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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Russian Military
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Incident Code

RS1066

Incident date

July 29, 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

Five civilians died in an airstrike on Bustan al Qasr, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

The Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes continued targeting the neighbourhoods of the besieged city of Aleppo with dozens of raids every day, targeting field hospitals and civilians’ homes, leading to dozens of injured and dead including women and children – including five martyrs in Bustan al Qasr.”

However, according to the Syrian Press Center, “regime helicopters threw explosive barrels in Bustan and Qaser and killed 5 people and wounded dozens.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (2) [ 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 July 29th – 31st 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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4064

Incident date

August 21, 2019

Location

دير الغربي, Deir Al Gharbi, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Four to five civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Deir Al Gharbi, Idlib, on August 21st. Up to ten others were reported injured.

A tweet by @anasanas84 named the civilians killed as Wael Ahmed Al-Asaad, Hussein Omar Deeb Al-Asaad, Waleed al-Deek, and Muhammad Abdul Majeed Al-Rimi, from Khan Al-Sabil.

In line with other sources, both Shahba Press and Edlib Media Center reported “three civilian martyrs and several wounded” “due to raids by Russian occupation aircraft on the town of Deir al-Gharbi.”

Meanwhile, an early report from Shaam News reported the death of one child in Deir Al Gharbi, yet followed this with reports of “five martyrs and a number of wounded in Deir Al Gharbi” as a result of ” Syrian regime & Russian warplanes and helicopters launch[ing[ dozens of airstrikes in a number of locations.

Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that “at least four civilians, including a woman, were killed as warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on al Deir al Gharbi […], on August 21st, 2019” and a tweet by @anasanas84 also identified four people as killed.

@mahmoudalbakor1 said that cluster missiles were used by the Regime in the attack, while said in another tweet that the Russian forces attacked the area with highly explosive rockets.

Sources variously attributed the attack to Russian forces and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Wael Ahmed Al-Asaad وائل احمد الاسعد
male killed
Hussein Omar Deeb Al-Asaad حسين عمر ديب الاسعد
male killed
Manal Al-Asaad منال الاسعد
female injured

The victims were named as:

Waleeda al-Deek وليدة الديك
Age unknown female killed
Muhammad Abdul Majeed Al-Rimi محمد عبد المجيد الريمي
Age unknown male From Khan Al-Sabil killed
Khaled Abdel-Rahman Al-Bakri خالد عبد الرحمن البكري
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1687

Incident date

November 25, 2016

Location

حي الصاخور , Sakhour, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians – including a child and a woman – were killed and at least one other was injured, including a child, in airstrikes on Al Sakhour in Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

According to VDC, both the identify of the victims and the identity of the warplanes could not be identified. However, Syrian Network for Human Rights and @ShahbaPress attributed the airstrikes to Russian airplanes while the other sources did not identify who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman4 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Five civilians were killed and others wounded, including a child, in raids by the Russian occupation aircraft on the neighborhood Al Sakhour in Aleppo.
  • 5 killed and many injured as a result of the fall of missiles on the neighborhood of Sakhour.
  • A video posted by @aboalhodaalhoms shows an injured child being removed from the rubble.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman4 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3401

Incident date

April 11, 2018

Location

قسطون, Qastoun village, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.6856742, 36.3785648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An attack on the village of Qastoun in the Hama countryside killed at least four civilians including a woman and children and wounded three others, local sources reported.

Two women and three children died, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Smart News said Assad forces used rockets and missiles on the town, with Russian forces also reportedly involved.

It came as activists claimed regime forces were intensifying local artillery and missile bombardments in fear of a military operation by opposition factions.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on Qastoun village, April 11th.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS595

Incident date

February 11, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians including up to two children were killed in airstrikes on Palmyra, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Violations Documentation Center said that two adult male non-combatants died as a result of Russia shelling. In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported Russian raids on Palmyra, leading to the death of two civilians. Baladi News Network also put the death toll at two, while Halab Today said that two children died. Both sources blamed Russia.

According to the Palmyra Coordination Committee, “violent raids by Russian occupation planes” led to the death of “two young men in al A’bbara area“. It said they were “the sons of Hamdoush al Qassem [al Shabrak].”

Palmyra News Network published a video which it said showed  “the house of Akram al Shabrak, in the city of Palmyra, after it was bombed by Russian occupation planes” – though it is unclear if this was where the two men died.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the regime was responsible. In an initial report it said two children died – but this could be referring to a separate incident on the same day and location, given that the victims are children and the VDC names two adults.

Another SN4HR report named Mrs. Aisha Al Khaled as a victim and said that she died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Son of Hamid Al Qasem ”Al Shabraq” 1
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Son of Hamid Al Qasem ”Al Shabraq” 2
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Aisha Al Khaled
Adult female Listed by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (0–2 children1 woman2 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The house of Akram al Shabrak, city of Palmyra, after it was allegdly bombed by Russian planes.
  • Picture of one of the sons supposedly killed (via VDC)

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.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (0–2 children1 woman2 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1045

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

كرم الطحان, Karam Tahan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196287, 37.181253 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including children died and more were wounded in an airstrike on Karam Tahan, local sources reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the casualties.

According to Arabstoday, “four people were killed and three were injured due to three Russian warplanes raids in Karm Al-Tahhan”.

Zakaria Nassan reported “a bombardment in Karm Al-Tahhan in Aeppo with missiles, killing five people including children and injuring others including women and children”, but didn’t identify the culprit.

Qasioun blamed “explosive barrels”, while Buraq published graphic footage depicting “horrifying scenes after shelling by Assad warplanes”.

Other sources blamed both Russia and the regime or didn’t name the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Distressing footage of the makeshift clinic in Karam Tahan, Aleppo - where civilians were treated following alleged Regime attacks (Youtube via Buraq

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dead and wounded child civilians in Karam Tahan after suspected Russian or Regime attacks (Tweet via @ZakariaNassani)
  • Karam Tahan surveyed by The White Helmets following alleged Russian or Regime attacks - the destruction to buildings was significant in the neighbouhood (Youtube via Buraq)
  • Footage of local people, angered by the impact of suspected warplane shelling on their neighbourhood (Youtube via Qasioun)

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 July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (14) [ 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
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 – 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

RS1255

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

الميسر, Mayser, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.212011, 37.171227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including one child died and as many as dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on the Mayser neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

According to Zouhayrhnidel, “Russian warplanes destroyed 30 civilian houses and an unknown number martyrs were under the rubble” in the neighbourhood.

Baladi, LCCSY, the Smart News Agency and Syria News Desk all blamed Russia. Smart put the death toll at three including a child with seven more injured. However, Baladi reported that as many as five died with dozens more wounded.

However, Ajmurgen, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Wamtimes attributed the event to the regime.

Some other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the destruction in the Mayser of Aleppo following alleged Russian shelling (Youtube via Halab News)
  • Suspected Russian warplanes detroyed 30 civilian houses according to the source. Photographs reveal extensive material destruction (via @Zouhayrhnidel)
  • Destruction on the streets of Mayser neighbourhoos Aleppo, the consequences of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Smart)
  • Signifcant material destruction in Mayser neighbourhood (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page no longer available -accessed via Airwars archive]

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
    3 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]