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 Code

RS834

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Al Castello road Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.197971, 37.1656697 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 15 civilians died when a bus was struck on the Al Castello road, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The Shaam News Network initially reported regime warplanes killed six civilians when they “fired near a bus on Al Castello Road“.

However, SNN later appeared to change their position and blamed Russia for the incident and suspected 10 civilians killed who were attempting to flee the city of Aleppo. In a second report by SNN the death toll was reported to have risen to 14. SNN later alleged both warplanes and helicopters were part of the offensive.

Syrian Human Rights Committee, Radio AlKul and Jisr TV all attributed the incident to Russia.

According to the video published by Jisr TV,Russian warplanes attacked a mini van on the Castello Road and killed 14 civilians, including children and women. There were 10 burned vehicles and the road is very dangerous.”

But other sources, including Qasioun and Syria News Desk, said that the regime was responsible, with Qasioun reporting that “regime planes threw an explosive barrel on Castello Road” which hit the bus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was among other sources who blamed warplanes, but did not identify them.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "warplanes target Castello road and Al-Jandoul with four missiles" (Tweet by @HalabTodayTV)
  • "More than 13 died in warplanes attack on Castello road" (Tweet by @longing4janna) The URL is no longer live, the image is a screengrab taken from Airwars archive.
  • "the civilians who died in regime air raids on Castello" (Via Qasioun News Agency Youtube)
  • A Youtube video posted by Jisrtv alleged 14 killed including women and children. They mentioned the burning of ten vehicles and noted the danger on the road. (Youtube by Jistrtv)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS866

Incident date

June 6, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians died in an airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local sources – though it was unclear from reports whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The Shaam News Network, reported that 21 civilians died in Aleppo “in the first day of Ramadan in regime and Russian bombing“. It put the death toll in Kafr Halab at five civilians.

In a video posted by SNN the reporter talks about helicopters and warplanes but also mentions barrel bombs.

Soreoooo pointed towards Russia, and said that they used cluster bombs in the strike.

According to Shahba Press, “the death toll rose following Russian warplane shelling in Kafr Halab, with five people from the same family killed.”

Al Buraq Media blamed both “Russian and Syrian warplanes”, while according to Eldorar, five civilians from one family died, though it didn’t identify who was responsible.

Similarly, a number of other reports didn’t name the culprit.

However, Free Aleppo Police blamed the regime, reporting in a video that  warplanes targeted a police station.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Regime forces target the police station in Kafar Halab" (Youtube by Free Aleppo Police)
  • A report on the presence of warplanes, helicopters and barrel bombs in the region. (Video by SNN Facebook)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS898

Incident date

June 13, 2016

Location

المعادي, Al Ma'adi (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1914827, 37.1630799 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians died in an airstrike on Al Ma’adi, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

Among the sources blaming Russia were LCCSY and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

According to SN4HR, at least three civilians including two children died.

LCCSY put the death toll at two.

However, according to @read19971El, the regime was responsible. It said that an unspecified number of civilians died and six others were wounded. @A_lef_ also blamed the regime.

@HalapTodayTV put the death toll as high as four, but as with a number of other sources, didn’t identify the culprit.

@thiqnewsagency named two victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulaziz Assi
7 years years old killed
Alaa Assi
27 years years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS931

Incident date

June 23, 2016

Location

‏الشيخ احمد‬, Sheikh Ahmad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1511189, 37.5288154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to four civilians including one woman and two children died and an unknown number of others were wounded – reportedly mostly women and children – in airstrikes on Al Sheikh Ahmad village, Aleppo, according to local sources. All sources but one blamed Russia.

A later report by Step News Agency said the death toll had risen to three: two children and one woman. The report said that a cluster bomb had been fired by an unidentified faction.

Two child victims by Syria2011, the source reported that they had died after sustaining injuries from “bombing of Russian aviation”.

However, activists told Aljazeera that “Syrian warplanes” carried out the attack – though nearly all other sources alleged Russia responsible, with two sources pointing to “stereochemistry rockets” used by the Russian aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manaf al Hasoun
Age unknown killed
Omar Yusuf
9 years old killed
Yasser Fawaz
8 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS964

Incident date

July 1, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Heavy airstrikes on Hraytan – which local sources blamed on either Russian planes or Syrian regime helicopters – killed two named children. According to the Syrian Observatory the town was also attacked with artillery.

One local source, Syrian Press Center, said that “Russia and the regime carried out 40 raids, and threw 30 explosive barrels, 45 gas cylinders, and more than 200 artillery rounds and missiles in Hraytan.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Shahad Ahmad al Hilou
15 years old killed
Mohammad Ahmad al Hillou
11 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage of a missile strike on the city of Hraytan (via hretancity)
  • Photos of strikes hitting the city of Hraytan (via @sweat_1111)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS996

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an airstrike which was reported to be both Russia and the Syrian regime, one child was alleged killed. The incident took place in Kafra Hamra.

The Syrian Newsdesk blamed Russia for “five raids” which not only killed a child, but also left 12 “seriously wounded”. Syrian Pulse, however, reported that there were more than 15 Russian raids on the area.

A pro-regime news page claimed that Russia carried out “more than 200 raids in Kafr Hamra, Hraytan, Hayan, Anadan and Asia”. Another pro-regime news page added to the list with “Kafr Hamra, Hor, Babis and Maarat Al Arteek” and also openly blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

Halab Today and other local news sources reported explosive barrels were thrown down by helicopters – a weapon known to be used by the regime.

Syriatwitte put the death toll at two and also documented the use of explosive barrels.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Haj Ibrahim
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Helicopters with explosive barrels targeted Kafr Hamra in the Northern countryside of Aleppo on July 12th 2016, killing a child. (via. Shero_Alo on twitter)
  • Footage of material destructiuon in Kafr Hamra, in addition to scenes of child victims recieving medical treatment following suspected Russian and Regime strikes (Youtube via Thiqa)
  • Buildings in part demolished by alleged warplanes in Kafr Hamra (via Step)
  • A plume of smoke rises from the scene in Kafr Hamra where alleged Russian and Regime warplanes attacked (via Step)
  • Suspected warplanes attack in Kafr Hamra (Tweet by @Step_Agency)
  • Footage of a news programme in which host reports of civilian death in Kafr Hamra (Youtube by Jisrtv)
  • The White Helmets bury the child Ibrahim Haj Ibrahim after he was killed in alleged warplane attacks on Kafr Hamra (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1028

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 10 year-old child named Jamil Mustafa was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Ferdos neighbourhood, according to LCCSY.

Despite this claim, a pro-regime Twitter page reported that “Syrian warplanes targeted armed groups in Ferdos and Kallaseh neighbourhoods and injured some armed members.”

Step News reported sighting helicopters which threw explosive barrels on the neighbourhood.

BNN_2016 added that not only Ferdos but Sukkari and Sheikh Sa’id were also hit in the raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jamil Mustafa
10 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1060

Incident date

July 27, 2016

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians died and up to six others were wounded in Bustan al Qasr, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the deaths.

Abdulkarimlaila blamed Russia, but most sources did not identify the culprit.

Orient News and Rojava, however, referred to both Russian and Syrian planes.

Zamanalwasl blamed the regime, while Ara News reported that several explosive barrel bombs fell on Bustan al Qasr.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Imad Kala’aji
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Destruction on the streets of Bustan al Qasr following alleged warplane shelling (Tweet via @Smart)
  • Dust and rubble on the streets in Bustan al Qasr, the impact of suspected warplane shelling (Tweet via @Pleaspost)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]