Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS895

Incident date

June 12, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 17 and 40 civilians died including up to 18 children – and up to 100 others were wounded – in airstrikes on one of the largest vegetable markets in Idlib, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this major casualty incident was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to the Shaam News Network: “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted a popular vegetable market in Al Furun street near the educational complex in the city of Idlib with several missiles that caused large fires. There were reports of a massacre against unarmed civilians, with body parts scattered across the market”.

It put the initial death toll at 30, with dozens more wounded, adding that most of the bodies were “charred”.

Another report by SNN said that victims were “burnt in cars” and that shops selling fuel were among the buildings bombed “during the rush hour when civilians were making their purchases from the market”.

A very graphic SNN video showed the charred remains of bodies and distressing footage of members of the White Helmets removing victims – with their entrails hanging out – from the scene.

A later SNN report put the death toll as high as 40, while many other reports form other news outlets said that the death count was likely to continue to rise.

However, other sources blamed the regime: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the death toll at 34 (nine children, three women and 22 men).

According to LCCSY, regime “warplanes targeted a vegetables market in the city with two missiles, killing more than 34 civilians and injuring 50 others”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the death of 33 non-combatants in a regime strike, of which 11 were children and one a woman.

Souriat – who was among other sources that didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the event – put the number of wounded as high as 100, adding that 35 civilians died, most of them “burned to death”.

Siryahora tweeted that “18 children were burnt [suggesting they were killed] in a Russian strike” on the market. The tweet included a graphic image of members of the White Helmets holding a charred child victim in the air.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 40
  • (5–18 children1–3 women22 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic video of charred bodies removed from the rubble (Youtube by SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Video shows the destruction caused by several airstrikes by warplanes on areas in Idlib city, one of the airstrikes targeted a popular market area, which killed 34 persons they are 9 children, 3 cictizen women and 22 man" (Facebook Video by SOHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    17 – 40
  • (5–18 children1–3 women22 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS928

Incident date

June 22, 2016

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians including three to four children were killed in Aleppo, according to multiple local sources.

Aljazeera reported that a combined operation of the Regime forces and Russian fighter jets resulted in the loss of civilian life.

The highest death toll, placed at six, was initially reported by Baladi, who alleged one child was killed and an unknown number of others wounded – it blamed the regime.

@SyriaWatanNews tweeted a limited account of events, however detailed munitions used: reportedly “a mortar shell”, fell into the neighbourhood and consequently there was “news of injuries”.

Gulfeyes also documented six victims, including one child, while others were injured, “after being hit by shells fired by opposition factions on the Khalidiya neighborhood and Nile Street in the western part under the control of government forces in Aleppo”.

At present it is unclear which faction was responsible for the deaths of the civilians documented; Russia received three allegations, the Regime two, the remaining sources referred to “artillery shelling” and “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ines Sayrafi
Child female killed
Celine Sayrafi
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Obaid
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1–4 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 (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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 – 6
  • (1–4 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS961

Incident date

June 30, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died including one child and several more people were wounded in airstrikes on Atareb, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Sources reported that the victims were father and daughter.

According to LCCSY the two were killed after “Russian warplanes launched 4 airstrikes on #Atareb city, in the western suburb, in the morning”.

Aleppo White Helmets likewise wrote about the incident on their Facebook page, and provided additional information about the wounded, saying that the strike “injured five others and caused damage to buildings.”

Nine sources pointed to Russia while one, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, attributed the strike to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Aya Ammar Suleiman
Child female killed
Ammar Ahmad Suleiman
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged raids on Atareb (via SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets at the scene, following alleged aerial bombardment on Atareb (via SN4HR)
  • Demolished buildings, the result of alleged airstrikes on Atareb (via SN4HR)
  • A White Helmet buries a civilian following suspected airstrike on Atareb (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive)
  • A video showing smoke rise following "warplane" bombing on the city of Atareb (Youtube via Baladi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS993

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

Al Hadlat camp, near Al Hammad, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

32.857888, 37.820134 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the airstrikes on Al Hadlat camp for displaced persons which reportedly killed up to 30 civilians. The camp is on the border near Al Hammad, in the Hammad Desert.

Saeed Seif, a media activist in Badiyat Sham (Sham Desert), reported that there were more than seven raids on the camp, which used cluster bombs and injured up to 40 people.

Syria Direct claimed that there were five Russian raids which killed 17 civilians  – including women and children – and “wounded others”. Khaberni News placed the numbers of wounded higher at 50, as did the Syrian Newsdesk.

Many of the wounded were taken to Jordanian hospitals for medial treatment.

According to Syrian Newsdesk, “it was very difficult to transport the injured towards the Jordanian border, due to the continued flight of the Russian aviation over the area.”

Multiple sources reported the use of missiles and cluster bombs on the camp.

Against Terrorism said  that more than 20 people were killed in the raids, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the figure at 30 including 2 children.

Khaberni News claimed that “the camp hosts the family of fighters who are working against IS and are supported by the coalition.” The majority of the residents of the displaced camp were originally from Dier Ezzor and had escaped from ISIS control. LCCSY also reported that there were more than 350 families in the camp and most of them were the families of rebels.

The Reuters Report claimed that this was the first attack of its kind near the Jordanian border.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sanna Ali Jakka
Age unknown killed
Anas Mohammad
Age unknown killed
Ranjiha al Alian
Age unknown killed
Sham Hasan al Matar
Age unknown killed
Ismail Mohammad al Kahhal
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Jordanian soldiers take the wounded from the camp near its borders to its hospitals. July 12th 2016, Al Hadlat camp.
  • A Russian warplane allegedly attacked the displaced persons camp near Al-Hammad (Youtube via SMO)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A bloodied child - the aftermath of suspected Russian shelling on Al Hammad (via Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded or potentially dead child - the aftermath of suspected Russian shelling on Al Hammad (via Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child cries whilst laying on the floor - the aftermath of suspected Russian shelling on Al Hammad (via Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently) [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 is not known to have publicly reported on the locations of any airstrikes during July 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1025

Incident date

July 21, 2016

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1834027, 37.1369648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and nine civilians died in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Mashhad neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. The majority of reports, including Al Jazeera, Buraq Media and Syrian PC, blamed the Assad regime for the airstrikes.

According to reports, there was both shelling and the use of explosive barrels which struck and destroyed civilian homes.

Eldora News reported that six people were killed, yet Syrian Press Center put the number slightly higher at nine. Syrian Press Center also claimed that as many as 25 people were injured. Enab News also put the number of injured very high at 20.

At the end of the day Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes launched several raids missiles severe explosion that left significant damage amid news of the fall of many of the martyrs and the wounded”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Unidentified remains were picked from this wreckage following an airstrike in Al Mashhad. July 21st 2016, (via, Enab Baladi).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Chaotic aftermath of the strikes targeting al Mashhad neighbourhood, Aleppo, causing several deaths and many injuries (via the Civil Defence)
  • Chaotic aftermath of the strikes targeting al-Mashhad neighbourhood, Aleppo (via the Qasioun News))
  • Reporter says that regime shelling caused death and injury to the civilians in in Al-Mashhad, Aleppo (via Aljazeera)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al-Masha, Aleppo (via Eldorar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al-Mashhad neighbourhood, Aleppo (via Enab News)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al-Mashhad neighbourhood, Aleppo (via Enab News)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al-Mashhad neighbourhood, Aleppo (via Enab News)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

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
    6 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1057

Incident date

July 27, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten civilians died and as many as 20 others were wounded in an airstrike on a fruit and vegetable market in Al Sakhour, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Ara, Madar Daily, Smart, Syrian Press Center, Qasioun, Syrian Human Rights Committee, JIsrtv, Ahbah7, Halab News, Shahba all blamed Russia for the attack, with death counts varying between five and ten civilians.

However, RFS, Al Jazeera and the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards the regime, while Orient and Halab Today blamed both the regime and Russia. Some other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleh Adnan Baydon
Age unknown killed
Abdo Ahmad al Omar
15 years old male killed
Mahmoud al Mahmoud
45 years old male killed
Mayss Hatem
3 years old killed
Mohammad Abdo Baydoun
32 years old male killed
Mostapha al Omar
25 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • A street in Al Sakhour, demolished by suspected warplanes (via RFS)
  • A member of the White Helmets carries a civilian to safety in Al Sakhour following alleged warplane shelling (via Syrianpc)
  • A local man walks through the rubble in a street in Sl Sakhour, destroyed by alleged warplane shelling (via SHRC)
  • Footage of the destruction in Al Sakhour following a "Russian massacre" according to the source (Youtube via Jisrtv)
  • Significant material destruction adds to the suspected human cost in Al Sakhour (Tweet via @ahbah)
  • The streets of Al Sakhour, demolished following suspected warplane shelling (Tweet via @thiqanewsagency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    6 – 10
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS470 RS1876

Incident date

February 1, 2017

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition, or possibly Russian, airstrike which hit a Syrian Red Crescent hospital in Idlib injured up to a dozen civilians. The Coalition later denied involvement, though a unilateral US action remained possible.

The intended target of the dawn strike appeared to be the militant gropup Fatah al Sham at a base at the former Carlton Hotel. But numerous sources reported extensive damage to a Red Crescent hospital in the city. According to Shaam News “The bombing also caused the injury of nine members of the Red Crescent who were at the center during the raids, where the bombardment caused the interruption of the Centre’s work fully with the service.”

In a video it issued of the event, Step News interviewed a rescue worker at the scene: “At 3am we woke up to the noise of an air raid. We at the civil defence and the fire brigade headed to the target location and saw the Red Crescent centre/carlton hit with a missile that went through from the roof to the first floor. God was merciful as it didn’t reach at the way to the bottom where there were 30 members of the Red Crescent. They would’ve been hit. There are a few injured… we put the fires out and we took the injured to the hospitals.”

Four members of the local civil defence were also reportedly injured while attending the scene.

Multiple sources named Mamoun Kharbout, the head of the Syrian Red Crescent branch in Idlib, as one of the injured.

Most sources blamed the Coalition, although the Syrian Network said Russia may also have been responsible. In April the Coalition stated: “Feb. 1, 2017, near Idlib, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

 

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Mamoun Kharbout
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Members of the SARC Idlib branch pose with four ambulances in front of the Carlton Hotel. The picture was uploaded by their Facebook page on Jan. 17, 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Tweet by ICRC Syria (via Bellingcat)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Translation: Warplanes target the Red Crescent building with airstrikes.
  • Translation: Injured members of the Red Crescent in aerial bombardment on the Carlton Hotel, Idlib.
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 1, 2017

  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 31st-February 1st and February 1st-2nd the Coalition noted no strikes in the vicinity. However unilateral US strikes against Fatah al Sham are no longer reported by CJTFOIR.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1276

Incident date

July 26, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 29 and 36 civilians died in air and artillery strikes in Raqqa over the previous 24 hours, according to local sources. Most reports blamed the Coalition – though one also said that Russia had carried out strikes in the city. It should be noted that the numbers given in these reports are general numbers for the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 29 civilians had died in Coalition airstrikes across Raqqa neighbourhoods over the past 24 hours.

The Shaam News Network, put the figure higher, reporting on July 27th: “Yesterday, 36 civilians were killed and more than 50 wounded by air and artillery shelling of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition for the city of Raqqa. Yesterday, 18 civilians were martyred in a similar attack on the city’s neighborhoods.” Q_Alenzy and Al Jazeera also reported these figures, as did Orient News, who cited the IS media agency A’amaq.

Watan.fm also reported that Russia had carried out strikes, saying on July 27th: “The US-led International Air Force aircraft and the Russian air force carried out two horrific massacres in the city of al-Raqqa, ISIS’s stronghold in Syria. Both sides killed dozens of civilians and injured others.”

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    29 – 36
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in an alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Raqqa, 26th July 2017. (via Dm42007)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Raqqa, 26th July 2017. (via France24)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Jul. 26, 2017, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3130/CS1276 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 26th-27th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, four fighting positions, three supply caches, a command and control node and an ISIS communications facility.” It additionally reported that “On July 26, near Raqqah, Syria, 18 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two command and control nodes, an IED facility, a supply cache, and a logistics node; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On July 26, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and suppressed eight fighting positions.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.

UK Military
  • English
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    Original
Official source

Wednesday 26 July – a Reaper destroyed a terrorist truck in eastern Syria..A Royal Air Force Reaper flew an armed reconnaissance mission over eastern Syria on Wednesday 26 July. A group of armed terrorists were observed boarding a truck, and the Reaper’s crew tracked the vehicle as it headed west along a desert road, some 20 miles south-south-east of Hasakah, before engaging with a Hellfire missile once it was in an isolated location. The missile scored a direct hit which destroyed the truck.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    29 – 36
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]