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

RS1273

Incident date

September 17, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8420186, 36.711974 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were killed by shelling from Assad’s forces on the city of Talbisah, local sources said. Two casualties were identified by name, a child and a woman.

Eldorar News stated that three civilians were killed, while RozanaFM stated “at least two women” died from regime shells.

All4Syria News named five total deaths in Talbissa on this date, two from shelling and three from a previously unexploded Russian cluster bomb (previous entry). Smart News described the raid as “Killing four civilians and wounding eight others”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, Smart News, Al Jazeera, and Sky News Arabia, among others, reported casualties from Russian airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Alaa al Kassab
12 years old male killed
Khouloud Alloush
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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]

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 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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

RS1305

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

الصالحين, Al Salhin neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians died and seven were wounded in an alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Salhin neighbourhood, according to local media.

LCCSY said Russia carried out strikes, though Aljazeera reported that seven civilians were killed in regime strikes “in the neighborhoods of Sukkari Mashhad Marjeh and Salhin.”

But Free Syria TV reported injuries, not fatalities: “seven were  wounded as a result of the bombing of the # Russian warplanes on the neighborhood of Al Salhin  in Aleppo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ 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
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1337

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians died and up to 40 were wounded in airstrikes in the Al Karab neighbourhood of Al Atareb outside Aleppo, according to local media. While most sources blamed Russia, there was also an allegation against the Syrian regime.

LCCSY wrote that “the correspondent counted five civilians were killed when Russian warplanes carried out thermobaric weapon attacks on Al Atareb city.”

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “government warplanes and its allies”, meaning that the regime may have carried out the strikes; while the Shaam News Network referred generally to strikes by both Russia and the regime on Aleppo (including Al Atareb) on this day.

All4Syria said that the market of the city had been bombed with cluster bombs and missiles.

Alaraby also reported the use of cluster bombs: “Al Atarib City and the town of Mansura were struck by a Russian cluster and phosphorous bombs.”

According to All4Syria, more than 40 civilians were wounded in this event.

An unidentified woman and one more unidentified person were also alleged killed in the attacks.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zainab Omar Rashid
Age unknown killed
Nawras Abdul Rahman Obaid
Age unknown from Kafr Halab killed
Samer al-Khatib
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Yassin
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Sharif
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22–40
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Smoke clouds rise above Al Karab, Al Atareb on September 24th following alleged Russian strikes (Youtube via Baladi)
  • Footage of material destruction in Al Karab after suspected Russian shelling on September 24th (Youtube via Baladi)
  • Local people walk over the destroyed buildings in Al Karab, the impact of alleged Russian shelling, September 24th (Youtube via Step)
  • Photographs of destruction in Al Karab after alleged Russian warplane shelling, September 24th (via @thiqanewsagency)

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 – 7
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22–40
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1369

Incident date

September 30, 2016

Location

الهلّك, al Halak, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.231951, 37.170997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and seven civilians died in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Aleppo’s Al Halak neighbourhood, according to local media.

Syrian Press Center reported both strikes by the regime and Russia: “The regime army positioned in al-Midan area targeted residential houses in the al-Hallak district on Saturday [Sept 30th] with mortars and heavy artillery, killing one civilian and injuring five others.”

In another report it added: “Russian aircraft launched a series of airstrikes with concussion bombs targeting the Halak district of Aleppo, killing three civilians and injuring more than 15 others.”

The highest death count of seven – including three children – was given by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Syriamubasher said that media activist Laith al-Halabi was among the victims.

Khaleedalkhteb posted on Twitter that a church was largely destroyed by the strikes.

Shahedalep1 reported the use of bunker busters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Laith al-Halabi
Adult male media activist killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–15
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the strikes on al-Halak, Aleppo, carried out by either Russian or Syrian regime warplanes, 30th September 2016. (via @Khaleedalkhteb)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians in the rubble caused by the contested airstrikes on al-Halak, Aleppo, 30th September 2016. (via Aleppo AMC)

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 – 7
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–15
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1403

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Location

ريف المهندسين, Rif al Muhandisin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.115568, 36.90616 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians died and as many as 57 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Rif Al Muhandisin in the Western countryside of Aleppo, according to local media.

Qasioun News reported “Russian warplanes committed a massacre in Rif Al Muhandisin in the western countryside of Aleppo, killing six civilians and wounding dozens more – the majority women and children.”

Among others, the twitter account Fawaz_jwaid reported that the eight victims were from the same family, “displaced from Zitan village”.

Most sources claimed that a dozen of civilians were left wounded, though the twitter account @Syriamubahser reported that as many as 57 were injured.

The majority of the sources pointed to Russia, though Syrian News and al-Watan News attributed the strikes to both Russia and the Assad regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Khaled Ahmad Al-Zaher
Age unknown male killed
Tarek Al-Zaher
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Ahmad Al-Zaher
Age unknown male killed
Tarek Ahmad Al-Zaher
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Al-Zaher
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–57
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Rif al Muhandisin. (via, Qasioun)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–57
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1435

Incident date

October 12, 2016

Location

كفرلاها, Kafr Laha, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.88305556, 36.5 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians were reported killed in air and artillery strikes on Kafr Laha, according to sources on the ground.

All but one source blamed the regime for this incident, though the Shaam News Network said that “Russian and Assad warplanes” launched strikes on areas of Homs including Kafr Laha.

Al Jazeera put the death toll at six, while the Shaam News Network published the same number, saying that one of the female victims was pregnant.

In addition, between six and 24 people were reported wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Abdulrazak Ismaeil
Child male named by Homs Media Centre killed
Salam Mohammed Al-Suleiman
Child named by Homs Media Centre killed
Fatima Al Ali
Age unknown female amed by Microsyria and SDUsyria killed
Amina Abdur-Rahman Fares
Age unknown female amed by Microsyria and SDUsyria killed
Rafida Mohammed Ibrahim
Age unknown female amed by Microsyria and SDUsyria killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • An interview taken in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Kafr Laha, Oct 12th highlighting the damage to civilian homes. (via JisirTV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage of what appears to be child casualties. The remains are barely recognisable. According to the source, it is Salam Mohammed Al-Suleiman. (via Homs Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdullah Abdul-Razak Ismaeil, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Kafra Laha, Oct 12th. (via Homs Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Kafr Laha, Oct 12th (via Smart 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 October 1st – 19th 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 – 6
  • (2 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1467

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

Bab al Nasr, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.20388889, 37.16055556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian died in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Bab al Nasr neighbourhood, local media reported. Most sources blamed Russia, though several also pointed towards the Syrian regime. A number of other reports didn’t identify the culprit, saying that both Russia and the regime were carrying out strikes on Aleppo – including on Bab al Nasr – during this period of time.

Halab News attributed the event to Russia and put the death count at one. Other sources said there had been civilian casualties but didn’t give numbers.

According to Al Jazeera, “fifty people were killed and others were injured by Russian air raids on the neighborhoods of Bab al-Nasr and Sukkari and Karam al Nuzha and Al Mashad. The reporter added that the shelling also caused considerable damage to property and other homes and property”.

However, @SyriaPressorg1 said the regime had shelled the neighbourhood, as did Almaghrib Today.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (14) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 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
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1499

Incident date

October 23, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians including two children and a woman died and up to 10 more were wounded in an airstrike or artillery shelling of a residential area in Aleppo’s Marjah neighbourhood, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

The Shaam News Network reported: “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted neighborhoods in Marjah district in Aleppo with rockets, which led to the death of four civilians, including women and children, and wounding of others, in addition to a mass damage of residential buildings.” Syrian Press Center, also blaming Russia, said that the four fatalities included two children and a woman.

Sky News Arabia put the death toll at five, pointing to “Russian-Syrian air raids” and noting that they happened “a day after the end of the Russian truce”.

The Syrian network for Human Rights blamed only the regime.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, artillery may also have been operating in the area. It said that “three civilians were killed including a child and a woman, while others were wounded, in a bombardment on the Marjah neighbourhood; it is still unknown whether if it was aerial or artillery bombardment. Many other people were wounded.”

@HalabNewsN listed 2 victims and also reported one unidentified man.

Smo-Sy said that and additional 10 people were wounded, but like numerous sources didn’t apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hassan Farhan
Adult male named by HNN killed
Wife of Hassan Farhan
Adult female named by HNN killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

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
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]