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

RS1115

Incident date

August 10, 2016

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to ten civilians were killed, including “a woman and her four daughters“, and 20 more injured in airstrikes on the town of Halta, according to sources on the ground – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Both The Shaam News Network (SNN) and Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that there were no civilians killed, only wounded; however, while the majority of other sources, including Khabar Ajel, Syrianpc and Enabbaladi reported that seven to ten non-combatants died.

SNN added that media coverage of the area was extremely difficult because the area was under IS control – and therefore news organisations did not have neutral sources.

According to LCCSY, regime warplanes were responsible for the airstrikes against the marketplace, while Khabar Ajel, Aljazeera, and Qasioun blamed Russia.

In addition, state regulation reportedly prevented the wounded from leaving the territory for treatment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 10
  • (0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of the incident in Hatla. (via, SyrianPC)

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
    0 – 10
  • (0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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

RS1147

Incident date

August 14, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three named civilians including a baby girl died and several more were wounded in a strike on Talbissa, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The Shaam News Network reported that “a baby girl died as a result of warplanes carrying out air strikes on residential neighbourhoods in Talbiaa. Her brother and her mother, Maha Damour, were also killed.”

Talbisah and @RadioAlKul attributed the event to Russia. However, according to the Smart News Network, the regime was to blame for the death of three civilians including a baby girl.

LCCSY also pointed to the regime, citing the use of a “surface to surface missile”, which caused civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dam Al -Hana Abdul Qader Alqajo
Child female named by VDC killed
Sayf al-Din Abdul Qadir Alqajo
Child male named by VDC killed
Maha Damour
Adult female named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of doctors attempting to recover Sayf al-Din Abdul Qadir Alqajo, who was killed on 13th August 2016. (via, Talbisah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Qader Qajo holding his daughter Dam Al Hana who died along with her mother and brother in an alleged Russian raid on August 13th 2016. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dam Al -Hana Abdul Qader Alqajo, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Maratah. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sayf al-Din Abdul Qadir Alqajo, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Maratah. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An elderly man injured in the alleged Russian raid on Maratah. (via, Talbisah)
  • The exact moment the raids hit on August 13th 2016. (via, Talbisah)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On August 14th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strike with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the regions located to the south-west, east, and north-east from Deir ez-Zor. Two command and control centers, six large storages with ammunition and armament, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, seven off-roaders with large-caliber weaponry, and a lot of insurgents have been eliminated by the aviation strike." They also added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1179

Incident date

August 21, 2016

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians including a child died and several more were injured in airstrikes on Arbin, according to sources on the ground. The majority of the sources blamed the Assad regime for the attack; none of the reports explicitly pointed to Russia, though a number didn’t identify the culprit.

Smart reported that “regime warplanes launched four raids on the city of Arbin in East Ghouta”.

According to @al_jazirah, “four civilians died and several others others were wounded in a bombing of Arbin by regime aircraft”.

@Syriapost1 and Radio AlKul also reported regime strikes on the town.
One adult male civilian fatality was named by the Violations Documentation – they say he was killed by “Syrian government and affiliated militias” warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Kuke
Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Adane Kuke, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Damage to the local infrastructure in the aftermath of an alleged raid. (via, al_jazirah)
  • Damage to the local infrastructure in the aftermath of an alleged raid. (via, al_jazirah)
  • Damage to the local infrastructure in the aftermath of an alleged raid. (via, al_jazirah)

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 – 4
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1212

Incident date

September 2, 2016

Location

طياني, Al Tayanneh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.993798, 40.548059 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians including up to four children and three women died and at least a dozen more were wounded in airstrikes on Al Tayaneh, according to local media. The majority of sources attributed the event to Russia, though two blamed the Syrian regime and others didn’t apportion blame.

DeirEzzorradio, Abdulrahmanhajj and Derynews blamed Russia.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at five including three children and three women, said that the regime was responsible.

LCCSY also pointed towards the regime, reporting that its warplanes destroyed three houses in strikes.

There was some confused reporting from Alamawi with tweets accusing both the regime and then Russia.

Palestine Today offered some more information on victims, saying that “a woman and her sister along with her child and two other children” died.

Syrian News Desk provided the most details, reporting that “four children and a young man were killed and more than 12 other civilians wounded, including two children, this afternoon, due to the Russian warplanes carrying out two raids on Taianh village, which is under the control of Islamic State. The shelling resulted in the destruction of two houses completely and two others partially, in addition to the combustion of a vehicle and damage to businesses in the area”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ria Soud
Age unknown killed
Zubiedah Soud

The victims were named as:

Ieman Suleiman Aldabjan
Age unknown killed
Abd Al-Qader Farhan Awad
Age unknown killed
Yazan Al-Ragheb Sulieman
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–4 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rises above a residential area in Al Tayaneh following suspected Russian shelling (via Jisirtv)
  • The site where suspected Russian warplanes hit Al Tayaneh causing significant material destruction (via DeirEzzorradio)

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
    5 – 6
  • (3–4 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1244

Incident date

September 9, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Shamico, near 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 two civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a mosque in Shamico near Kafr Naha, according to local media. Sources reported that cluster bombs were used in the attack and that civilian homes were destroyed.

The majority of sources referred only to “warplanes”, though Smart and Syria News Desk blamed Russia.

According to Syria News Desk, “civilians were killed and wounded while they were leaving Friday prayers after Russian warplanes targeted a mosque with cluster bombs”.

Most sources put the death toll at two, though Syria News Desk said one person died and dozens more were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Remnants of cluster bombs and rubble in Kafr Naha, the aftermath of alleged Russian warplane shelling (Tweet via @baladinetwork)
  • Material destruction in Kafr Naha following suspected Russian warplane shelling (Youtube via Baladi)
  • Local people survey the destruction in Kafr Naha, the impact of suspected warplane shelling (Youtube via AMC)

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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1277

Incident date

September 17, 2016

Location

الصالحية, Al Salhiye, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7146658, 40.7555866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the road outside al Salhiye, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

Step News Agency – who put the death toll at one – stated that “Russian military warplanes launched several raids.”

Other outlets, such as @DeirElzor24 and @so_ria98, did not name the responsible party, but reported only that warplanes struck Al Salhiye.

According to LCCSY, “three civilians of one family, Hasan Jejan and his two kids, were martyred in an airstrike by warplanes on the second day of Eid, which targeted the road between Salihia and Husainia villages in the western suburbs”.

@AlMohaimmed put the number killed at four.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hasan Jejan
Adult male killed
Child of Hasan Jejan
Child killed
Child of Hasan Jejan
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian strikes on the city of Al Salhiya (via @AlMohaimmed tweet)

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
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1309

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported between two and nine civilians were killed and several others injured by a bombing on residential buildings in the Tareeq al Bab neighbourhood in Aleppo – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

Some outlets reported napalm was used in the bombings, which were attributed both to the regime and to Russian warplanes.

Multiple photographs and videos captured the destruction of several homes, and according to an LCCSY Facebook post on September 23rd, civilians were still trapped under the rubble.

The Step News Agency tweeted that four people had been pulled alive from the building, while Alwatan reported on September 24th that a search was ongoing for four people still trapped.

@RadioAlKul said that four casualties in Tareeq al Bab were the result of Russian strikes. Ara News also reported four deaths, as did the Shaam News Network.

However, Qasioun and Syrians News reported nine casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Badr Mi’rawi
Child male killed
Ahmad Sheikh Dibo
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Rescuing team trying to extinguish the fire caused by the contested airstrikes on Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via AMC)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • The contested airstrikes left parts of Tareeq al-Bab complete destroyed (via ShahbaPress)
  • Remnants of the weaponry targeting of Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via Thiqa News Agency)
  • Tareeq al-Bab after being hit by the contested airstrikes (Aleppo AMC)

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 – 9
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1341

Incident date

September 25, 2016

Location

الأنصاري, Al Ansari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1529125, 37.075864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 17 civilians died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Ansari neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

Most sources said around 17 people were killed, while Araby reported that only one civilian died.

Several sources, such as Step News and Smart News, claimed cluster bombs were used in two or three strikes.

Baladi added that number of civilians were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 17
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ 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 – 17
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]