Russian Military in Syria

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

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS693

Incident date

February 28, 2016

Location

جمعية الهادي, Jamiyat al Hadi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2319159, 37.0082188 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 13 civilians including three or four children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Jamiyat al Hadi and Babis, according to multiple local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven civilians including three women and four children were killed in an aerial bombardment, adding that there were reports of five others also dying – though did not say who carried out the attack.

But the Shaam News Network reported that Russia was responsible and put the death toll higher, at 12. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Russia, reporting that warplanes shelled a “residential compound in Babis town which killed 12 individuals including 3 children and 2 women“.

According to Hara News, in addition to the 12 killed, 20 were wounded. Radio Al Kul put the death toll at ten. According to Baladi, Russia targeted al Hadi with vacuum missiles, killing 12 civilians and injuring more than 15. Allser7 put the number killed even higher, at 13 – in eight alleged Russian strikes, while other sources claimed that Russian had breached a ceasefire.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Fatima Sukkari
4 years old female named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Rahima Sukkari
7 months years old named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Rama Sukkari
19 years old named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed

Family members (3)

The wife of Mohammad Najjar
Adult female named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
The daughterof Mohammad Najjar
Age unknown female named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
The daughterof Mohammad Najjar
Age unknown female named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed

The victims were named as:

Sharifa Nasser
23 years old named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (4 children2–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (4 children2–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS725

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Shaam News Network: “four people were killed when Russian enemy planes targeted a civilian transport vehicle on the road from Palmyra to Deir Ezzor.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that “four people were killed from the same family when the Russian warplane targeted their truck (which is a refrigerated truck) on the road between Palmyra and Deir Ezzor.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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]

  • Russian warplanes use phosphor bombs and burns civilians’ vehicles on the road between Sukhna and Palmyra (via Alshuruq Alislami youtube channel)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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

RS757

Incident date

April 16, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that up to 16 people died in airstrikes in Aleppo city. While some blamed Russia, others said the regime or armed rebel groups were responsible.

LCCSY said one man was killed and five injured after Russian planes targeted the neighborhood with two dawn raids. Q0wyy also blamed Russia and reported that “Russian warplanes killed seven civilians and injured dozens.”

Shaam News Network also said that one person died and others were injured (no number provided) in airstrikes, but did not say who carried them out.

AlAlamnews reported that the “shelling from armed groups” led to the death of four people.

Alelam1 also blamed “armed groups” and put the death toll at 4, adding that they were “from the same family”. Aleppo Net News said three people were killed, and others wounded by a “hell canon” (a home-made mortar.)

However, Syria Mirror blamed the regime for the launching of “two missiles,” leading to the death of four people, among them women and children, and wounding others.

Two other sources – Arabic Spuntiknews (pro-regime) and Ara news – reported deaths of Syrian soldiers and opposition groups – but did not mention civilian casualties.

Besides from the eight identified victims below, another eight bodies found in Al-Mashhad neighbourhood, Aleppo, could not be identified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Family members (3)

17 years old female killed
15 years old female killed
13 years old female killed

The victims were named as:

41 years old female killed
13 years old female
17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 16
  • (7 children1 woman)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Airstrikes targeting Al-basha neighborhood in Aleppo (via Zakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting civilian areas in Aleppo (via Q0wyy tweet)
  • Civilian who was saved from under the rubbles in Al-Mashhad, Aleppo (via Muhandakateeb tweet)
  • Rescuing team searching for survivors following the strikes (via Muhandakateeb tweet)
  • Rescuing team searching for survivors following the strikes (via Muhandakateeb tweet)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting Aleppo (via Muhandakateeb tweet)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting Aleppo (via Muhandakateeb tweet)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting Aleppo (via Muhandakateeb tweet)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting Aleppo (via Muhandakateeb tweet)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    8 – 16
  • (7 children1 woman)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS790

Incident date

May 3, 2016

Location

حي البلليرمون, Al Baleirmoon neighbourhood (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2423248, 37.1057626 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to six people, including two women and two children, had died in shelling on Al Baleirmoon neighbourhood. Reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

Egypt News said that “a man, a woman and her daughter were killed due to warplane shelling in Al Baleirmoon.” Multiple sources, including Aletihad news, reported the use of cluster bombs. Aletihad news said that the bombs “killed 6 people including two women and a child and injured dozens and destroyed buildings.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, six civilians including two girls and two women died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on the Al Baleirmoon neighborhood of Aleppo.

However, LCCSY and many other sources said that regime warplanes were responsible. Others did not identify the warplanes. It was unclear from Shaam News Network who carried out the attack. It reported clashes as the regime attempted “to advance towards Alcastello road, amid artillery and aerial bombardment by Assad’s forces and Russian aircraft over the region”. It said that three died and others were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured in the cluster bomb raids on al Leirmon, 3rd May 2016 [via: ShahbaPress]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Shahba press tweets a photo of an injured child following 'cluster bomb raids' on the town of al Leirmoon, 3rd May 2016
  • Shahba press tweets that there are '6 dead including two women and a child' in the cluster bomb raids on al Leirmoon neighbourhood in Aleppo, 3rd May 2016
  • Syria post tweets that alleged Russian planes carried out two raids on the outskirts of Al Leirmoon, 3rd May 2016
  • Anadan media says that most of the civilians wounded were children, 3rd May 2016
  • News Flash Aleppo tweets that 'warplanes' target al Leirmoon with cluster bombs leading to civilian casualties, 3rd May 2016
  • Jisr TV confirms dead and wounded in alleged regime raids on al Leirmoon, 3rd May 2016
  • Al Jazeera confirms that three were killed following alleged regime raids on al Leirmoon neighbourhood in Aleppo, 3rd May 2016

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 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
    2 – 6
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS822

Incident date

May 30, 2016

Location

الكوم, Al Kom, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.19224, 38.85746 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, Russian or regime airstrikes took place in Al Kom near the ancient city of Palmyra – killing at least five non-combatants. .

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at seven non-combatants, including two women and two children. Al Jisr also blamed the regime.

The names of some of the dead were published by news4u which also noted that an entire family had died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

The Al Badewi family
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Al Fallaj
Age unknown male killed
Abdul-Aziz Al-Rafidan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: A masscare where 6 people killed in AL Kom, north of Sikhna, Homs. (via jisrtv)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 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
    5 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS855

Incident date

June 5, 2016

Location

هورة الجريات, Horat al Jariyat, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.692951, 38.4675765 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, two civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Horat al Jariya.

The Shaam News Network also blamed Russia, but did not provide casualty numbers.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at three but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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

RS887

Incident date

June 11, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and eight non-combatants including two children, a woman and a member of the White Helmets died and dozens more were injured in raids on Orm al Kubra, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY reported that four civilians including two children and a woman died and others were wounded when Russian warplanes carried out several strikes on Orm al Kubra.

The Shaam News Network initially blamed the Assad regime for the deaths of seven civilians, including women and children, after their home was targeted.

However, in a subsequent report it appeared to change their position, saying that “Russian enemy planes” were responsible.

All4Syria said: “Field sources reported that Russian warplanes raided the town of Urma Al Kubra, killing eight civilians, including women and children, and injuring others, and destroyed three houses over the heads of their owners.”

Zaitoun News was among other sources blaming Russia and putting the death toll as high as eight with dozens more wounded.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, a member of the White Helmets, died when regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the town.

Aranews also blamed the regime, putting the number killed at seven.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported a member of the White Helmets killed in an aerial bombardment but did not say who carried it out.

The White Helmets reported: “with the sound of dawn prayers warplanes carried out two raids on Greater Orme and the civil defence headed to the area to rescue the injured and pull out the victims from under the rubble. They pulled three martyrs from under the rubble and 3 others were rescued including women and children 11/6/2016.”

They also reported the death of “Yasser al Said Hussein and the injury of the volunteer Mohammad Fares Dib” in another raid while they were attempting to extinguish fires at the scene.

A further post said that Mohammad Fares Dib had lost his hand in this second strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Yasser Al Sayed Hussein
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohammad Faress Dib, a volunteer with the White Helmets, who lost his hand when the team was targeted in another strike while attempting to extinguish fires from a previous raid in Ormal Kubra, June 11th (via White Helmets)
  • "...with the sound of dawn prayers warplanes carried out two raids on Urma al Kubra and the civil defence headed to the area to rescue the injured and pull out the victims from under the rubble" (via Aleppo White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS919

Incident date

June 19, 2016

Location

الأبزيمو, Al Ibzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1666667, 36.8666667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported the death of five children in Al Ibzimo town, Aleppo, though the highest number recorded dead is eight civilians in a article by futureTv news. Most sources blamed Russia, though there was also an allegations against the Assad regime.

Both the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Shaam News Network said Russia was responsible for the attacks.

SNN reported that activists in the area said that Russian warplanes were ‘targeting civilian houses’ using ‘cluster bombs which led to the martyrdom of five children from one family’. The source said that the victims’ bodies had been “transformed to shreds”.

The White Helmets posted photographs of the rescue operation including attempts to extinguish fires.

According to Blog.amin, the five victims were a “mother and her four children”. A number of other sources also referred to “children” or “siblings”.

Names of the victims were announced in a Halab TV Youtube video, the ages given on the video suggest that the five were in fact siblings rather than mother and children.

A Tweet by ShehabAgency reported the use of phosphorous bombs.

While the majority of sources attributed the event to Russia, or didn’t identify the culprit, Jisrtv alleged that the regime was to blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Tahani Ahmad Khaloussi
18 years old killed
Fatima Ahmad Khaloussi
15 years old female killed
Wissal Khaloussi
14 years old killed
Alaa Khaloussi
6 years old killed
Jana Khaloussi
5 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (5–7 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Rescue operation at Al Ibzimo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • White Helmets put out blaze following air raids (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • White Helmets put out fires after air raids on Al Ibzimo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • White Helmets put out blaze at Al Ibzimo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Names of children alleged killed listed @ 1’33” (Youtube via Halab Tv Today)
  • A body is carried through the destruction on Al Ibizmo following suspected Russian raids - image also published on incident at Kherbat al Emeqeya June 25th , therefore uncertain of legitimacy (via SN4HR)
  • Aftermath of raids on Al Ibzimo (via Jisrtv)
  • "killed six children from one family by the bombing of Russian warplanes town Al Ibzimo Bgartin strikes with cluster bombs have turned their bodies to pieces, in addition to a large destruction and fires in the houses of civilians and their property" (via Baladi)
  • "The martyrs and the wounded due to the bombing of the Regime for the village of Al Ibzimo countryside Aleppo" (Youtube by Jisrtv)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (5–7 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]