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

RS1833

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

جبل الاربعين, Jabal Al-Arba'een, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.805363, 36.618816 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A leader of the Islamic Party of Turkmenistan (jihadist group) was killed following an alleged Russian raid on a residential building he was occupying. Four of his children and three women were also reportedly killed in the raid.

Additionally, in what became a double raid, 20 members of the civil defence were injured in a second raid whilst attempting to dig people out of the rubble following the first raid. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the incident.

An entire building was destroyed, according to sources.

Out of the 20 civil defence members wounded, three cases were serious.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defence are attacked as they attempt to dig bodies out of the rubble following a Russian raid on Jabal Al-Arba'een, 13th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defence are attacked as they attempt to dig bodies out of the rubble following a Russian raid on Jabal Al-Arba'een, 13th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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 specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1878

Incident date

February 3, 2017

Location

ميادين, Al-Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians were killed and 28 injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Mayadeen, in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, according to local media.

The source Sharqiya Voice reported: “Russian MOD says that five planes targeted IS positions in al Mayadeen. The Sharqiya correspondent confirmed that the areas targeted were civilian with no connection to IS.”

The death toll varied across sources, Al Jazeera stated as many as seven died whilst 7al reported that there was only one death – both cited dozens of injuries.

Shariqya Voice reported that 28 were wounded in the attack.

An RT report included: “A statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry [which] said: ‘Long-range bombers  (T-22M3) after they took off from Russian territory, and crossed the Iranian and Iraqi airspace, conducted an air strike, on terrorist sites in the city of Mayadeen, in the countryside of Deir al-Zour…The target of the air strike was huge warehouses of arms and ammunition’.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ali al Hussein
Adult male killed
Mohammad Saleh al Hussein
Child male Mohammad lost his legs during the attack. injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–28
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Witnessed a Russian bombing on the city of Mayadin countryside #Deirzur, killing seven people.
  • Translation: Russian planes bomb terrorists in the countryside of Deir al-Zour.
  • Translation: Eastern Deir Ezzor, al Mayadeen - the signs of Russian raids on the city.
  • Translation: Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside - Mohammad Ali al Hussein - one of the martyrs of the Russian raids on al Mayadeen.
  • Translation: Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside - al Mayadeen - the signs of the Russian raids on the city last night showing great destruction in civilian homes.
  • Translation: Photos of the raids that targeted al Mayadeen today.
  • Translation: Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside - the child Mohammad Saleh al Hussein lost his legs following Russian long range missiles fired on al Mayadeen a few days ago.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–28
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1912

Incident date

February 20, 2017

Location

حي تشرينشارع الحافظ , al Hafez street, Tishreen neighbourhood, eastern Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55284, 36.337538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what was largely reported as a regime attack, seven civilians including up to two children and two women died in an airstrike on al Hafez street, in Damascus’ Tishreen neighbourhood.

On February 20th, the Step News Agency reported: “Assad’s regime continued its military campaign on the eastern neighborhoods in the capital Damascus for the third consecutive day, while preventing the exit of civilians and the families from the Barza neighborhood and allowing the exit of school and university students only.

“The Step correspondent spoke of a Russian fighter carrying out a strike with guided missiles on Hafiz Street in the Tishreen neighborhood at about five minutes past nine o’clock on Monday February 20th. This led to the death of seven people, including two children and two women. Additionally, dozens more civilians were wounded – some critically, and were taken to nearby medical points for treatment”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also put the death toll at seven (including a child and a woman) – and blamed the regime – as did LCCSY.

However, Halab Today attributed the event to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2679

Incident date

November 3–4, 2017

Location

الجلاء, Al-Jalaa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.632043, 40.830081 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six to seven civilians were killed – including three children and a woman – following airstrikes on Al-Jalaa, according to local media. Some sources blamed Russia, while the other did not attribute blame.

Four out of the six civilians killed were reportedly from one family, however, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “6 civilians from the same family, including 3 children and a woman, displaced from al Sukkariya village in Deir Ez-Zour governorate eastern suburbs, killed as suspected Russian warplanes fired missiles on al Jala’”.

While Syrian Observatory reported that “3 children were killed in shelling by warplanes on areas in Al-Jalaa village”.

There is confusion as to the date of the strike, which occurred between the 3rd and 4th. Sources mostly differ on the date therefore Airwars have assessed it to have occurred between these dates.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Mufleh Al-Nu'man
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Rahman Mufleh Al-Nu'man, killed in airstrikes on 4th November 2017. (via Shabab)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS174

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including two women and one child were reported killed in an airstrike on Al Buliyal.

While most sources blamed Russia, the Damascus Centre said that both regime attacks and Russian aircraft were responsible.

VDC later named five victims.

An additional male civilian fatality, the husband of Amira Muheisen al-Elkeh, has been died. Moreover, another girl by also named reportedly died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Khalaf al Milhem
Adult male husband of Amira Muheisen killed
Amirah Muheisen al-Elkeh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Belal Aboud Hadeed al-Elkeh
Adult male named by VDC injured

The victims were named as:

Abdulwahed Shams al-Rahhal
Adult male named by VDC killed
Bassel Ahmad Souileh al-Melhem
Adult male named by VDC killed
Remal Basheir al-Sattam
Adult female named by VDC killed
Maha Ghazi al A’bbad
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The second news summary 21/11/2015 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Buliyal (البوليل ), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.20253, 40.37126. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS304

Incident date

December 23, 2015

Location

حي العمال, Al Oummal (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3222686, 40.1443005 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including one child and five people from the same family were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Oummal, according to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and the Violations Documentation Center.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that Russian raids killed five members of the Wais al-Saleh family.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Wais al-Saleh family 1
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 2
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 3
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 4
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 5
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Saed Amer al-Saleh
Adult male killed
Omer al-Askar
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child6 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Saed Amer al-Saleh, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child6 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS496

Incident date

January 29, 2016

Location

الصالحية, Al Salhiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7133253, 40.7575607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a second day of alleged Russian strikes on the town, up to nine civilians including two children and one woman were killed at Al Salhiya, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at seven, including two children and one woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad
Age unknown male “displaced from Al Jora neighbourhood“ killed
Mohammad Al Tarman
Age unknown male “displaced from Al Jora neighbourhood“ killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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

RS1691

Incident date

November 25, 2016

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians were killed and up to seven others were wounded, including women and children, in alleged Russian airstrikes against Hatla village in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that at the time of reporting, many civilians were in critical condition and the death toll was expected to rise from the four killed that was at that time reported.

According to the correspondent from D24 News, Russian planes “directly targeted the houses of civilians in the town, killing six civilians, three of them unidentified and wounding several others.” Other sources, including Step News Agency and Euphrate Pos, corroborated that report and and also attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes.

The Furat Post noted that extensive destruction of residential buildings resulted from the airstrikes. Images posted by the Euphrates Pos show the structural damage and collapse of the homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Hamid al Gharib
30 years old killed
Child of Abdel Aziz Hamid Al-Gharb
8 years old killed
Hassan Tawfiq
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Smoke bellows over Hata following an airstrike, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a civilian home in Hatla, Nov 25th (via Euphrates Post)

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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]