Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1759

Location

السحارة, Al Sahara, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1816318, 36.8195627
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1605RS1750)

One civilian was killed and others were wounded in four alleged raids on Al Sahara, Aleppo. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame, with some blaming Russian warplanes and others blaming the Syrian regime. 

Most sources reported that phosphorous bombs and cluster bombs were used in the attack. Additionally, one source claimed that the shelling was continuous.

Civil Defence services collected many of the bomb shells in order to protect civilians. They issued a warning saying,”Civil defence teams wish civilians to be more careful and not to tamper with all the ammunition and un-exploded bombs for their own safety.”

It was additionally added that civilian homes experienced the most extensive damage.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sahara, Aleppo (السحارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.1816318, 36.8195627. 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 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.” 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 (2)