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

RS1095

Incident date

August 4, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians died, including a woman and two children, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha. According to Ara News, the warplanes launched strikes on the neighbourhood, “in an attempt to prevent the arrival of a new military Maazrat Army conquest of the region”.

LCCSY reported that rockets were fired over the Western suburbs, killing four civilians and “wounding several others”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that “in addition to the death of two children and about 30 more were wounded, including children. Additionally, the Observatory learned that at least 11 fighters from the band fighters were killed when their headquarters in the area Kafr Naha countryside west of Aleppo was struck, during the 48 hours the past.” Despite this, other sources reported there were up to four civilian casualties.

Multiple sources including Smart News, Lebanese News and Qasioun said that there were up for six vacuum missile strikes and other heavy shelling.

Halab Today tweeted that both women and children were injured in the attack. Smart News claimed that six civilians were injured, however Orient News claimed that “more than dozens were injured” in the town of Kafr Naha.

Orient News reported that “Warplanes launched several air raids on villages and towns in the vicinity of Khan Tuman, with more than 30 air raids, which resulted in the death of 13 civilians and injury of dozens in the town of Kafr Naha”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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]

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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

RS1127

Incident date

August 12, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes reportedly destroyed a Pediatrics and Gynecology hospital on 12th August 2016 in Kafr Hamra. At least three civilians were killed, and seven or more wounded, mostly members of a medical staff, women, or children. Some of the personnel working in the hospital were affected; both a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in addition to another medical staff member that was injured.

Photos published by the Syrian Network for Human Rights showed the destruction of patients’ rooms and storage areas of the hospital.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the regime or Russia was responsible for the airstrikes. While the majority of sources, including the Shaam News, attributed the attacks to Russian planes, a few sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and @ALAMAWI, blamed the regime for the attacks. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “government warplanes and its allies” were responsible.

A number of sources noted the use of artillery in Kafr Hamra on this day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nizar Ismail
29 years old male ambulance driver killed
Mahmoud Barakat
Age unknown male killed
Zainab Khalil
50 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Nizar Ismail, an ambulance driver, killed in an alleged raid on Kafr Hamra. (via, Halab Today)
  • Nizar Ismail, an ambulance driver, killed in an alleged raid on Kafr Hamra. (via, SN4HR)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • Exterior of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SHRC)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SHCR)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, Bof-sy)

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1159

Incident date

August 17, 2016

Location

Arbeen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two children died and up to dozens more civilians were wounded in airstrike on Arbeen – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

According to Halab Today TV, a 12 year old boy was killed and four others were injured in the Russian raids.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Russia but in a later tweet appeared to change its position and point towards the regime.

Rudaw was among sources putting the death count at four, but it didn’t apportion blame for the “five airstrikes”.

According to Syrian Press Center, there were “six martyrs, including two children”.

However, Nabd, Elwehda, Madardaily and Zaitonmag blamed the regime – with Zaitonmag adding that dozens were injured in the attacks.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustapha Mohammad Mustapha Hourieh
12 years old male named by Halab Today killed
Maher Bird
Age unknown named by Syrian Press Centre killed
Abdul Razzaq Kdcod
Age unknown named by Syrian Press Centre killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On August 17th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Russian bombers Su-34 took off from Hamedan airbase (Islamic Republic of Iran) with full fragmentation bomb charge and made an airstrike on ISIS terrorist facilities in the Deir ez-Zor province. As a result, 2 command centres and large ISIS field training camps near the Deir ez-Zor city were destroyed, over 150 militants (with foreign mercenaries among them) were eliminated."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1191

Incident date

August 26, 2016

Location

النيرب, Neirab, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.86955, 36.71867 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and several more were wounded in airstrikes on Neirab in Idlib, according to local media. The majority of sources blamed Russia for the casualties, though one pointed to the Syrian regime.

LCCSY,@SyrianArwad and @Syriamubasher were among reports that attributed the event to Russia. The use of cluster bombs was also noted.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights mentioned regime involvement. It reported that “two civilians from the same family died when government warplanes and its allies fired missiles on the main road between Al Nayrab town and Saraqeb city in Idlib governorate, August 26.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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
    2
  • 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

RS1224

Incident date

September 5, 2016

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians including three children died and as many as 30 or more were wounded in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, according to local media. All sources blamed Russia, except for one which referred to both “Russian and Syrian warplanes”.

According to Syrian News “an elderly man and a child were killed and three others were wounded”. The source blamed Russia, adding that more than five houses were damaged in the attack which reportedly also struck “the office of the service of the locam council in the city”. One employee of the council was also said to have died, and “five cars belonging to him” destroyed.

Other sources that attributed the event to Russia included Baladi, Jisrtv, Eldepress news and RFS Media Office. Death counts varied between five and seven civilians. Additionally, Baladi said that 15 more were wounded.

Syria Hora and Almarra Today, also blaming Russia, said that 30 or more people were wounded.

The Shaam News Network provided the most detail on the event. It reported: “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted the southern entrance to the town of Maaret al-Numan. The area was crowded with civilians. Cluster bombs were fired which spread dramatically in the neighborhood, resulting in the martyrdom of six civilians and wounding of dozens more, most of them in critical condition”.

Meanwhile, a report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “alleged Russian warplanes missiles fired on the Local Council Service Office in Ma’aret Al Numan city in Idlib governorate, killing an employee and damaging the office equipment and a tractor in front of it”. SN4Hr later put death toll at nine including three children.

One source, the Smart News Agency, collectively blamed “Russian and Syrian warplane” for the death of seven non-combatants of whom up to three were children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Haj Abdul-Latif Al-Bish
Child male killed
Mohammed, son of Abdul-Latif Al-Bish
Child male killed
Ala’a Al-Bish
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Ghazi Taleb Al-rehani
Child killed
Mahmood Khaled A’jameya
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Al-Rahmoon
Age unknown killed
Manwar Amer Al-Sa’eed
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–30
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage of civilians killed in Maarat al Numan - the impact of suspected Russian shelling (Youtube via Mo’az Al-Shami)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the killed child civilians - the victim of suspected Russian shelling on Maarat al Numan (Tweet via @jisrtv)
  • One of the wounded civilians in Maarat al Numan - his injuries sustained due to alleged Russian shelling (Tweet via @Atfalalsham) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • The Facebook post lists the victims of suspected Russian attacks on Maarat al Numan - photographs of the deceased reveal the human cost (via Al Marra Today)
  • Remnants of a cluster bomb and the photograph of one of the dead children - allegedly the work of Russia (Tweet by @shbabRevolution)
  • A part of a cluster bomb - found in Maarat al Numan. Suspected evidence of Russian warplane shelling (Tweet via @Abdulkaderhep2)
  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016

    SN4HR report entitled: ‘no less than 49 massacres in September 2016 including 46 at the hands of the russian and Syrian regimes’ - includes details of alleged Russian attacks on Maarat Al Numan, September 5th (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016_en

    SN4HR report entitled: ‘no less than 49 massacres in September 2016 including 46 at the hands of the russian and Syrian regimes’ - includes details of alleged Russian attacks on Maarat Al Numan, September 5th (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

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
    7 – 9
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–30
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1256

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

عين دارة, Ainjara, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.464627, 36.865435 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and several more civilians were injured in alleged Russia airstrikes on Anjara town in western Aleppo, sources on the ground reported.

According to Ahmadhamaher, “Russian warplanes targeted Anjara in the western countryside of Aleppo with two raids and missiles.

LCCSY added that a woman died and other civilians were wounded in Russian strike son the town.

Other sources also reported the death of a woman but did not apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1289

Incident date

September 20, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians were killed, and between two and thirteen wounded, when cluster and barrel bombs struck al Marja in Aleppo, according to local media. Some sources accused Russian warplanes, while others claimed regime helicopters were involved.

The Syrian Observatory for Human referred to one fatality, while Twitt-book News counted four.

@Radioharafm tweeted, “Martyrs and injuries in the Marjah neighborhood targeted by warplanes with cluster bombs in Aleppo,” while @RFS_NORTH tweeted, “Syrian helicopters targeted the neighborhoods Bab al Hadeed and Marjah with barrel bombs in the besieged city of Aleppo.”

According to Almodon, the helicopters dropped more than 10 barrel bombs.

However, other sources accused Russian warplanes. @HalabTodayTV tweeted about “injuries in a Russian aerial bombardment,”

Notably, Shaabnews tweeted that both Russian warplanes and Syrian helicopters participated in the bombings.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–13
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between 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 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–13
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1321

Incident date

September 23, 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

Between two and 19 civilians were killed in an aerial bombardment on the Aleppo neighbourhood of al Ferdos, multiple sources reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

Photographs from various sources appeared to show five casualties.

Sources were unclear on the number of casualties, though reports tended to agree that among the casualties were one or two children, one woman, and one man. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at three, including one female child and one woman.

Erem News posted photographs of White Helmets digging bodies out of rubble. The photographs showed adult bodies covered in dust, making it difficult to distinguish the number of dead.

A photograph tweeted by @salqin showed an older man holding a young man’s dead body. This photograph was also tweeted by @TRtalarabiya, with a caption that said, “The number of victims today in Aleppo rose to 93 after a baby and an old man were killed in the neighbourhood of Al Fardous raid by a Russian cluster bomb.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights posted a photograph of Mostafa Hamdan’s dead body. Two other Twitter accounts, @aboalhodaalhoms and @AleppoAMC, tweeted a second photograph of Mostafa, which appeared to have been taken shortly after the first.

An account called @IranArabSpring tweeted more photographs of the neighbourhood shortly after the attacks. In the photos, at least three civilian deaths can be seen: there is a mangled body, a small child (not Mostafa Hamdan), the body of an adult man, and a body wrapped in a rug.

Other sources mentioned higher numbers: AleppoAMC said nine were killed and “dozens” wounded in the attack, while Qasioun News claimed at least 19 deaths.

A YouTube video posted by AleppoAMC showed one body, which appeared to be an adult male, being pulled out of the rubble. Elmwatin News claimed three deaths and “scores” wounded, but noted the casualty numbers could rise as more bodies were pulled out of the rubble.

All4Syria and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that helicopters (belonging to the regime) were involved in the Aleppo strikes for that day, meaning that Assad’s involvement in this event can’t be ruled out.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mostapha Hamdan
8 months years old male killed
Omar Moussali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 19
  • (1–2 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Locals trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes on Al Fardous, Sept 23rd (via AleppoAMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Eight months old Mostapha Hamdan was reportedly killed during the airstrikes in Fardous, Sept 23rd, carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Eight months old Mostapha Hamdan was reportedly killed during the airstrikes in Fardous, Sept 23rd, carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia (via aboalhodaalhoms twitter)
  • A child victim of the contested airstrikes in Aleppo today, reportedly from the strikes in al-Ferdous, Sept 23rd (via TRTalarabiye News)
  • The contested strikes in al-ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Arab Spring)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The contested strikes in al-Ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Erem News)
  • The contested strikes in al-Ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Erem News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The contested strikes in al-Ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Erem News)

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
    2 – 19
  • (1–2 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 (35) [ collapse]