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

RS1331

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

ارض الحمرا, Ard Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.229216, 37.208977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 25 civilians died and up to another 25 were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Ard Hamra neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to local media.

HNN named two of the victims, and added that six others were unidentified.

All4Syria reported the highest casualty count with 25 saying: “The largest number of victims was in Ard Hamra district, which was targeted with cluster bombs, warplanes and missiles, which caused the deaths of more than 25 civilians.”

Most other sources provided much lower numbers, such as Al Jazeera who reported that “eight were killed by the Russian raids on Ard Hamra and Alsakhur in Aleppo.”

A number of other sources didn’t apportion blame. For example, @MasarPressNet reported “the martyrdom and wounding of about 20 civilians after the bombing with rockets and cluster stereochemistry on the Ard Hamra neighborhood”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Safaa Karim
Child killed
Mahmoud al Mohammad
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 25
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–25
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ 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
    5 – 25
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–25
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1332

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between three and 15 civilians were reported killed and ten more injured in airstrikes on the Al Sakhour neighbourhood of Aleppo. The majority of sources blamed Russia, though several reports said that barrel bombs had been dropped on the neighbourhood – a weapon known to be used by the Syrian regime.

HNN named two victims. It added that four more people had not been unidentified.

The Shaam News Network reported the use of cluster and phosphorus bombs.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights who pout the death toll at four, said that this included one child and one woman.The number of casualties highly differed among the sources, with Qasioun and All4Syria giving the highest number at 15.

Al Jazeera reported that the Russian airplanes had deliberately hit a market: “The largest number of deaths occurred […] in Al Sakhour where the Russian air force targeted a vegetable market.”

However, Elnasswelshort and Almjhar mentioned the use of “explosive barrels”, a weapon used by the regime, meaning that its involvement can’t be ruled out.

A number of other sources didn’t apportion blame, referring only to strikes by “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Sheikho
Child killed
Adeeb al Omar
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 15
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Footage of Al Sakhour following alleged Russian shelling, Sept 24th. The White Helmet team use a JCB to work through the rubble in hope to save civilians (Youtube via AMC)
  • Scenes from Al Sakhour following alleged Russian missile strikes, Sept 24th (via @thiqanewsagency)
  • 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
    3 – 15
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1333

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

كرم حومد, Karam Homad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between one and eight civilians were killed and as many as 22 more injured in airstrikes in Karam Homad in Aleppo, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The lowest death count was given by Almustaqbal and Zamanmasdar at one civilian – though these source, as with some others, didn’t apportion blame.

Micro Syria was among the majority of reports attributing the event to Russia. It put the death count at six, and referring to the event as “a massacre”.

According to the Step News Agency, “eight civilians were killed and more than 20 injured by airstrikes targeting the Karam Homad neighborhood in the city of Aleppo.”

However, other sources pointed towards the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed shelling by “government forces” and LCCSY said that both Russian and Assad jets had carried out strikes in Aleppo on this day, including in Karam Homad.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–22
  • 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 (23) [ 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 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–22
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1334

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

الكلاسة, Kallasa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between four and nine civilians including one child died in airstrikes on the Kallassa and Maysar neighbourhoods of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was responsible.

LCCSY reported that “Russia’s and Assad’s warplanes conducted airstrikes on the eSufun al Samanastern neighborhoods of Aleppo” – including in the Kallassa and Maysar neighbourhoods.

According to @syria_pluse , “a squadron of four Russian aircraft bombarded the neighbourhoods of Myasar, Hanano, Salhen and Kallaseh”.

Most sources said that three civilians had died. For example, Shahba Press reported that there were three dead and about six wounded in the Myasar district”.

RFS_North claimed that Myasar was hit by barrel bombs which would imply that the strikes there were conducted by the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sufun al Saman
Age unknown killed
Abd al Razzaq Haj Ibrahim
Child killed
Suleiman Mohammed Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Bashar Shakir
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 9
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

  • A building in Kallasa destroyed in alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via RFS_NORTH) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A digger shifts rubble in Kallasa following in alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via RFS_NORTH) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Destruction in Kallasa, the impact of alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via @RFS_NORTH) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A civilian receives medicial treatment for injuries sustained in alleged Russian shelling in Kallassa on September 24th (via HMN News)
  • Victims of an alleged Russian bombardment on Kallassa, September 24th (via HMN News)
  • Wounded civilians receive aid following alleged Russian shelling in Kallassa on September 24th (via HMN News)
  • A civilian is tended to by a medic for injuries sustained in alleged Russian shelling in Kallassa, September 24th (via HMN News)
  • Dust and destruction on the Maysar neighbourhood of Aleppo following alleged Russian shelling, September 24th (via @HalabTodayTV)

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
    4 – 9
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

RS1335

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five named civilians from the same family, including three children, died as result of either Russian or Syrian regime airstrike in the Bab Nayrab neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to local media.

CNN reported that civilian infrastructure was destroyed in the strike: “As a result of heavy shelling last night, Bab Nayrab station, which provides water to about 250,000 people in the eastern districts of Aleppo stopped pumping because of being badly damaged”. Several other sources also cited damage to the water station amid “violent raids”.

While most sources claimed the strike was conducted by Russia, The Syrian Network for Human Rights said it was the Syrian regime.

According to SN4HR, “five civilians from one family, including three children, have died from bombing of regime warplanes on Bab Neirab neighborhood in the city of Aleppo.”

A later report by SN4HR gave further details on the location of the strike, which reportedly “struck the residential buildings in the vicinity of Al Sena’a circle in Bab Al Nayrab”

Most sources seem to agree with the number of five dead civilians, while LCCSY gives a lower estimate at one person dead and Syrianpc says six died.

Syriamubasher named five victims as:gave details on the name of five victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Alaa Majed Rihawi
4 years old killed
Ghram Majid Rihawi
7 months years old killed
Raed Majid Rihawi
5 years old killed
Fatima al-Numan
24 years old female killed
Mahmoud Rihawi
31 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmet rescue team searches for victims in the rubble at Bab Nayrab. The impact of alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via SN4HR PDF)
  • Civilians found under the rubble in Bab Nayrab by the White Helmets. The human cost of alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via SN4HR PDF)
  • Photographs of the White Helmet rescue mission in Bab Nayrab following alleged Russian shelling, September 24th (via @ShahbaPress)
  • Aleppo_neighborhoods_rupture_by_Russian_and_Syrian_forces (1)

    A report entitled 'Aleppo neighbourhoods rupture by Russian and Syrian forces' details the events at Al Zabadia on September 25th (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • Aleppo_neighborhoods_rupture_by_Russian_and_Syrian_forces_en (1)

    A report entitled 'Aleppo neighbourhoods rupture by Russian and Syrian forces' details the events at Al Halak on September 25th (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016_en

    A report entitled 'At least 49 massacres in September 2016' details events at Tareeq al Bab, September 24th (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • 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]

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 – 6
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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

RS1336

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

بستان الباشا, Bustan al Bashr, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.226481, 37.168787 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, between one and seven civilians were killed in airstrikes on the Busta al Basha neighbourhood of Aleppo. While the majority of sources attributed the event to Russia, many didn’t apportion blame.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) said that “explosive drums pounded the neighbourhood” – a weapon used by the regime; moreover, the Shaam News Network reported that both Russia and the regime had carried out strikes in Aleppo and its countryside on this day.

HNN named one of the victims and said six others couldn’t be identified. SHRC also reported seven people dead.

Most other sources claim one person died in the attack and others were wounded such as LCCSY: “One dead and some wounded were reported as Russian warplanes carried out a missile attack on Bustan al Basha neighborhood.”

Syria 2011 also named a second victim.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jaber Kurdi
Age unknown killed
Abdul Qadir Alorran
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A local makes his way through the rubble - the aftermath of suspected Russian shelling on Bustan al Basha, September 25th (via Step)
  • Rubble and destruction in Bustan al Basha following suspected Russian shelling, September 25th (via Step)
  • Siginifant material destruction in Bustan al Basha following alleged Russian shelling, September 25th (via Step)

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.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (19) [ 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

RS1338

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 18 civilians  – six or seven of whom were reportedly from the same family – were killed in airstrikes in the Tareeq al Bab neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to local media. While the majority of sources attributed the event to Russia, both the Shaam news Network and LCCSY, referred to “Russian and Assad warplanes” carrying out strikes in Aleppo on this date, including on Tareeq al Bab, meaning that regime involvement can’t definitively be ruled out. Additionally, a large number of sources didn’t name the culprit.

Zamanmasdr reported the lowest number of people killed: “four martyrs in the neighborhood Tareeq al Bab.”

Most sources including the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), The Shaam News Network and LCCSY, however, reported the number of casualties around seven and nine.

According to SN4HR, the seven killed included five children and one woman. In a later report it gave some more details on the location, stating that on “Saturday 24 September 2016 at dawn, fixed-wing warplanes, we believe are Russian, fired missiles that targeted residential buildings on the road leading to Al Qaterji neighborhood from Tareaq Al Bab neighborhood”.

HNN reported names and professions of those killed, LCCSY tweeted the same information.

Shahba Press also reported that a nurse and his wife and children were killed, adding that the strike hit “one of the most important water pumping lines”.

Smart News provided the highest number with 18 people reportedly killed in the strike.

Almadenah reported the use of phosphorus bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammad Nour Hamadi
Age unknown male Nurse killed
Umm Abdallah
female Midwife killed
The six children of Mohammad and Umm
killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 18
  • (6 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from 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
    8 – 18
  • (6 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]