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

RS617

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

حر بنفسه, Harbnafsa, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9371883, 36.6221952 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians were killed in airstrikes on Harbnafsa according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Shaam News Network said that  Russian warplanes launched “intensive air raids on the town” in the morning. Activists documented eight strikes, leading to two non-combatant deaths with several more wounded, including displaced people from the town of Kafr Laha.

Syria811 also blamed Russia, putting  the death toll at three non-combatants, with several more wounded. However, according to Ara News, two civilians died in strikes by the regime. Salamalsore reported that there had been bombing “on the road to Harbenfsh“, though they didn’t say who was responsible.

Masyafnow named a victim as Hassan Fahed Alakari, reporting that he died as a result of injuries in the attack. However another source claimed that Hasan Fahid Al-Akari was an Assad regime irregular.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Fahed Alakari
Adult male Possibly Assad regime irregular killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (0–1 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 (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (0–1 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS649

Incident date

February 21, 2016

Location

عنجارة, Anjara, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2203271, 36.952976 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians including three children and one woman died and 50 more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes with cluster bombs on Anjara, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “Six citizens (including 2 citizen women and two children) were killed and injured when warplanes believed to be Russian bombed areas in Anjarah town in the western countryside of Aleppo, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation.

Syria Mirror reported that Russia dropped cluster bombs on the town, killing seven civilians and wounding around 50 more, including women and children. JisrTV also blamed Russia and gave the same death toll as Syria Mirror.

Four civilians were named by the Violations Documentation Center in addition to one unidentified female child.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–50
  • 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 (7) [ 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
    5 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–50
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS681

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several” civilians were killed when Russian warplanes allegedly “carried out raids on the towns of Hraytan, Anadan, Kafr Hamra, MA’arat al Arteek and the region of Assiya,” according to the Shaam News Network.

The Violations Documentation Centre reported a man died from injuries sustained by Russian shelling on Hraytan. It did not mention a date but this is the closest known incident.

Multiple sources said Russia carried out strikes on Hraytan, though some others didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. According to Micro Syria, one civilian died and “a number” more were wounded.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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 (36) [ 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
    1 – 2
  • (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 (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS713

Incident date

March 6, 2016

Location

خربة كيار, Khirbet Kyar village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3280136, 37.6507568 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Khirbet Kyar, according to local sources.

HNN named Afaf Kareem Al-kharaf, a 42-year-old female, as killed in a Russian strike. The victim was also named by DAD Human and Ho_maf, though these sources didn’t say who was responsible for her death. Syria News Desk reported that Russia had carried out a raid on the village.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Afaf Kareem Al-kharaf
42 years old female killed
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (6) [ 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 for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS745

Incident date

March 30, 2016

Location

المرج, Marj, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.4941662, 36.4698029 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported that two civilians died in alleged Russian raids on Marj, eastern Ghouta.

Baladi and All4Syria also said there had been “warplane raids” on Marj, but that there had been no reports of deaths or injuries. Neither said who had carried out the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ 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 for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS777

Incident date

April 28, 2016

Location

باب الحديد, Bab al Hadeed (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2019233, 37.1680892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven people were reported killed in alleged Russian or regime raids on Bab Al-Hadeed, Aleppo.

Syria News blamed Russia for “warplane shelling in various areas in Aleppo including Bab Al-Hadeed.” Halab News equally blamed Russia in a YouTube video covering the first moments of shelling. However, Islam Memo said “the regime launched 8 warplane raids in Bab Al Hadeed”.

Halab Today also blamed the regime in a tweet, saying: “Activists warn people not to get close to the cluster bombs which were thrown by regime warplane in Bab Al Hadeed.”

Other sources did not state who was responsible for the raids.

LCCSY reported that 7 people were killed in warplane shelling on Bab Al-Hadeed. The same was reported by Alamawi and Al Jazeera in tweets, but none attributed responsibility.

In a video by AMC the White Helmets can be seen recovering a body from under the rubble in Bab Al Hadeed. Aba_272 also tweeted pictures of a rescue operation. Lastly, a video posted on Facebook by Halab Alshuhada showes the “destruction of the shelling on Bab Al-Hadeed, Albasha street.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Footages showing the airstrikes in Bab al Haded and the immediate aftermath (via HNN)
  • Civilians in the rubble following the airstrikes in Bab al-Hadeed (via LCCSY)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes in Bab al-Hadeed (via LCCSY)
  • Civil defense rescues a man from under the rubble in Bab Al-Hadeed after the air strikes (via Aba_272 tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil defense retrieve a body from the rubble after aerial bombardment on Bab Al-Hadeed (via AMC Youtube)
  • Footages of warplanes shelling Bab Al-Hadeed, Aleppo (via SNN)

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
    7
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS810

Incident date

May 27, 2016

Location

كلجبرين‬, Kaljibrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5359847, 37.1173525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Halab Today TV, reported that one child was killed and two other civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kaljabrin.

At 0’21” in the footage an eyewitness, Ayman Al Hindawi says: “On Thursday May 26th, we woke up to noises of clashes in the village which were taking place between IS and the FSA, which led to IS gaining control of the village completely. The next morning Coalition planes launched a raid on the village which led to the death of more than 50 martyrs, all of them civilians and most of them women and children and men.”

At 1’14” he continues: After IS withdrew from the village, Russian planes also launched a raid which killed one child and injured two others.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Title: Kaljabreen massacre (via Halab Today TV)

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS843

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and at least one was injured in an air or artillery strike on Bustan al Qasr, according to locals sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The Shaam News Network, reported on alleged Russian raids with warplanes and helicopters across Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. It said that this coincided with “violent artillery shelling“, killing one civilian in the Bustan al Qasr neighborhood.

Smart News  and Syria-feed also blamed Russia.

However, according to All4Syria, “regime helicopters” dropped explosive barrel bombs, killing a man and injuring a child.

Rozana_fm blamed a “regime missile” for killing one man.

Orient News reported that “eight warplanes and nine helicopters and reconnaissance planes took turns in bombing Qadi Askar, Jisir Al-Hajj, Bustan Al-Qasir and Al-Sakhour.”

1_aleppo_free  said that helicopters dropped barrel devices and that “Russian warplanes carried several raids on the neighbourhood”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Bustan al Qasr, June 3rd (via Aleppo Free Police Leadership)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Bustan al Qasr, June 3rd (via Aleppo Free Police Leadership)
  • "The bombing of the palace orchard neighborhood explosive barrels On 06/03/2016 bombing helicopters of the neighborhood of Bustan Al-Qasir with explosive barrels devices and also Russian warplanes carried several raids on the neighborhood, killing a number of martyrs and injured scores of people and widespread destruction, buildings" (via Aleppo Free Police Leadership)
  • An amublance attends the site of alleged Russian attack on Bustan al-Qasir (via Aleppe Free Police Leadership)

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]