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

RS006

Incident date

October 1, 2015

Location

الهبيط, Al Habeet, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.437757, 36.536166 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including one or two children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike at Al Habeet.

The 9pm attack was said to involve high-explosive rockets, and three of the the dead, two men and a child were later named. Another child may also have died in the incident according to some reports.

Raghat’s mother Suheer told the Guardian her daughter had died of her injuries on the way to hospital: “We were supposed to be going home the next day. My husband never saw his daughter again.”

A video released at the time features a civil defence official discussing the attack: “The raid took place around 9pm. We were surprised to see the extent of the destruction as you can see. It is 3 or 4 times what the regime is capable of. We found an entire family, women and children, there are no military in this area… The victims are an old man, and a young man – a teacher – and a little girl and a little boy. As for the injured there are two little girls and an adult woman.”

Asked what message he had for the international community, the rescuer replied: “I don’t have a message to them. They are all enemies of the Syrian people. The Americans, the Russians, they’re with different faces but the death is the same.”

The incident occured at 21:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Adult male 58 years old killed

Family members (1)

Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male 28 year old, maths teacher killed
Child female 5 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of children killed in an alleged Russian strike at al Habeet , Oct 1st 2015 (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet by Abu Mohammed from the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently showing one of the victims. (via Abu Mohammed)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet by Abu Mohammed from the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently showing another of the child victims. (via Abu Mohammed)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Report showing aftermath of the targeting by alleged Russian planes of the town of al Habeet. includes interview with a member of the White Helmets saying the strike took place at 21:00 (via: journalist Hadi Al Abdallah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Report showing the child victims of the raid on the town of al Habeet. includes interviews with injured children (via: journalist Hadi Al Abdallah)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Habeet (الهبيط), for which the general coordinates are: 35.4379459, 36.5379524. Based on satellite imagery in which structural damage can be seen (see below), a possible location of the incident is: 35.437757, 36.536166

  • Structural damage seen on satellite imagery (left: 2 May, 2014; right: 21 February, 2017)

    Imagery:
    © 2021 Google

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

The Russian MoD confirmed carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate on October 1st-2nd 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, Su-24M and Su-25 effectuated 18 combat missions attacking 12 ISIS facilities on the territory of Syria. Ten flights were performed at night. Pinpoint attacks engaged 7 terrorist objects… Su-25 attack aircraft hit the field base of the ISIS militants near Maarrat Al-Nuuman (Idlib). Terrorist bunkers as well as ammunition and POL depots were completely destroyed. Pinpoint bomb attacks eliminated a facility used by militants as a transshipment base and a large ammunition depot.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS049

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

تيرمعلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.802364, 36.709287 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

For the second day in a row Russian aircraft reportedly targeted Teir Ma’ala, this time killing nine or more civilians according to reports. “Russian warplanes launched two raids on the town of Teir Ma’alah missiles, one of which targeted the area around the town mosque, which killed nine and about four wounded, mostly women and children,” reported Smart News.

Footage reportedly showing the attacks also features announcements from the local mosque to take shelter during the raid.

The Violations Documentation Center later named eleven civilians, ten of them adult and one female child.

Local Pro-government site Al Ahed reported only that nine ‘militants’ were killed in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male Also known as 'Bassam' killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child10 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Adnan al-Ahdab named as a civilian victim of the strike on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Udai Ayman Qantary named as a civilian victim of the strike on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Footage purporting to show the 'Russian strike' on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via Syrian Revolutionaries Gathering)
  • Al Jisr Tv footage showing what it says is 'the Russian raids on the village of Teir Ma'ala', 16th October 2015. (via Al Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia once again made no reference to any airstrikes in Homs governorate for October 16th-17th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child10 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS082

Incident date

October 27, 2015

Location

تل هادية, Tal Hadya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.99595, 36.93908 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least nine civilians were reported killed – including five children and two women – in an alleged Russian strike on the town of Tal Hayda. Early reports claimed the strike involved cluster munitions.

Aleppo White Helmets noted at the time “Civil defence teams pulled out… 11 martyrs from Tal Hadya and dozens of injured.” And according to All4Syria “Field sources also reported that Russian aircraft launched several air strikes on the village of Tal Hadya in the southern countryside of Aleppo, killing eleven civilians, including four children and three women, in addition to more than twenty wounded.

Violations Documentation Center later named nine victims.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Daughter of Firas Abd al-Raheem al-Khashouf 1
Child female killed
Wife of Firas Abd al-Raheem al-Khashouf
Adult female killed
Daughter of Firas Abd al-Raheem al-Khashouf 2
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Wife of Ramzi al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Son of Ramzi al-Zaeim
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Mustafa Bakkour
Child male killed
Daughter of Hosain al-Dasher
Child female killed
Naji al-Naji
Adult male killed
Daughter of Haytham
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (4–5 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Hadya (تل هادية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.99595, 36.93908. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Aleppo governorate on October 27th-28th 2015: “For 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 71 combat sorties engaging 118 terrorist objects in the Idlib, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Damascus and Lattakia provinces…

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (4–5 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS115

Incident date

November 3, 2015

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1834027, 37.1369648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes reportedly killed at least three non-combatants and injured at least ten in the neighbourhood of Al Mashhad, according to the White Helmets. The group said they recovered three bodies from the rubble and rescued ten people, transferring them to nearby field hospitals.

Local media activist Mansour Hussain told Al Araby al Jadeed that “Russian warplanes this afternoon renewed their bombing of the city of Aleppo, which resulted in an initial toll of six civilians were killed in al Mashhad.”

In a video posted by the Aleppo Media centre a rescue worker states: “‘Russian planes bombed Al Mashhad neighbourhood which led to the total destruction of two buildings. Then they targeted other liberated areas like al Ferdous and Bustan al Qasr. There are many dead and wounded. Every day the number is going up. Most of them are civilians. There are no militants. We have now carried out our duty and pulled out all the injured.”

There remains some confusion in casualty recording because of other reported Russian strikes on November 3rd in the nearby Aleppo neighbourhoods of Bustan el-Qasr and Ansari.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • A family from Al Mashhad neighbourhood in Aleppo leaving their home after it was bombed by russian planes (Via SNN)
  • The first moments of the Russian air strike that targeted the neighborhood Al Mashad (Aleppo) on Tuesday, 2015/11/3
  • The aftermath destruction caused by the Russian airstrike that targeted the neighborhood scene on 3-11-2015

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has confirmed carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate between November 3rd-5th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

RS150

Incident date

November 15, 2015

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

News media reported that three or four children were killed – and more than 20 injured in Russian warplanes allegedly struck the Abu Alaa Al Ma’ari Elementary School for Boys in Ma’art Al-Nu’man. One video appears to show Russian aircraft over the city that day.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the warplanes struck during school hours in the morning, when hundreds of pupils were present. Both SN4HR and The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at three. The Observatory also reported that no less than 15 non-combatants were injured and that the death toll was predicted to rise.

SN4HR put the number of injured even higher at least 20 and said many were students. One witness told Baladi News: “We’re at a school here. Russian planes came and bombed. Three kids in 10th grade were killed, and there are many cases of severed limbs.  Putin, Bashar what have these kids done to you?“

The VDC named three victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Qosai Mahmoud Fatouh
Child male aged 12 years killed
Tahseen Yehya al-Sabouh
Child male aged 15 years killed
Tahseen Yehya al-Sabouh
Child male aged 14 years killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Almarra today report: "Abu Ala'a Middle School was bombed today by a Russian Airplane which killed three students and wounded more".
  • Voiceover: "My camera documents alleged targeting by Russian aviation of a children's school in the city of Ma'rat al-Nu'man in rural Idlib"
  • Al Jazeera TV reported that three children were killed and five injured in an alleged Russian air strike on a school in the town of Ma'arat al-Nu'man in the countryside of Idlib
  • Maarah Media Center - Monitoring Russian military aircraft in the sky of Maarat al-Nu'man city
  • The Syrian Civil Defense Idlib - 2015.11.15 The moment the bodies of the children were recovered in the school of Abi Alaa al-Maari in the city of Maarat al-Nu'man
  • Photo of the victim Qussai Fattouh
  • Photo of the victim Tahseen al Sabbouh

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no details of its Syria airstrikes for the period November 13th-16th 2015 inclusive.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS183

Incident date

November 21, 2015

Location

خان السبل, Khan Subul, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.754949, 36.756941 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five civilians, including two women and two children, were killed in alleged Russian evening airstrikes that targeted Khan Subul.

Step TV later interviewed an eyewitness, an unnamed boy who notes: “A plane hit here and hit our neighbour’s home, so they were martyred. This is where it happened; it was Russian planes.”

The VDC (which blamed the deaths on unspecified ‘airstrikes’) has named the five of the victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Child male named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Child male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the White Helmets rescuing victim of the strike on Khan Subul, Nov 21st (via Syrian Civil Defence in Idlib Governorate)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike on Khan Subul, Nov 21st (via step news)
  • Destruction following the airstrike on Khan Subul, Nov 21st (via Khan al Sabil facebook page)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike on Khan Subul, Nov 21st (via Khan al Sabil facebook page)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia confirmed the following for November 21st-23rd 2015: “Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have performed 141 combat sorties engaging 472 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah, and Deir ez-Zor provinces.” Videos showed at least six separate targets in Idlib governorate struck by Russia.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Incident Code

RS215

Incident date

November 30, 2015

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center reported that six civilians, including one female and five children, were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on As Sukhna.

Activist Alamawi Omer published what he said was an account of the attack: “This morning at eight thirty in the morning the brutal Russian Air Force threw a barrage of rockets. This unleashed death, destruction and devastation on the city of Sukhna, as a result of which the child Mohammad Qasim al Hamid was killed and two daughters of Hussein al Khaleef al A’in. Mr Shihab Allafi and his wife and grandchildren were injured.  The children were buried in a cemetery in the city.

According to Jisr TV, the civilian deaths came after Russian jets “raided by mistake a convoy of regime troops” in the city.

Six civilians were eventually listed as killed.

 

The incident occured at approximately 8:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Child female Named by VDC killed
Child female Named by VDC killed
Adult female Named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Child female Named by VDC killed
Child male Named by VDC killed
Child male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of As Sukhnah, for which the generic coordinates are: 34.8848748, 38.8711739. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS248

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807607, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians including women and children were killed and more than 15 injured in an airstrike on a bakery in Salheen. Reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network said non-combatants were targeted by Russian warplanes as they went to buy bread. It put the death toll at 8. According to the White Helmets ten people died, though along with the SHRC they did not say who committed the raid. The death toll was put as high as twelve by Radio Al Kul after it said more victims were recovered from the rubble.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the event, reporting that eight people were killed when warplanes fired missiles close to the bakery, partially damaging it and putting it out of service.

Syria 2011 (which blames Russia) named 3 victims but also reported a young girl – no identification, Woman – no identification and Five other unidentified martyrs.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Mahmoud Ismail
28 years old male killed
Abdullah Faraj al-Ali,
45 years old male killed
Fatima Ahmed A’aqraa
50 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • A woman is rescued from the debris left after an alleged Russian strike on Al Salheen, December 9th. (via SNN)
  • Civilians killed and injured following an attack which targeted a bakery. (via SNN)
  • Destruction to the infrastructure in Al Salheen. (via, SHRC)
  • Aftermath of contested airstrike on the neighbourhood of al Salheen. (via, SHRC)
  • Trying to clear the pathway after an airstrike. (via SHRC)
  • Trying to clear the destruction. (via, Halab News Network)
  • Citizen journalist claiming Russian warplanes attacked Al Salheen. (via, Beha el Halabi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]