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

RS462

Incident date

January 26, 2016

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and five civilians including one child and three women died in airstrikes on Jarnaz, according to local sources. Five sources alleged that Russia was responsible, but a fifth – the Violations Documentation Center – blamed the Assad regime.

Syria 2011 said that four died and a number were wounded when rockets were fired from Russian battleships, but provided no further information.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee also put the death toll at four, including three women, and blamed Russian warplanes.

Syrian News Desk said that three civilians were injured in addition to the four that died – and also attributed the attack to Russia.

Shahba Press reported that Russian airstrikes killed at least five civilians.

According to Alsouria, three non-combatants died when Russia fired vacuum missiles, which also destroyed parts of residential buildings.

However, the Violations Documentation Center named four civilians – three women and one child – as killed in regime airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mariam Hasan al-Hosain
Child female killed
Mariam Omer al-Hosain
Adult female killed
Mariam Ahmad al-Hosain
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Maha Mahdi al-Mkahta
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child3 women)
  • 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 (6) [ 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,” but makes no mention of strikes in Idlib.

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 child3 women)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS494

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

الصالحية, Al Salhiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7133253, 40.7575607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five non-combatants reportedly died and several others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike near the entrance to the the town of Al Salhiya, according to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (5) [ 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…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS558

Incident date

February 7, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Anadan, according to local sources. The victims included members of a family who had returned to Anadan to bury their two children killed in a strike on Kafr Hamra on February 7th, listed above.

The Shaam News Network reported that five were killed and others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Anadan. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “several citizens (most of them are from one family) were killed and injured in a bombing by warplanes believed to be Russian on the Anadan area in the northern countryside of Aleppo during the burial of two of their children, who were also killed by warplanes this morning when they targeted Kafr Hamra area northwest of Aleppo city.“

Halab Today also put the death toll at five and blamed Russia as did Aleltihad Press, which  reported that the city had been hit badly in the previous five days by Russia, resulting in more than 40 deaths including women and children.

Shahed Ayyan Halab gave the following testimony: “A family from Anadan decided to flee to the town of Kafr Hamra to escape the intense shelling in the Anadan City, the Russian Aviation targeted Kafr Hamra. There were two  martyrs – children from the families from Kafr Hamra. The family returned to Anadan to bury their children and were targeted again by Russian airstrikes. The rest of the family were among the dead and wounded.”

Radio Al Kul put the death toll lower, at three civilians.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • 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

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
    3 – 5
  • 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

RS911 CS232

Incident date

June 17, 2016

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83869, 38.7462902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians died and up to 17 others were wounded in an airstrike on Al Mansoura village, according to local media. Multiple reports said a strike hit a car travelling along the al Rasafa road and killed those inside. It was unclear who was responsible for the deaths, with allegations against Russia, the US-led Coalition and the Assad regime.

Smart reported “International coalition planes carry out a raid on the village of al Al Mansoura in Al Ar Raqqahh”, along with multiple other sources.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently attributed the event to Russia, reporting the death of “three martyrs following a Russian strike that targeted al Rasafa junction. One victims car was allegedly “totally burnt out.” Orient News also suspected Moscow.

Step News Agency and 7al did not identify the culprit, they put the death toll at five – 7al repoted 17 others wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was the only source to blame the regime, it said that warplanes killed three non-combatants.

Zamanalwasl added that a number of residential homes were also destroyed and published an image of the ruins.

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Husain al-Abbas
45 years old From the village, Rasim al Baath killed
Abu Hamza
Adult From the village of Talbissa killed
Khalil Ayed al Razzouk
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–17
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The ruins of civilians' homes following an airstrike on Al Mansoiura, June (via Zamanalwasl)
  • First Quarter Street in al Tabaqa following alleged Russian raids (via Baladi)
  • A building destroyed in Al Mansoura (via 7al)
  • 'Al Baath Village: Walid Al Abbas, 45 years old '

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV770660
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 17, 2016, in Al Mansoura, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2975/CS232 37SDV770660

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 17th-18th: Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL-used logistics route and an ISIL-used culvert.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–17
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1072

Incident date

July 30, 2016

Location

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.18553, 36.72231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or five civilians died in an airstrike on Sarmada, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Qasioun, Almntsrbalaah and Halabtoday all said that Russia was responsible, while Syria News Desk added that Russian warplanes had dropped cluster bombs on Sarmada’s main market.

Derynews, LCCSY and EMC also reported that the regime carried out strikes.

The Syrian Network, again blaming the regime, put the death toll at five including three women.

Some other sources didn’t identify the warplanes that carried out the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hussam Ali Khaled
Age unknown male killed
Khadeja Ali Khaled
Age unknown female killed
Khadeja Mohammed Khaled
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Hussein Karbouj
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 women1 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Vehicles and buildings destroyed on a street in Sarmada by alleged Russian attacks (Tweet by @jisrtv)
  • Demolished buildings on a street in Sarmada - the consequences of alleged Russian shelling (Tweet via @thesyrianmirror)

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 women1 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1347

Incident date

September 25, 2016

Location

الزبدية, al Zabadia, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1873081, 37.1341324 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians died in the Al Zabadia neighbourhood of Aleppo. While most sources blamed Russia, there was also an allegation against the Syrian regime.

LCCSY reported: “Two martyrs and ten wounded were reported as Russian warplanes carried out cluster bomb attacks on the Zabadia neighborhood.”

Syrian Press Center reported a higher death toll, referring to “massacre in the Zabadia neighborhood by a Russian plane, killing 5 people.”

But the Syrian Human Rights Committee said that “three people were killed by rocket-propelled grenades fired at the neighborhood.” It didn’t identify the culprit.

According to Alsouria, “”the fighters and helicopters of the Syrian regime and Russian aircraft, bombed throughout the day both neighborhoods of Halk, Bustan Al Basha, and Ard Al Hamra, and Tareeq Al Baab, and Al Moyesser, and the Al Mashhad, and the Al Saleheen, and Al Zabdaia, and Katraji, and Ansari.”

Additionally, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported “bombing of the regime military aircraft and his allies”, resulting in three civilian fatalities.

Halab News said that the victims couldn’t be identified so far.

Several sources also reported the use of phosphorus bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from 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 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 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1918

Incident date

February 22, 2017

Location

الجابرية, Al-Jabriya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.7988165, 36.8560061 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or five civilians died and four or five more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on the village of Al-Jabriya in Hama, according to sources on the ground. Fourteen militants from the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham were also claimed killed.

AMC reported that “four paramedics were killed and another was wounded” in a morning airstrike on the village. Halab News put the death toll at five.

Multiple other sources reported that a group of journalists was struck, leading to the death of one of them (Bara’’a Hallak, known as Abu al Yazid Taftanaz) who was the Al Jisr channels correspondent and also reportedly the former media representative for Ahrar al Sham, the Islamic Freedom Movement. A second Al Jisr correspondent was named as wounded – along with four other correspondents from media organisations including Assi Press, Orient News and the Smart News Agency.

According to Rozana, “a media activist was killed and three other media activists were injured on Wednesday [Feb 22nd] as a result of a raid on Al-Jabriya, believed to belong have been carried out by the regime. The media activists were covering the fighting in the northern Hama countryside.

“The satellite channel Al-Jisr named its correspondent Mohammed Yazid ‘Abu al-Yazid al-Tafnazzi’ as killed in an air raid while he was covering events in the northern Hama countryside. Additionally, Orient TV reported that its correspondent Saif al-Abdullah was injured by an air strike targeting a gathering of media activists in Hama.

“According to the Smart News Agency, the air raid  led to the injury of itys correspondent Mohammed al-Hweesh. He suffered shrapnel wounds in the abdomen and the heel of the foot. At the time, the correspondent of Assi Press, Iyad Abu al-Joud, was also slightly injured in the strike”.

Smart Provided further details on the condition of its correspondent Mohammed al-Hweesh, stating that “doctors had to amputate his left leg, and  he underwent an operation on the abdomen to remove shrapnel. He also suffered a fracture in his right foot.” Smart said that the regime was likely responsible for the strike.

However, Syria News Desk pointed to both “Russian and regime warplanes”. It reported that 1″4 members  of the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham, four paramedics and a media activist were killed and four journalists were injured” in the airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Dheban al-Dubaie
Adult male 'a nurse from the village of al-Mughayir' killed
Bara’’a Hallak, known as Abu al Yazid Taftanaz
Adult male correspondent of the Al Jisr channel and former media representative for Ahrar al Sham, the Islamic Freedom Movement killed
Saif al-Abdullah
Adult male correspondent of Orient News injured
Mohammed al-Hweesh
Adult male correspondent for Smart - shrapnel wounds in the abdomen and the heel of the foot injured
Iyad Abu al-Joud
Adult male Assi Press correspondent injured
Mohammed Ali
Age unknown male correspondent injured
Tim Al-Yousef
Adult male Al-Jisr correspondent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad Dheban al-Dubaie, a nurse from the village of al-Mughayir, killed in an alleged regime strike on Al Jabriya village, Feb 22nd 2017.
  • Bara’’a Hallak, known as Abu al Yazid Taftanaz, killed in a strike on Al-Jabriya, feb 22nd (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Another image of journalist Bara’’a Hallak, known as Abu al Yazid Taftanaz, published by Rozana)
  • Saif al-Abdullah, a journalist working for Orient who was wounded in the strike on Al-Jabriya, Feb 22nd (via Orient)
  • A journalist wounded in the strike on Al-Jabriya, Feb 22nd (via Orient)
  • Another journalist wounded in the Feb 22nd strike on Al-Jabriya (via HNN)

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 specific strikes between February 1st - 31st 2017.

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
  • (4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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

RS1970

Incident date

March 15, 2017

Location

السخنة المحطة الثالثة , the third station near al Sukhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died and several more were injured in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on the third station near al Sukhna, local sources reported.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian warplanes launched several air raids targeting the third station near al Sukhna in eastern Homs which led to a number of civilian injuries”.

The Smart News Agency reported: “Five people were killed and a number of others wounded on Wednesday [March 15th], in an aerial bombardment likely to have been carried out by Russia and the regime targeting at Sokhna town (70 km east of Palmyra), in the countryside of Homs east”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • 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 (3) [ 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

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