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

RS433

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians died and up to 20 were injured in airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Syrian Press Centre blamed Russia, putting the death toll at five, adding that “the city Of Al Bab is under aerial bombardment by the Russian Aviation constantly“.

Al Buraq Media referred to raids by “warplanes” carrying of strikes on Al Bab, but did not say who they belonged to.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an aerial bombardment continued amid clashes between “regime forces and Islamic battalions” in Aleppo, adding that five civilians were reported killed in Al Bab.

However, according to Syria News Desk, the regime fired 20 rockets, with most of them falling “near the hospitals of AlMadina and Alfateh  and near an automated bakery“. They put the death toll at 3 civilians, with 20 more injured -adding that the number of dead could well rise due to the severity injuries.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

No Russian reports were published for January 21st 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
    5
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS467

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes had carried out raids targeting civilian homes, but did not give casualty numbers.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Russian planes shelled residential houses in Al Kourneesh Street, killing six non-combatants from one family: five children and a woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS499

Incident date

January 29, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52815, 37.95495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Manbij, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

All 4 Syria also reported the death, and said the child’s family was injured in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Loay Omar Al Mafroud
3 years old named by SN4HR killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS535

Incident date

February 3, 2016

Location

شتل الزيارة, Jetal Zratah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4223785, 37.0013604 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Jetal Zratah.

Kasstal Jendo Afrin reported “the death of two Kurdish civilians” and named the same victims, who it said were father and daughter. They died following an “aerial bombardment” launched by Russian aircraft.

Eldorar Alshamia reported that Russian warplanes targeting Jetal Zratah with “more than 10 raids” leaving several victims “including a woman.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Eisa al-Ahmad
Age unknown male Named by VDC. killed
Maya Eisa al-Ahmad
Child female Named by VDC. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child0–1 women1 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 (3) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child0–1 women1 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS568

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A media activist named as Zakariya Orfalli was reported killed by a single source.

According to the Syrian Network, “Monday 8th February 2016 media activist Zakariya Orfalli was killed by a missile shrapnel that went into different parts of his body as he was covering the bombing by fixed wing warplanes we believe are Russian in Hraitan city localed in the northern suburbs of Aleppo governorate which is under the control of the armed opposition factions.

Zakariya, also known as al Nesir al Souri or Mazen al Hur, worked previously as a media activist for Aleppo Media Center and Aleppo News Network. He recently joined Fajr Movement, an armed opposition faction, as a media activist. From Aleppo city, he was born in 1991, and had been a second year student at the politiical scienes institute in Damascus [prior to the uprising].”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zakariya Orfalli
Adult male reportedly a media activist killed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Zakaria Orfali (via Almodon)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.”

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS601

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians including two to four children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that three non-combatants including two children died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Al Bab city in Aleppo.

Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies also blamed Russia and listed four victims, including two unidentified civilian children.

Mohammed Naseem al Nasr also listed additional victims as killed in a Russian raid, including one unidentified baby and two unidentified children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ma’amoun Sukkar
Age unknown male Listed by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Ali Sukkar
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Mohamed Tarabichi
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Abdullah Sukkar
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2–4 children0–3 men)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2–4 children0–3 men)
  • 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

RS633

Incident date

February 17, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and ten civilians died in alleged multiple Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources.

Asharq Al-awsat reported that ten civilians were killed, though didn’t say who was responsible for the strikes. Dummar media office said Russian warplanes had carried out six raids but didn’t provide casualty numbers.

However, a tweet by Halab Today said there had been as many as 20 Russian strikes. According to the Syrian Observatory: “Warplanes thought to be Russian launched many raids on the Eastern side of the countryside of Aleppo including Al-Bab and Bza’a but no casualties were reported.”

Al-Arabiya noted that there had been Russian strikes in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, though they didn’t specify Al Bab, and added that no casualties had been reported. A 40-minute programme by Al Jissr Satellite TV, reported that four civilians were killed in Al Bab, allegedly in a Russian airstrike.

HNN and Syria Martrys named one victim as killed in a Russian strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Omar Juma Allowaki
Age unknown male Named by HNN and Syria Martyrs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV reporting on the alleged strikes. (via, Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS665

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

صيدا, Saida, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died in an airstrike on Saida according to local sources. All but one allege that this was a Russian airstrike.

Among the sources blaming Russia were Baladi, Step, LCCSY and Dery News.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at three and said that regime warplanes were responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shokri Sulimsn al-Sharideh
Adult male killed
Mohannad Mohammad Abbas al-Mafelani
Adult male killed
Seif Al-deen Shahadeh Abu Nukta ( Abu Qays)
Age unknown was named by Khirbit Ghazala and Aba_z27 killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Shokri Sulimsn al-Sharideh, killed in a contested Syrian Regime and Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • The exact moments the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids hit. (via Yaqin Media)
  • The exact moments the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids hit. (via SMO)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

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
  • (2 men)
  • 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]