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

RS1299

Incident date

September 22, 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

Major strikes in Bustan al Qasr, Aleppo, on September 22nd which killed between five and 13 civilians, and wounded dozens more, were attributed to both regime forces and Russia aircraft by local media. Local sources identified five civilian victims, including two children.

Many reports stated that barrel bombs and phosphorus were used in the attack, leading to large fires.

According to a Syria News Desk post on Facebook, “four civilians were killed and more than a dozen others injured, some of them seriously, at dawn today [Sept 22nd], a result of Russian warplanes using mostly rockets loaded with phosphorous bombs on the neighbourhood of Bustan al Qasr.

Majid Alragi, one of the residents of the neighbourhood, told Syria News desk, “The wounded were taken to a field hospital in the region,” pointing out that civil defence teams extinguished a portion of the blaze, which burned some residential buildings, shops and cars, after working more than five hours while fire gutted three buildings.

Rescue workers attempting to put out the fire were reportedly limited by snipers stationed in the vicinity.

Other sources corroborated this account but claimed a higher number of civilian casualties. @eldorar1, @Daretezzamedia, and @24Aleppo tweeted that four civilians were killed, but reports from Orient News, Smart News, Dostor, and Youm7 suggested the number of dead ranged from 10 to 13.

DW News stated that among the dead were at least three children and three women.

Most sources alleged that the bombs and phosphorus were used in between 12 and 14 separate drops on the same location.

Al Jazeera and Orient News pointed to “a squadron of Russian aircraft”, while other sources referred to “Assad’s planes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhannad Makhzoom
Adult male killed
Ayham Makhzoum
14 years old female daughter of Muhannad Makhzoom killed
Hana Makhzoom
5 months years old female daughter of Muhannad Makhzoom killed

The victims were named as:

Fatoun Ajabula
25 years old female killed
Hana Osman
50 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2–3 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • News report about among others, the contested airstrikes on the neighborhood Bustan al Qasr, Aleppo (Al An TV)
  • Allegedly Russian or Syrian airstrikes targeted Bustan al Qasr area, Aleppo (via AlMajhar News)
  • Muhannad Makhzoom was reportedly one of the victims of the contested aerial bombardment on Bustan al Qasr, Aleppo (via Baladi Network)
  • Girl being rescued by the civil defence following the contested airstrikes targeting Bustan al Qasr, Aleppo(via Jsirtv)

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 – 13
  • (2–3 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1300

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes in the neighborhood of al Kalassa, Aleppo, killed at least seven members of one family, local sources reported. The death toll may have been as high as 27, with sources reporting at least three children and three women dead, and photographs circulating of a father holding his dead son. LCCSY reported that phosphorus was used, and several reports mentioned barrel bombs.

It was unclear who was to blame for the strikes. Some reported that “Russian warplanes” were responsible: Smart News, Sawaleif News, Almadinah, @ALAMAWI, LCCSY, and SN4HR all used the language. However, Arab48 mentioned helicopters at the scene, suggesting regime involvement.

Reports on the number of casualties varied, but most sources referred to seven dead from a single family. Qasioun News stated, “14 civilians were killed in the neighbourhood of al Kalassa,” while Arab48 and Sawaleif referred to 27 dead in total across three neighbourhoods. @step_agency tweeted that nine were killed.

According to SN4HR, the strikes were carried out in the vicinity of “Ghajar’s Chicken” shop.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 27
  • (3 children3 women1 man)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aleppo White Helmets trying to extinguish the fire in the chaotic aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Kalassa (via White Helmets)
  • The neighborhood of al-Kalassa was targeting by airstrikes carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime (via LCCSY)
  • The contested airstrikes targeting al-Kalassa left parts of the city completely destroyed (via White Helmets)

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
    7 – 27
  • (3 children3 women1 man)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1301

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Assad regime warplanes killed one civilian, a young man, and wounded two others on the road outside the Maskana souk, Aleppo, local reports alleged.

“Airstrikes also targeted the main highway near Bado neighbourhood and the entrance to the souq of Maskana city in the eastern suburbs where a young man was martyred and others were injured,” said an LCCSY Facebook post. Other sources corroborated this report: @HalabTodayTV, @RadioAlKul, @ALAMAWI, and Step News all ran reports using similar language.

Most reports did not state the identity of the warplanes, but LCCSY and the Smart News Agency said the planes were Russian.

However, Radio Alkul said that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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 (17) [ 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
  • (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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1302

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

الميسر, Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Maysar neighbourhood, according to local media.

Al Jazeera reported that seven civilians were killed in regime strikes “in the neighborhoods of Sukkari Mashhad Marjeh and Salhin.”

But LCCSY said that Russia also carried out strikes resulting in an unspecified number of dead and wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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

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
  • 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

RS1314

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that five civilians were killed, and four injured, in an airstrike on the al Salheen neighbourhood of Aleppo. While most sources blamed Russia some reports said that the regime also carried out strikes in al Salheen on this day.

A tweet from @AleppoAMC included graphic photographs of three wounded children and a wounded man, with the caption “wounded in aerial bombing, which targeted al Salheen in Aleppo on Friday [Sept 23rd].”

@Sy_Reporter said five martyrs were killed in al Salheen. Islammemo, Almustaqbal, the Shaam News Network and HNN also corroborated that number. @Sy_Reporter blamed Russia, as did Orient News, and HNN. HNN identified the name of one of the victims.

Zamanalwasl did not distinguish between regime and Russian forces, saying both struck neighbourhoods across Aleppo on Friday.

One source alleged that the planes used machine guns in the neighbourhood, as well as bombs. @RFS_NORTH said civilian homes were on fire after the neighbourhood was hit by bombs and strafed with “heavy machine guns.”

According to @shahed_alep, the munitions used were cluster bombs.

A video posted by Qasioun News to YouTube showed a father grieving over his dead son.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Fakhouri
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A father is grieving over his dead son who reportedly was killed in airstrikes on Salheen, Aleppo (via Qasioun News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Several civilians were heavily injured by the airstrikes reportedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on Salheen, Aleppo (via AleppoAMC)
  • Destruction following the airstrikes in Salheen (via Eldorar News)

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
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1325

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 15 civilians including at least one child died and 20 more non-combatants were wounded in airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Kallassah neighbourhood, according to local media. Sources blamed both raids by Russian warplanes and Syrian regime helicopters, which reportedly caused widespread destruction and left people trapped under the rubble.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “fixed-wing warplanes believed to have been Russian struck residential homes in the vicinity of Al Kanej gas station in Al Kallasa neighbourhood, killing 10 individuals”.

@ShahbaPress Russai was among many sources blaming Russia; it added that the strikes led to the “collapse of three buildings”.

Many sources put the death toll at 15 with 20 more people injured.

It was unclear whether Russia or the regime were to blame for the casualties, with reports stating that both parties were active over the area. For example, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “Russian warplanes and regime helicopters carried out attacks in the neighborhoods of Kallaseh, Al-Qaterji, Bab al-Neirab, al-Ma’adi and al-Ferdus”.

According to Almajhar and All4Syria, “four fighter jets and three helicopters were flying in the atmosphere and bombarded the Aleppo neighborhoods of Salaheddin, al-Ansari, Al Mashhad zibdiye, Al Kalassa, Fardous, Al Ma’adi, Alqatrgi, Myaser, Alsakhur, Hulk, Shqayef and Hndarat”.

Similarly, it was unclear from a report by the Shaam News Network whether Russia or the regime caused the civilian harm.

Halab News, who blamed Russia, named four victims – including one child.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Omar Falah
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Falah
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Abd al Hai al Obeid
69 years old male killed
Fatima Termanini
Child died from wounds sustained in the event killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Local people at the site of mass destruction in Al Kallassah - the impact of alleged Russian warplane shelling, Sept 23rd (via @thiqanewsagency)
  • Footage of extensive material destruction in Al Kallassah, Aleppo. The White Helmet resuce team use diggers to move the rubble (Youtube via The White Helmets)
  • A civilian walks through the rubble in Al Kallassah following alleged Russian warplane shelling, Sept 23rd (via @ShahbaPress)
  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016

    A SN4HR report entitled - 'At least 49 massacres in September' details the events in Al Shia Ar, September 27th (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016_en

    A SN4HR report entitled - 'At least 49 massacres in September' details the events in Al Shia Ar, September 27th (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • Aleppo_neighborhoods_rupture_by_Russian_and_Syrian_forces_en

    A SN4HR report entitled - 'Aleppo neighborhoods rupture by Russian and Syrian forces' details the events in Al Sakhour (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • Aleppo_neighborhoods_rupture_by_Russian_and_Syrian_forces

    A SN4HR report entitled - 'Aleppo neighborhoods rupture by Russian and Syrian forces' details the events in Al Sakhour (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

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
    10 – 15
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1315

Incident date

September 23, 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

According to local sources, one woman was killed in Russian raids on the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood of Aleppo.

HNN’s list of martyrs included, “an unidentified woman, following Russian aggression raids on Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, civilian.”

@RadioAlKul tweeted, “an apartment building in the neighbourhood of Bustan al Qasr was destroyed by Russian air raids today [Sept 23rd].”

Most other sources also attributed the strikes to Russia, e.g. “Russian warplanes launched raids on Bustan al Qasr,” according to @SmartNewsAgency. Almjhar News used similar language.

According to the BBC, the strikes lit wildfires in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1326

Incident date

September 23, 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 six and 12 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Al Bab city, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to who was responsible. There were allegations against Russia, the Syrian regime and one against the US-led Coalition. A number of sources noted that they had been unable to identify the warplanes that carried out the strikes.

The lowest death count was give as six civilians by Enabbaladi, who, like many other sources, noted that “dozens more” civilians were wounded. This sources blamed the Syrian regime, as did Radio Alkul and Aletihad Press. @24Aleppo also attributed the event to Assad, reporting that warplanes fired four vacuum missiles on the city.

However, the Smart News Agency – who put the death toll at 11 – was among a number of sources attributing the incident to Moscow.

One source, Ara News, pointed towards the US-led Coalition, and gave the highest death count of 22 civilians. It said that “fighter jets belonging to the international coalition targeted a number of residential sites in the city and killed 22 people, injuring dozens more”.

@albab_city noted “the martyrdom of one of the heroes of the civil defense in the city Al Bab”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Khaled Ahmed Al Naama
Adult male Member of The White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • (1 man)
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Burnt out vehicles on a street in Al Bab, allegedly struck by Russian warplanes, Sept 23rd (via Aletihadpress)
  • Halab Today reports the death of 12 civilians following "air raids" on al Bab. 23rd September 2016
  • Shahed Ayan reports that casualties resulting from the "air raids on al bab" had risen to 20. 23rd September 2016
  • Syrian Reporter reports 20 dead as a result of "air raids" on al Bab, including a member of the civil defence. 23rd September 2016
  • Aleppo 24 reports 12 dead and dozens under the rubble following alleged regime strikes on al Bab. 23rd September 2016
  • Masar Press reports that 12 were killed and dozens injured as a result of warplane shelling on the city of al Bab. 23rd September 2016
  • ElEtihad press reports raids on al Bab. 23rd September 2016
  • Aleppo Media Centre reports ten killed including women and children in warplane shelling on al Bab. 23rd September 2016
  • Step news reports 12 killed in air raids on al Bab. 23rd September 2016
  • Radio Al Kul reports 12 killed 'most of them women and children' in alleged Regime raids on al Bab. 23rd September 2016

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reported no strikes near Al Bab city for September 22nd, 23rd or 24th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • (1 man)
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (20) [ collapse]