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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
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Incident Code

RS753

Incident date

April 12, 2016

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentations Center named Abdulhameed Ghassan al Afeif (also known as Hamadah) as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike.

However according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, he died when regime warplanes fired missiles on the Al Hamidiyeh neighborhood.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulhameed Ghassan al Afeif
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Hamid Ghassan Al Afif, killed in an airstrike on Deir ez-Zor, April 12th (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

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 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS786

Incident date

April 30, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four non-combatants died in airstrikes on Bab al Nairab, according to local sources. The majority of reports indicated that this was a regime incident, though Shaam News Network also suggested that Russia could also have been responsible. A news roundup blamed both Russian and the regime, reporting “the 9th consecutive day bringing death and destruction carried out by the Russian Aviation and the Assad regime, bombing districts of Aleppo and the targeting of civilian homes and vital facilities.” It documented four deaths in Bab al Nairab. The Syrian Network also put the death toll at four and blamed the regime. In a tweet it spoke of “4 victims at least”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “about 20 airstrikes” targeted 10 neighborhoods in Aleppo – including Bab al Nairab – on April 30th. They did not say who the warplanes belonged to, but added that the strikes “killed at least two people in Bostan al-Qasr and Bab al-Nairab.” According to a tweet by ShababRevolution “the Bab Al-Neyrab cemetery was bombed by Assad’s warplanes.”

Enab Baladi put the death toll at 5 and spoke of 10 wounded. A video by Halab News shows injured and dead in Bab Al-Nairab, though offered no more information. It was furthermore reported in a tweet by Yasmin Alsham and a video, that the “Aleppo water pumping station in Bab Al-Neyrab is out of service due to warplane missiles.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • Rescue team working in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via HNN)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via SPC)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via ShababRevolution tweet)
  • Victim of the airstrikes targeting Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Zakaria_nassani tweet)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Halab News)
  • The man in the video says the airstrikes has put the station out of service leaving Aleppo out of water (via Idara al-medina al-Khidmat Youtube)
  • Airstrikes targeting Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo and the immediate aftermath (via Aboalhodahoms tweet)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS818

Incident date

May 30, 2016

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Numerous sources including LCCSY and Baladi News reported that civilians had been wounded in an alleged Russian or regime strike on farms around Ltamenah city. 

LCCSY and the Damascus Coordination Committee blamed Russia, while Radio Al Kul said the regime was responsible. All other sources only cited unidientified ‘warplane strikes.’

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ 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 May 1st – 31st.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS851

Incident date

June 5, 2016

Location

بابيص, Babis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2465575, 37.0250416 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two non-combatants were killed in an airstrike on Babis, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

LCCSY reported that one civilian died and six others were wounded in a Russian strike on the town.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the regime was responsible: it published an image of cluster incubator remnants fired by government warplanes on Babeis town in Aleppo governorate, June 4″.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Image of cluster incubator remnants fired by government warplanes on Babeis town in Aleppo governorate, June 4 ' (via SN4HR)

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
    1 – 2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS883

Incident date

June 10, 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

Up to four civilians including one woman and one child died in an airstrike on Hraytan, according to local sources – though it’s unclear form reports whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

LCCSY, pointed towards Russia, saying that  one civilian died as a result of “shelling by vacuum missiles and cluster bombs“.

A later report by LCCSY said that a woman died.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed the incident to Moscow, putting the death toll at at least two.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime. It  made no mention of civilian deaths but said that four Ahrar Asham militants were killed in shelling.

According to Anadan Media, warplanes dropped cluster bombs on Baghdad Street, though the source didn’t identify the culprit.

Both Step and Alburaq Media reported that four people died (with Alburaq Media blaming both Russia and the regime), however, neither source said whether the victims were non-combatants.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Mustafa Anadani
male killed
 Mohammed Sha’ban Masri.
42 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (22) [ 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
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS915

Incident date

June 18, 2016

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1320519, 38.9661026 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died at midday on June 18th, after incurring injuries from alleged Russian airstrikes on Hazima village, northern Ar Raqqah, local media reported.

Baladi News said that the man died, “as a result of military aviation targeting al Hazima  village” in the midst of “great destruction in the region”.

Though Baladi did not specify that the planes were Russian other sources such  as LCCSY and Nabd News attributed the event to Russia.

This is the only information we have on this civilian casualty incident at present.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Nour Ahmad al Hamidi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohammad Mour Ahmad al Hamidi killed following alleged Russian strikes (via RBSS)
  • "Warplanes row bundle al Hazima of the village in the countryside of northern Ar Raqqahh" (via Ar-Raqqahh-post Youtube)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS949

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Surgical Hospital, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two airstrikes hit the hospital in al-Bab city, causing the death of up to eight civilians, including two children and wounding up to 20 more. Included in the death count were up to five medics and two bodyguards. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Baladi News received reports from two medical staff who told the source that the air raid caused “The martyrdom of eight civilians, including a baby girl and injury of 20 others”.

Likewise, the Free Syrian Army reported that: “Heavy shelling targeted the hospital wounding four of the medical cadre and the martyrdom of two bodyguards of the patients in the hospital. Additionally, a baby girl who was in an incubator died because her oxygen supply was cut off by the bombing”.

The culprit was contested. Syria News Desk attributed the strike to the Syrian regime, putting the death toll at five, including a doctor. It added that ten others, including five of the medical staff, were wounded.

Four other sources – Syrian Network for Human Rights, Halab News Network, Step Agency Bews and Jsirtv – reported that the airstrikes were carried out by Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians pulled from the rubble in al-Bab following suspected airstrikes (Tweet by @jisirtv)

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS981

Incident date

July 10, 2016

Location

بشنترا, Bashentra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2211157, 37.0027251 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that four civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bashentra.

Burqa News reported “Russian warplanes carried out shelling with missiles and cluster bombs”.

Ara News placed the number of wounded at 10, whereas Step News said that as many as 50 were injured. It said that some of the injuries were serious and that some people “were sent to hospitals in Turkey.” Qasioun also reported that dozens of injured were sent to local hospitals and medical centres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Russian munitions left following suspected strikes on Bashentra (Tweet by @RevolutionSyria)
  • Smoke rises after alleged strikes on Bashentra (via syrianpc) [Image attributed to more than one incident]
  • Clouds of smoke above Bashentra after suspected Russian warplane shelling (via Radio Kull)

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 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]