Listed are all known reports – via generally credible sources unless otherwise indicated – of non-combatant deaths allegedly caused by Russian aircraft in Syria for September 2015. As Russian airstrikes only began on September 30th, only one day is included. We include reported locations, dates and reported casualty numbers, as well as the names of victims where known. Also cross-referenced are any known airstrikes in the vicinity – and any Russian response to a reported incident. We explain our grading system here. Please note that some photos are masked because of their graphic content. Masks will disappear when your cursor is placed over them.
This Russian dataset is part of our broader analysis of international airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria, and their effects on non-combatants. Also see our reports on alleged casualties by the US-led Coalition for 2016, for 2015 and for 2014.
Airwars monitors media and social media sites in Syria for claims of coalition-inflicted casualties. We also collate reports from regionally-focused monitoring groups which include:
Syrian Network for Human Rights
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Violations Documentation Center
Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently
White Helmets
Bellingcat (geolocation of strikes)
Russian Ministry of Defence
Please note this is an organic dataset, which reflects our latest current understanding of any particular event. Reports are subject to change.
If you are a family member who lost loved ones in an airstrike listed here or elsewhere on the Airwars site and would like to get in touch – or ask us to remove a photo or to add another – then please contact us at info@airwars.org
إذا كنت من عائلة فقدت أحد من أفرادها الاحباء في غارة جوية كتبنا عنها هنا أو في أي منشور على موقع airwars و تود الاتصال بنا – او طلب إزالة صورة للضحية أو اضافة اخرى – يرجى الاتصال بنا على info@airwars.org
September 30th, 2015: (R001) Zafaraniya village, Homs governorate, Syria
Summary: Fifteen non-combatants were reported killed at the village of Zafariniya in Russia’s first wave of airstrikes in support of the Assad regime.
According to the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, Russian warplanes targeted “ISIS dens” in al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Zafaraniya in Homs province; Al-Tilol al-Hmer, in Qunaitra province; Aydoun, a village on the outskirts of the town of Salamiya; Deer Foul, between Hama and Homs; and the outskirts of Salmiya.”
At Zafaraniya, according to SN4HR, 15 civilians were killed “including two children and five women.” Following a field investigation the Violations Documentation Centre also put the death toll at fifteen.
Citing an eyewitness, VDC noted; “Two attacks were launched on the southern entrance to the village, specifically on four adjacent civilian houses.There were neither military locations nor an ISIS presence in thetargeted area. Unfortunately, fourteen civilians, many unidentified, were instantly killed and more than thirty others were injured in the two strikes. Following this, at 10:00 am, warplanes targeted the area of al-Makramiah, south-west of Zaafaraneh village. As a result, a young man was killed and eight civilians were injured.
On that day, the air strikes did not stop, they continued targeting the southern part of the village at about 11:00 am, causing injury to eight more people.”
Ten of the victims were named by VDC as:
Hasan Al-Hammad – man
Mahasen Al Hammad – woman
Abed al-Jabbar al-Alawi – man
Reem Khaled al-Akkari – woman
Samira al-Khateeb – woman
Deba al-Khalaf – woman
Rahaf al-Habash – girl
Muhammad Ahmad Al Rajab – man
Ritaj al-Khateeb – girl
Khaled Al Qassab – man
Russian media made no mention of civilian casualties – with TASS refering only to “pinpoint airstrikes” against what were described as ‘ISIS targets.’
Civilians reported killed:15, including 2 children and 5 women
Reported injured: 46
Sources: CNN, TASS, Russian Defence Ministry [YouTube], GRAPHIC Child badly injured at Talbiseh [YouTube], BBC News, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian Network for Human Rights, Violations Documentation Centre, Damaged houses in Zafaraniya [YouTube], Violations Documentation Centre (2), White Helmets [Tweet]
Quality of reporting: Fair
Russian position: The Russian MoD has confirmed carrying out airstrikes on September 30th 2015, though did not give precise locations: “Today the Russian aviation, which was located at the Syrian airfield Hmeymim, performed high accuracy strikes against international terrorist organization ISIS. The attack jets with modern armament hit eight facilities, including munition, armament and POL storages, combat vehicles, command and communication posts. All targets have been successfully engaged. The pilots completely destroyed HQ and coordination centers of the ISIS troops located in the mountains.”
Rescuers search for victims of a Russian strike at Zafaraniya, Sept 30th 2015 (via Anas Abu Adnan/VDC)
Activist Anas Abu Adnan captures the moment of an alleged Russian airstrike on Zafaraniya, Sept 30th 2015 (via VDC)
Damaged houses in Zafaraniya, Sept 30th 2015
Russian strike against ‘ISIS targets in Syria. 8 targets hit,
terrorist HQ & coordination center completely destroyed.’
September 30th 2015
September 30th, 2015: (R002) تلبيسة Talbiseh, Homs governorate, Syria
Summary: Up to 18 non-combatants were reported killed at Talbiseh by Russian aircraft in their first day of bombing in Syria.
Paramedic Omar Al Daqa, based at one of Talbiseh’s field hospitals, told VDC: “Around 10am, Russian warplanes launched several fierce airstrikes, targeting a number of neighborhoods with vacuum missiles, including: Karameh, Bareed and Mashjer streets, as well as the city’s bread distribution center. The shelling was along one track with almost 100 meters between each missile. As a result, 17 civilians were killed, 34 were wounded and one is missing (probably torn into pieces).”
At least one of those killed – civil defence volunteer Abdul Latif al Duheik – died during a secondary strike.
A doctor named as ‘Abu Sham’ also noted that “We received 65 wounded with injuries from minor to critical. Among them, there were cases of suffocation as a result of dust and smoke. As for the martyrs,they were killed by the enormous pressure or shrapnel that pierced their bodies and tore some of them into pieces.“
Victims were named by VDC as:
Eido Ahmad Joumaa
Latouf Ahmad Joumaa (child)
Moussa Mahmmoud Joumaa
Ahmad Mohammed Joumaa (child – pictured)
Huda Muhemed
Khaled Al Qassab
Muna Sulaiman Al Aror
Tawfeeq Abdul Ghani Al Duhaik
Yamen Mohammed Joumaa (child – pictured)
Bilal Ahmad Joumaa
Abdo Mahdi Khashfeh
Ahmad Ibraheem Al Duhek
Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman Al Sheikh
Mustafa Khaled Wakeh
Abdul Lateef Al Duhek Al Wawi – White Helmet rescuer
Joumaa Al Shnat (Al Qado)
Retaj Al Khateeb (child) from Zafaraniya
Khaled Omar Hadeed is reported missing believed dead
Victims Yamen Mohamed Joumaa and his brother, Ahmad Mohamed Joumaa (via Talbeeseh Network)
According to the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, Russian warplanes targeted “ISIS dens” in al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Zafaraniya in Homs province; Al-Tilol al-Hmer, in Qunaitra province; Aydoun, a village on the outskirts of the town of Salamiya; Deer Foul, between Hama and Homs; and the outskirts of Salmiya. Russian media made no mention of civilian casualties – with TASS refering only to “pinpoint airstrikes” against what were described as ‘ISIS targets.‘
Amnesty International later noted, “According to the testimony of two eyewitnesses whom Amnesty International interviewed, complementary testimony, audiovisual material of the direct aftermath of the attacks and reports received from human rights defenders in and from Homs there were no military targets in the vicinity and there were no military casualties. Armed groups allied with the Free Syrian Army controlled the area but were not located in the town itself.”
Civilians reported killed:17-18, including 4-5 children and 2 women
Reported injured: 65-72
Sources: CNN, TASS, Russian Defence Ministry [YouTube], GRAPHIC Child badly injured at Talbiseh [YouTube], BBC News, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian Network for Human Rights, Violations Documentation Centre, Violations Documentation Centre (2), Syrian Network for Human Rights (2), Aftermath of Talbiseh strikes [YouTube], Post-strike Talbiseh [YouTube], White Helmets [Tweet], White Helmets (2) [Tweet], White Helmets (3) – unexploded Russian ordnance [Tweet], Buzzfeed, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International,
Quality of reporting: Fair
Russian position: The Russian MoD has confirmed carrying out airstrikes on September 30th 2015, though did not give precise locations: “Today the Russian aviation, which was located at the Syrian airfield Hmeymim, performed high accuracy strikes against international terrorist organization ISIS. The attack jets with modern armament hit eight facilities, including munition, armament and POL storages, combat vehicles, command and communication posts. All targets have been successfully engaged. The pilots completely destroyed HQ and coordination centers of the ISIS troops located in the mountains.”
Aftermath of Talbiseh strikes, Sept 30th 2015
Unexploded Russian ordnance at Talbiseh from October 1st strike
September 30th, 2015: (R002a) الرستن Al Rastan, Homs governorate, Syria
Summary: According to SN4HR, Russian actions reportedly killed eight or more civilians – including four children, most from one family – in a further series of strikes as part of the Kremlin’s first day of military action in Syria.
VDC placed the toll at 11 civilian deaths, with its local contact reporting: “Russian warplanes, likely Sukhoi jets, targeted the southern entrance to Rastan city at about 11:30 am, destroying a simple house for civilians of the al-Taweel family, causing the death of six civilians and injuring several others, although the area had no military significance.”
An anonymous local doctor added that “five others passed away after succumbing to their wounds, bringing the death toll up to 11 civilians.”
VDC named some of the dead as:
Ahmad Al-Taweel (father)
Bassam Ahmad Al-Taweel (child)
Muhammad Ahmad Al-Taweel (child)
Khaled Ahmad Al-Taweel (child)
Iyad Kasem Al-Deek (child)
Mousa Ma’amoun Al-Deek (child)
According to the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, Russian warplanes targeted a number of “ISIS dens” in Homs, though locals insisted there was no Daesh presence at Al rastan. Russian media made no mention of civilian casualties – with TASS refering only to “pinpoint airstrikes” against what were described as ‘ISIS targets.’
Civilians reported killed:8-11, including 5 children
Reported injured: 40
Sources: CNN, TASS, Russian Defence Ministry [YouTube], BBC News, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian Network for Human Rights, Violations Documentation Centre, Russian airstrikes at al-Rastan [YouTube], Violations Documentation Centre (2), Syrian Network for Human Rights (2), White Helmets [Tweet]
Quality of reporting: Fair
Russian position: The Russian MoD has confirmed carrying out airstrikes on September 30th 2015, though did not give precise locations: “Today the Russian aviation, which was located at the Syrian airfield Hmeymim, performed high accuracy strikes against international terrorist organization ISIS. The attack jets with modern armament hit eight facilities, including munition, armament and POL storages, combat vehicles, command and communication posts. All targets have been successfully engaged. The pilots completely destroyed HQ and coordination centers of the ISIS troops located in the mountains.”
Footage of alleged Russian airstrikes at al-Rastan
September 30th, 2015: (R002b) المكرمية Al Makrmeya, Homs governorate, Syria
Summary: A single source, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that a Russian airstrike at Al Makrmeya had killed a non-combatant. No other details were given.
Civilians reported killed:1
Reported injured: Unknown
Sources: Syrian Network for Human Rights, White Helmets [Tweet]
Quality of reporting: Weak – presently single source
Russian position: The Russian MoD has confirmed carrying out airstrikes on September 30th 2015, though did not give precise locations: “Today the Russian aviation, which was located at the Syrian airfield Hmeymim, performed high accuracy strikes against international terrorist organization ISIS. The attack jets with modern armament hit eight facilities, including munition, armament and POL storages, combat vehicles, command and communication posts. All targets have been successfully engaged. The pilots completely destroyed HQ and coordination centers of the ISIS troops located in the mountains.”
September 30th – October 1st, 2015: (R003) جسر الشغور Jisr al Shughour, Idlib governorate, Syria
Summary: The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Allegedly Russian warplanes shelled Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Jisr Al Shoughour city, killed one individual and destroyed the mosque completely.” Footage showed the mosque and surrounding houses to be severely damaged, with other reports placing the death toll higher. One victim has been publicly named as 17-year old Marwan Mustafa.
Two videos were posted. In one, a rescuer tells the camera: “The man that was killed never carried a gun nor a stick. He’s an old man under the rubble, we’re pulling him out now.” Baladi News reported that five civilians were killed at the mosque.
Amnesty International later published its own findings, concluding that the strike “killed one civilian immediately, mortally wounded another and injured six more; Amnesty International has obtained the names of all eight individuals. According to one eyewitness interviewed by Amnesty International, there were no military casualties and no military targets in the vicinity, with the nearest checkpoint some 500m away.”
The international human rights group also noted: “On 1 October 2015 a Russian Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated that Russia’s air force had targeted IS infrastructure and had destroyed one such command post in Jisr al-Shughour. On 30 October, following the emergence of reports and images showing that the Omar Bin al-Khattab mosque had been destroyed, Colonel-General Andrey Kartapolov stated that such information was a “hoax” and presented a satellite image claiming that the mosque was still intact. However, the satellite image showed a different mosque, not the one destroyed in the attack.”
Civilians reported killed:2-5
Reported injured: 7
Sources: Syrian Network for Human Rights, [Arabic version], Damage to the mosque (YouTube), Rescuer at mosque (YouTube), Baladi News [Arabic], Radio al Kul [Arabic], Tweet on casualties, Amnesty International,
Quality of reporting: Fair
Russian position: The Russian MoD confirms carrying out airstrikes on September 30th-October 1st 2015, though did not give precise locations: “Russian Aerospace Forces engaged another four ISIS facilities this night. Su-24M and Su-25 aircraft performed 8 sorties eliminating the staff of terrorist groupings and an ammunition depot near Idlib as well as a three-level HQ centre near Hamah. As a result of a pinpoint bomb attack, a plant aimed for preparation of cars for terrorist attacks located in the north of Homs is completely destroyed.
All the airstrikes of the Russian aviation are coordinated with the Command of the Syrian Army. An operational group of the Ministry of Defence of the Syrian Arab Republic is deployed at the Hmeymim airbase for these purposes.
To prevent engagement of civil population, the targets for the Russian aviation are assigned only outside inhabited areas and only on the basis of confirmed reconnaissance data received from multiple sources.
To provide necessary information concerning the positions of terrorists and the results of their engagement, unmanned aerial vehicles and means of space reconnaissance are used.”
Mosque at Jisr al Shughour, allegedly damaged in Russian airstrike
Sept 30th 2015