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

RS1221

Incident date

September 4, 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

Two or three civilians died and 10 more were wounded in shelling of Aleppo’s Al Ansari neighbourhood, local media reported – though it is unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

According to Ara, Russia carried out an airstrike killing three civilians and wounding more than 10 others. Halab News also pointed to Moscow, putting the death toll at two.

Alwatan, Syrian News and the Shaam News Network blamed “Russian and Syrian warplanes”, while SyrianMubasher said that helicopters were responsible for the deaths.

But Shehab and the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that this was the work of the Assad regime.

A number of other sources referred to an unspecified number of wounded non-combatants but didn’t apportion blame for the casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Destroyed vehicles and buildings in Al Ansari - the impact of suspected Russian shelling (Tweet via @baladinetwork)

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 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 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

RS1222

Incident date

September 4, 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

Two civilians – a man and his daughter – died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, according to local media.

Accordingly to LCCSY, the victims died following sustaining injuries in a Russian strike.

Both Almuhajer and Abdulkaderhep tweeted graphic images of the victims receiving treatment in a medical facility.

Step News Agency, SyriaMubasher, Edlipnews and the Syrian Network for Human Rights all attributed the deaths to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hajj Nawras Kitaz
Adult male killed
Fatima Nawras Kitaz
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A building in Maarat al Numan is completely destroyed in alleged Russian offensive - local people survey the site (via Syrianpc)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl covered in bandages receives medical treatment for injuries sustained in alleged Russian strikes on Maarat (Tweet via @abdalkaderlhep2)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Haj Nawras Kitaz recieved medical treatment for injuries sustained in alleged Russian shelling - it was reported he later died from the wounds (Tweet via @Almuhajer)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1223

Incident date

September 4, 2016

Location

داعل, Dael, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.756529, 36.138453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named civilian died in an airstrike on Da’el, according to local sources – though it was unclear whether the death was caused by a Russia or Syrian regime airstrike or by regime artillery.

Sources reported that both Russian and regime aircraft were operating in the area.

Akhbar Alan blamed a regime airstrike while SyrianMubasher said civilians were wounded by regime artillery.

Almntsrbalaah reported that two bodies were found under the rubble, but didn’t say who killed them.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Imad Mohanad Al-Hariri
Age unknown male from Sheikh Miskin village killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 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 (12) [ 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 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 – 5
  • (1 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1217

Incident date

September 4, 2016

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and several others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike with cluster bombs on Sarmin in Idlib governorate, according to local media.

Alamawi, Rozana FM, Derynews, LCCSY and the Syrian Network for Human Rights all attributed the event to Russia, with many sources reporting the use of cluster bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Umar Ahmad Mowahed
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A member of the White Helmets examines cluster bomb remnants in Sarmin, Idlib. Allegedly fired by Russian warplanes (Tweet by @SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The man Umar Ahmad Mowahed - killed in the suspected Russian attacks on Sarmin (via Arshef sarmin)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sarmin (سرمين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.904042, 36.726111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 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
  • (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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1218

Incident date

September 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

Three civilians including one child died and up to seven more were wounded in an airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Anapress Smart, Syrian Press Centre and Halab Today all blamed Russia.

However, Step News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards the regime.

Alwatan and Syrian News blamed both “Russian and Syrian warplanes”, as did the Shaam News Network.

According to Halabtoday, “Warplanes launched C5 missiles and used heavy machine guns to target the road between kafr Naha and Urma Al-Kubra in the western countryside of Aleppo”.

In a video published by Baladi, a witness says: “The suddenly warplanes targeted a civilian house which was was set on fire. Three people were killed including a woman and one of the victims lost his head.”

Several other sources said that civilian homes were completely destroyed in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of a civilian residence allegedly struck by Russian warplanes - according to the source four people died (Youtube via Baladi)

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 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
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1219

Incident date

September 4, 2016

Location

الليرامون, Leiramon, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2386486, 37.0941782 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and three were wounded in an airstrike on Lerimon in northern Aleppo, according to local media.

The majority of sources including Shahba, Syriapost1, Alraya_n and Smart blamed Russia.

However, the Shaam News Network pointed towards “Russian and Assad’s aircraft”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (10) [ 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 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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1220

Incident date

September 4, 2016

Location

الزربة, Al Zorba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.06763, 36.97987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died and other civilians were wounded in an airstrike on Al Zorba, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russia, though the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to both Russia and Syrian regime.

Syrian Press Centre, Syrian News, Alwatan and the Smart News Agency all said that several civilians were wounded in a Russian strike. Smart put the number at four.

According to the Step News Agency, one child was wounded. The source also said that Russia was responsible.

However, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian and Assad’s aircraft launched intensive air raids bomb using phosphorous and cluster bombs on the neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo”, including Al Zorba, where one civilian died and others were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salal Jweid
15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Photographs of material destruction in Al Zorba following alleged Russian strikes (Tweet via @thiqanewsagency)

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 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
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

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)
  • 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]

  • 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

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]