Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1809

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1691RS1810)

Three civilians were killed – including a man and a woman and a child – and many more were wounded, in alleged air and artillery strikes on Harasta. All sources blamed the Syrian regime for the raids, except LCCSY who blamed Russian warplanes. 

According to sources, the artillery and air bombardment targeted a school and residential neighbourhood.

No specific number of wounded civilians were reported, however one source claimed that “many” were injured. One video showed a child seriously wounded in the aftermath of the raid from the strike which hit his school.

Victims

Individuals

Mohammed Al - Ghorani (Abu Al - Fawz)
Adult male football player of Harasta Sports Club killed
Hala Al - Qaseer
Child female killed
Ayman Haidar
killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
1–3
1 Child, 1 Woman, 1 Man
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Harasta (حرستا), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.55869, 36.36515. 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.”
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (4)