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

CS442 RS1829

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

شارع تل أبيض, Tal abyad Street, Ar Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed – including a girl and a man – and others were wounded, following an airstrike on a bakery and a falafel restaurant in Raqqa, according to local sources. Sources were conflicted regarding who was to blame, some blaming the US led Coalition, and others blaming Russian warplanes. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

According to Raqqa 24, “Coalition planes targeted al Andalus bakery as well as the area behind al Rawda restaurant in al Majma’ street”. Baladi also attributed the incident to the Coalition. Additionally, Al Haal reported that “planes thought to belong to the coalition bombs a bakery and a restaurant in Raqqa.”

According to a source the bakery was rendered inoperable.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that “warplanes” – it didn’t identify them – carried out raids at midnight striking the following locations in Raqqa: Al Amir restaurant opposite the Health Care building, and Al Andalus bakery on Tal Abiyad street. It said two civilians died in the raid on the bakery including a child and a bakery worker.

Many sources also claimed that residential buildings were destroyed in the raid.

The man who died was allegedly a baker who worked at Al Andalus bakery. It is worth noting that the man died on the 15th due to wounds sustained in an airstrike. Although the reporting does not mention where he sustained wounds, Airwars researchers and assessors have determined as he was from Palmyra (the same town as the other victim) and there were few other strikes in the vicinity at this time, he was wounded in the attack on the bakery.

One source reported that members of Daesh were allegedly injured in the raid.

In a video interviewing civilians from Raqqa, one man says “this is the crusader planes.. Look what he’s done.. They’ve destroyed buildings, they’re destroying people, they’re destroying Muslims. We here are Muslims. They have struck a whole building.” Another says “they’re hitting a bakery. This is people’s livelihood”. According to Airwars researchers this is an ISIS propaganda video.

On March 4th – in a reference to this event – the Coalition reported: “Jan. 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rimas Mohammad Mraweh
Child female killed
Mahmoud Al Othman al Wajeeh 
Age unknown male From Palmyra, Homs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Rimas Mohammad Mirwah, aged three, killed in an airstrike on a bakery in Raqqa, Jan12/13th. Sources blamed both the Coalition and Russia (via RBSS)
  • Rimas Mohamad Abdullah Merwah (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that 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 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 30 oil refinement stills, six fighting positions, three oil tanker trailers, an ISIL headquarters, a weapons cache and an oil well headand”.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1262 RS2366

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Location

الميادين شارع الاربعين, Al Mayadin, Al-Arba’eeb street, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.017721, 40.447309 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians died in airstrikes on Al-Arba’eeb street in Al Mayadin, local media said – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition, of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Step News Agency, Almayadeen, Syrianpc and Radioalkul were among the sources that pointed towards the Coalition. Almayadeen reported: “civil sources in the city of Al-Mayadeen told the Syrian SANA agency that aircraft belonging to the Coalition, led by the United States, bombed Al-Fansh junction in the city on Monday morning at peak time as people headed to their work on agricultural land and at shops, causing the death and injury of dozens of civilians and serious damage to infrastructure and property”. Enab Baladi added that while “it could not confirm the identity of the flight that carried out the strikes, some accounts said it belonged to the international coalition flight.”

According to Hasaka Rasd, “air strikes by warplanes at 8 am targeted the end of Al-Arbaeen Street next to the intersection of Al-Fansh in the city of Al-Ma’adien in the eastern suburb of Deir Al-Ghazal, killing five civilians and wounding others.”

Two unidentified martyrs and a number of wounded.” The Violations Documentation Center in Syria also listed Abdel Samad al Sakan and Abdul Qadir al Sakan and added that another four civilian males were killed in the attack. The documentation center identified the “international coalition forces” as the culprit.

A later report by Euphrates Post added that raids had specifically targeted “the house of Abu Aziz and the houses of Dr. Hawash Al-alyan and Maawiya Jajan”.

However, according to RFS Media Office and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Russia was likely responsible for the raids. RFS Media Office said that “residential buildings” were targeted by Moscow’s warplanes. Alghadalsoury was alone in saying that the strikes were “probably” carried out by the regime.

Ahmad Shibli reported that in addition to five deaths, dozens more civilians were wounded. He didn’t identify the “warplanes” responsible. Deir Ezzor Free added that strikes targeted “Al-Arbaeen Street and the surroundings of Al-Nour Mosque”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdel Samad Al- Sakan
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Qadir Al – Sakan
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Hossam Saleh Abdullah Al – Hamad
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hossam Saleh Abdullah Al-Hama, killed in a raid on Al-Arbaeen Street, July 24th 2017. (via Hasaka Rasd)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 24th-25th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes destroyed 14 ISIS oil stills and five well-heads.” It later also added that “On July 24, near Abu Kamal, Syria, one strike destroyed three ISIS oil stills and a vehicle.”

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.’

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 – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1490 RS2438

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

الزباري, Al Zabari, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.1292971, 40.3955095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two woman died and eight other civilians were wounded in an airstrike on a school which was housing displaced people in Al Zabari, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether the Coalition or Russia carried out the strike.

According to Syrian Press Center, “an air strike targeted a girls’ school housing a number of displaced people in the town of Zubari on Thursday evening”. Other sources also reported that the school was struck but didn’t identify the culprit.

Step News Agency said that the Coalition carried out a raid on Al Zubari, while Sharqiya Voice blamed Russia, reporting that “a woman was killed and others were injured in a raid by the same planes [Russian] on a refugee school in the town of al Zubari. This resulted in the death of two women and injury of 8 others in addition to material damage”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the airstrike targeted a girl’s school housing displaced people in the village of Al Zabari (الزباري), the coordinates of this village are: 35.1292971, 40.3955095. There was a Russian cruise missile attack that day which hit a school in Al Zabari, as seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiFkGYmed6A&feature=youtu.be&t=14s. The coordinates for this school are: 35.11430, 40.393429

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 al Zabari, Deir Ez Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two tactical vehicles, an ISIS fuel station and a fighting position.”

For September 14th - 15th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles". It later reported, "On Sept. 14, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria six strikes destroyed an ISIS UAS, a fighting position, an ISIS supply route and suppressed three fighting positions"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Friday 15 September – a Reaper supported coalition airstrikes near Dayr az Zawr, and delivered two attacks itself against extremists in the open, whilst Typhoons destroyed a Daesh-held building… On Friday 15 September, a Reaper was again very active north-east of Dayr az Zawr; it provided support to coalition airstrikes which destroyed three Daesh-held buildings, then conducted two attacks on its own account with Hellfire missiles against terrorists moving through the area. Nearby, a Typhoon flight bombed a further Daesh-held building.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1105

Incident date

August 6, 2016

Location

ملس, Malas, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.0041874, 36.4885569 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Thirteen civilians, including three to five children and two women, were killed and up to 30 more were wounded is missile strikes on Malas town, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Reports said that two of the four to six strikes directly hit Al Amal hospital, which specializes in pediatrics. At least four of those killed were hospital workers and both the operation and ICU rooms were completely destroyed. According The Guardian, the hospital provided medical care to an area of 70,000 – people that didn’t have access to another hospital close by – and received 250 patients a day.

The majority of sources assigned responsibility to Russian warplanes, but the Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the planes as belonging to government forces and their allies; while Alaraby and @ALAMAWI identified only the regime as being responsible.

Smart described the plane as being a Russian model “Sakhuy 24” warplane.

Graphic Videos and images documented the structural destruction and the injuries to the victims of the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Tareq Awad Abdul Baqi
50 years old male ambulance driver from the town of Mehambal. named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Abdul Qader Abdul Baqi
Age unknown medic, named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Tareq Abdul Baqu
Age unknown medic, named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Mohammad Bakran
Age unknown a medic from Mar’yan, named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Ziad Ghali
Age unknown a medic from Bsanqoul, named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Mustafa Mosab Amin
Child named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Yasmin Ahmad Da’boul
Child female named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Nadiya, known as Um Esam
Age unknown named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Mohammad Alaa Qarmou
Child male named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Eman Stouf
Child female named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Manal Qarmou
Age unknown named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Hamdi Abdel-Assi
Age unknown named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Mohammed Khatib
Age unknown named by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Human Rights Committee killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • (3–5 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • 'Tareq Awad Abdul Baqi, age 50, ambulance driver, from Mehambal town in Idlib governorate, died in government warplanes and its allies’ missiles fired on Al Amal Surgical Hospital in Malas town in Idlib governorate, August 6.' (via SN4HR)
  • The inside of the hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, The Guardian)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of an injured child waiting for medical assistance. (via, SN4HR )
  • The hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via, Shaam News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man receiving medical treatment following a targeted attack by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime forces. (via, Alaraby News)
  • A boy is rescued from the rubble following a targeted attack by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime forces. (via, Syriahr)
  • Attempts to clear the rubble following a targeted attack by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime forces. (via, Baladi News)
  • The aftermath of the raid. (via, Syrianewsdesk)
  • Images of inside the hospital. (via, SHRC)
  • Aftermath of the incident. (via, SN4HR)
  • AN injured man receives medical treatment following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Smart News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Malas (ملس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.0041874,36.4885569. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • (3–5 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1137

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

تفتناز, Taftanez, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.996045, 36.787730 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians including one named women, and children, died and as many as 25 more were wounded in an airstrike on Taftanaz, local media reported. Reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

RFS media office and Halab Today TV were among sources that blamed Russia. Halab Today put the death toll at eight non-combatants.

A number of other sources put the death count four – with the Syrian Network for Human Rights reporting that “at least three people died”. SN4HR pointed to the regime, as did Syrian Press Centre and Alsouria.

The highest toll was given by Freedom News – at 11, “mostly women and children” with “25 more injured.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rouboaa Khatib
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Rouboaa Khatib, killed in an alleged Russian an Syrian Regime raid on 13th August 2016. (via, VDC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid showing damage to the infrastructure as well as wounded civilians being taken in an ambulance. (via, Aboamer ghazel)
  • An Al Jazeera news bulletin documenting the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Al Jazeera Arabic)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Taftanez (تفتناز). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we were able to narrow down the location to these exact coordinates: 35.996045, 36.787730.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Exact Location","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"coordinates":[36.78773,35.996045],"type":"Point"}}]}

  • Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Imagery:
    Abdullah Amer Ghazal

  • Imagery:
    Al Jazeera

  • Imagery:
    Abdullah Amer Ghazal

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 August 12th – 13th 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 – 11
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1169

Incident date

August 19, 2016

Location

الغنطو, Ghantou, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten named civilians including two children and two women died and dozens more were injured in airstrikes on Ghantou in Homs, local media reported. The majority of sources blamed the Assad regime, though some others attributed the event to Russia.

Smo-syria, @syriapost1, @ALAMAWI and Halab Today said that Russia was responsible. Halab Today put the death toll at 11 including two children and one woman.

However, LCCSY pointed to both Russia and the regime, reporting that “22 civilians died, mostly due to air strikes on Al-Ghantu and Talbisah”.

But most other reports attributed the event to the Assad regime.

A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. For example, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported three strikes, killing “at least 13 people, including a male child, a female child, four citizen women and a judge”.

RFS Media Center added that “one of the raids targeted a school in the town”.

The Violations Documentation Center, who blamed “Syrian government and affiliated militias” named 13 civilian fatalities. They also named Farid Abd Al Satar Othman, a fighter, as killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Rayed Abdulla al-Ahdab
Adult male killed
Ahmad Khaled al-Ahdab
Adult male killed
Mahran Khaled al-Ahdab
Adult male killed

Family members (5)

Fatme Ghassan al-Kenn
Adult female killed
Ghufran Ghassan al-Kenn
Adult female killed
Ramiye al-Kenn
Adult female killed
Shijaa Hassan al-Kenn
Adult male killed
Taybe Hsain al-Kenn
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Abdul Rahman Omar Obeid Jahwani
Child male killed
Radiye Khaled Jahwani
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Ayman al-Basha
Adult male killed
Mustafa Mohammad al-Hsain "al-Qadi"
Adult male killed
Mustafa Nabhan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children2–4 women7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on Ghantou, Aug 19th (via SND)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casulties are carried from the scene following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Motasem homs)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A family of civilian casualties in the aftermath of the raid which killed up to 13 civilians. (via, SN$R)
  • Mehran Khaled Ahdab, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Ahmed Khaled Ahdab, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Raed Abdullah Ahdab, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Taiba Hassan Alken, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Shujaa Hassan Alken, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Farid Abd Al Satar Othman, fighter. (via, VDC)
  • The exact moment the alleged raids fell. (via, Srg-syria)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties. (via, Ghantou homs)
  • A news bulletin highlighting the destruction. (via, Ghantou homs)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man seeks help following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, RFS Media Center)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On August 19th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "at 10:55 in the morning, the Zeliony Dol and Serpukhov small-sized missile ships of the Black Sea Fleet during the combat maneuvering performed 3 launches of cruise missiles Kalibr from fire positions in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea against facilities of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist grouping in Syria.
As a result, a command centre and a terrorist base near the Dar-Taaza inhabited area as well as a plant manufacturing mortar munitions and a large depot with armament were destroyed in the Aleppo province. The objective monitoring data confirmed the elimination of the planned targets." They added that allegedly "for the security of civilians, the flight path of the cruise missiles was planned over uninhabited territories".

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children2–4 women7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1202

Incident date

August 31, 2016

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child, named as 15-year-old child died and up to nine others were wounded in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, local media reported. However, it was unclear who was responsible: most sources didn’t apportion blame – though others pointed to Russia and the Assad regime.

According to @SyrianArwad, “Russian and Syrian warplanes launched air raids on Altmanah, Taftanaz, Binnish, Khan Sheikhoun and Saraqib”.

Among sources blaming Russia were LCCSY and Syria News Desk.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights didn’t mention civilian harm, but reported that “government warplanes bombed near Khan Sheikhoun, causing damage to a warehouse and its contents.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mouhammad Abu Dei
15 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Abo DI, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • The exact moment the raid hit Khan Shaykhun, 31st August 2016. (via, Kaes idelby)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via Syrian PC)

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 August 20th – 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
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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

RS1234

Incident date

September 6, 2016

Location

باتبو, Batbo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.13447, 36.73979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians died and as many as 15 were wounded in an airstrike on an oil factory in Hazano, according to local media. While most sources attributed the event to Russia, two pointed towards the Syrian regime.

Orient news and LCCSY put the death toll at three, with LCCSY adding that 15 civilians were wounded. Some other sources said one civilian died.

However, Syrian Press Center and Halab Today put the death toll at eight.

According to Syria News Desk, “in the western Aleppo countryside Russian planes launched three raids on a factory used to extract olive oil south of the village of Batbo, which led to the death of 8 civilians and the injury of 15 others – most of them workers at the factory, which is owned by civilians. The raid also caused the total destruction of the factory and its exist out of service.”

Two sources – Baladi and Kafr_Zayta – reported that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The Civil Defense team extinguishes fires at the oil factory in Hazano - the result of suspected Russian warplane shelling (Youtube via Baladi)
  • Local people at the site where alleged Russian warplanes struck in Hazano (via Syrianpc)
  • Major fires blaze in Hazano due to suspected Russian shelling on an oil factory. Footage shows the efforts of The White Helmet rescue mission (Youtube via CDI)
  • The White Helmets hose the remains of a building in Hazano. Fires blazed between Hazano and Batbo - resulting in civilian casualties (Tweet via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Photographed from a vehicle - plumes of smoke rise above the oil factory in Hazano, the impact of suspected Russian shelling (Tweet via @mohamad_msry)
  • Multiple photographs of smoke clouds above Hazano and Batbo. The source alleged Regime warplanes responsible (Tweet via @The_Syrian1)

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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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]