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 27, 2019

Incident Code

RS3610

LOCATION

اللطامنة, Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria

One adult male civilian was wounded in alleged regime or Russian artillery shelling of Al Lataminah, according to local media. The Smart News Agency, citing activists as its source, reported: “A civilian was wounded as a result of artillery shelling on the town of Latamna, north of Hama, the source of the Russian forces camp in

Summary

First published
March 27, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 16, 2017

Incident Code

RS2800

LOCATION

معرشمشة, Mar Shamsha, Idlib, Syria

A number of civilians were reportedly wounded due to airstrikes on Mar Shamsha. Only two sources attributed blame to Russia while the others blamed the Syrian regime for the raids. According to Shbaballatamneh3, two civilians were wounded by Russian rockets. Qasioun on the other hand reported no civilian casualties. Smart News Agency reported that a

Summary

First published
December 16, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

January 17, 2016

Incident Code

RS417

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

A single source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that “warplanes believed to be Russian” bombed areas in Al Bab city in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The Observatory said the alleged attack resulted in injuries and casualties, including women and children, but did not provide numbers. However, Halab Today TV and North Media Institute said

Summary

First published
January 17, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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 18, 2018

Incident Code

RS3299

LOCATION

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Seven or eight people, including two women and two children, were killed in air and artillery strikes on the city of Harasta on March 18th, 2018, according to several sources. The belligerent remains contested, with sources pointing both at Russia and the Syrian regime. Syriahr reported the incident occurred in the evening, as warplanes carried

Summary

First published
March 18, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 8
(2–3 children2 women3 men)
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
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
7 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Incident Code

RS3338

LOCATION

حرش عابدين, Harsh Abdin, Idlib, Syria

Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Harsh Abdin, Idlib governorate, on March 26th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network. @RFS_mediaoffice reported that “this morning, Russian warplanes attacked the woods of the town of Adbin in the southern Idlib countryside with missiles loaded with cluster bombs.” @HadiAlabdallah tweeted that “Russian

Summary

First published
March 26, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 31, 2018

Incident Code

RS3356

LOCATION

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian and/or regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to the Shaam News Network. @GenevaUpdates reported that “warplanes bombarded the city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib countryside with two air strikes, causing damage to several residential houses, while no injuries were reported.” However, the Shaam News Network

Summary

First published
March 31, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2018

Incident Code

RS3029

LOCATION

اللطامنة, al-Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Several civilians were possibly left wounded as aerial and/or artillery shelling struck al-Lataminah, Hama, local sources reported, who pointed to Russia as responsible. Numerous sources reported how al-Lataminah had been subject to aerial, and possibly also artillery shelling, the latter reported by Hamah Now. However, it was unclear among the sources whether the incident resulted

Summary

First published
February 17, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

September 4, 2018

Incident Code

RS3537

LOCATION

فريكة, Freika, Idlib, Syria

Two civilians were reported killed, and another injured in Freeka town in Idlib, as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on September 4th, 2018, according to local sources. Syrian TV reported that “a civilian was killed and his son was seriously wounded in Russian air strikes on the village of Freeka in Idlib countryside.” Macro

Summary

First published
September 4, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
Suspected target
Al Qaeda/HTS
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 20, 2018

Incident Code

RS3565

LOCATION

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib, Syria

A boy was killed and his sister injured when a cluster bomb from a previous alleged Russian raid on the city of Jisr Al Shughour exploded on October 20th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the bomb was fired. @maraya404 tweeted that “a child is martyred and his sister is injured due to

Summary

First published
October 20, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
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
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident