks and paintings in the exterior of the building, suggesting it was once a school. According to sources, the building was rendered inoperable.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible for the civilian harm.

There were reports that not only cluster bombs, but artillery shelling and phosphorous bombs were used in this alleged event.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
2–5
1–2 Children, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
5–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Atarib (الأتارب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.1375975, 36.8284035. 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
Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 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”. Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (5)