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

RS1199

Incident date

August 30, 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

Between two and five civilians including between one and two children and a woman were killed and as many as dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Salheen, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russian warplanes or explosive barrels dropped from Assad regime helicopters caused the casualties.

The lowest death count was given as two by Jisrtv, who blamed Russia.

The majority of other sources, including LCCSY, Syrian Press Center, Chamtimes and @SYR_REV_NEWS also attributed the event to Moscow – putting the death count at five civilians. According to Syrian Press Center, one of the fatalities was a child. LCCSY added that “dozens were also wounded”.

However, the Smart News Agency said that this was the work of regime warplanes; while some other sources (Alyementoday, @aleppopress and @shahed_alep) blamed explosive barrels dropped from helicopters.

A report by Alyementoday said that “a woman and two children from the same family died when explosive barrels were dropped on explosive barrels on areas in the Salheen neighbourhood”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians are rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings following an alleged raid on Salheen, August 30th 2016. (via, Syrian PC)

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 August 20th – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1231

Incident date

September 6, 2016

Location

معردبسي, Meir Debsie, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.779211, 36.770897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including three children died and up to 20 others were wounded in shelling of Maer Debsie. Most sources attributed the event to the Syrian regime, though one blamed Russia.

According to Zaman Alwasl, six died when the regime shelled “civilians’ residential houses from the side of motorway”.

Enab Baladi, also blaming the regime, put the death toll at eight with 22 more wounded – most of them reportedly in a critical condition.

However, one source, LCCSY, alleged Russia was responsible. It put the death toll at six with 10 wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Ahmad Haj Yehya
Age unknown male killed
Abdul-Rahim Haj Yehya
Age unknown male killed
Nawaf Ahmad Haj Yehya
Age unknown killed

Family members (3)

Ali Mohammed Isma’il
Child male killed
Rawda Mohammed Isma’il
Child killed
Aysha Mohammed Isma’i
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Ali Matar Jum’a
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Hussein Sheikh Saleh
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A civilian is rescued following a strike on Maer Debseh, Sept 6th (via Jisrtv)
  • The White Helmets search for civilians in Maer Debseh, following suspected Regime or Russian attacks (via Enab Baladi)
  • The source alleged Regime warplanes commited the massacre in Maer Debseh - footage reveals significant material destruction (Youtube via EMC)

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
  • (3 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1263

Incident date

September 12, 2016

Location

معرة مصرين, Maarat Misreen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians (10 of whom were named) died and as many as 35 more were wounded in airstrikes on Maarat Misreen, local media reported. The majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the event – though there were also allegations against Russia.

Syria News Desk – who blamed Moscow – provided the most detail on the incident. It reported: “The death toll from Russian strikes on Maaret Misreen – which is under the control of the opposition – rose to 15 people, including children, with more than 35 wounded.

“The media opposition activist Ammar Hashim told Syria News Desk that the two raids targeted Corniche Road and the fuel market in the town. Bodies were burnt and there were amputations. The injured were taken to hospitals and medical points in the region by the civil defence. There was significant damage to property and the burning of dozens of cars”.

Sadaltwhed also blamed Russia, though put the death count at 11.

However, the majority of sources – including Alsouria, CDS, SMO and RFS – attributed the incident to the regime. Cluster bombs were reportedly used in the attacks.

There was some confused reporting from the Syrian Network for Human Rights: in an initial tweet, it alleged that Russia was responsible – but went on to accuse “government forces”.

A number of other sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, didn’t identify the culprit. The Observatory also put the death toll at 15, including”three from one family and four others from another family”.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee – who blamed “warplanes” – put the number killed at 13, and named 10 victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Al-Absi Badleh
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Bitar
Age unknown male killed
Taghreed Badleh
Age unknown killed
Hala Al-Khaled
Age unknown killed
Khiro Alolo
Age unknown killed
Samer Hamwi
Age unknown killed
Mahroos Al-Khaled
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Abdullah Nadaf Ibrahim Abdullah
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Mahroos Khaled
Age unknown male killed
Wasim Bitar
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–35
  • 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]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets retrieve a body from the rubble in Maaret Misreen following alleged Regime or Russian shelling, Sept 12th (Youtube via CDS)
  • Footage of civilian casualties arriving at the Centre for Victim Rehabilitation in Maaret Misreen (Youtube via CDS)
  • A news report of the scene in Idlib city following destruction caused by suspected Russian or Regime warplanes, Sept 12th (Youtube via Jisrtv)
  • Dust and smoke rise above a street in Idlib city following the suspected Russian or Regime shelling on the area (Youtube via UAR)
  • Firefighters at work on the streets of Idlib city, local people look on at blazes. The impact of alleged Russian or Regime warplane shelling (Tweet via @syrian191124)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat Misreen (معرة مصرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.012172,36.673049. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–35
  • 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

RS1296

Incident date

September 21, 2016

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

Local media reported that one to three civilians died and as many as ten more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Mashad neighbourhood. This event looks to have been carried out by helicopters belong to the Assad regime. There were no allegations against Russia, though some sources referred to unidentified “warplanes”.

Photographs from @RFS_North and @step_agency showed extensive building damage, and a Step News Agency video depicted one body being pulled out of the rubble.

@AleppoAMC tweeted about an unspecified number of wounded “after regime helicopters struck with four explosive barrels.” Step News claimed two barrel bombs were dropped.

At least one child was wounded, according to @baladinetwork.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the mass destruction of buildings al Mashhad, Aleppo, caused by airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime or Russia (via Baladi News)
  • Footage of the mass destruction of buildings al Mashhad, Aleppo, caused by airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime or Russia (via Baladi News)
  • White Helmets rescuing civilians out from under the rubble, following the airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via White Helmets)
  • Civilians in the aftermath of the airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Civilians in the aftermath of the airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Civilians in the aftermath of the airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via RFS_NORTH)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via RFS_NORTH)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in al-Mashad, Aleppo (via RFS_NORTH)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes on the city of al-Mashad (via Step News Agency)

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 – 3
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1328

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 14 civilians including two or three children died and dozens more non-combatants were wounded in airstrikes on Al Rastan, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to LCCSY, “four civilians including two children were martyred after Russian planes raided residential homes in al Rastan with four vacuum missile raids”.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “government warplanes”, putting the death toll at four including three children.

Al Jazeera also blamed the regime.

@ajamubasher tweeted a video (see below) showing “painful scenes summarising what happened today [September 23rd] in the Aleppo and Homs as a result of Russian and Syrian shelling”.

The highest death toll was give by @ZakariaNassani, who said that 14 civilians died following “10 raids on the homes of people” – though the source didn’t name the culprit.

@AraNewsArabic added that dozens were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 14
  • (2–3 children)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A little boy treated by medics in Al Rastan for injuries sustained in alleged warplane shelling, Sept 23rd (via @ajmubasher)
  • Smoke clouds rise above Al Rastan following suspected Russian or Regime raids, Sept 23rd (via @ZakariaNassani)

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 – 14
  • (2–3 children)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1360

Incident date

September 28, 2016

Location

المعادي, Al Ma'adi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1914827, 37.1630799 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 17 civilians were reportedly killed in the Al Ma’adi neighbourhood in Aleppo – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the result of Russian airstrikes or shelling by the Syrian regime.

Syriansnews reported the attack as a joint action: “Seventeen civilians were killed on Wednesday [Sept 28th] and dozens were injured – in an initial toll – in artillery shelling by Assad’s forces and strikes by Russian aircraft.”

Many sources reported that a bakery was hit in the strike. For example, Enabbaladi said: “Six civilians were killed and dozens more injured in a bomb attack on a bakery in the Ma’adi neighborhood of Aleppo.”

According to the Step News Agency,  the strike hit the bakery “when people had gathered to buy bread in the morning.”

Step went on to say that “the Assad regime and its ally Russia deliberately have been bombarding vital centers and targeting civilians in Aleppo city’s neighbourhoods for the tenth day in a row”.

The lowest death count of four was given by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

But Syriapost1, AlHadath, 24Aleppo and others said that as many as 17 people perished.

Syria News Desk reported that three of the victims were children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Hakk
Age unknown

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    What looks like an injured or deceased civilian following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Ma'adi, 28th September 2016. (via Syrian News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a man killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Ma'adi, 28th September 2016. (via freedomrise2)
  • Bread left on the floor following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Ma'adi, 28th September 2016. (via Hibrpress)

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 – 17
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1393

Incident date

October 3, 2016

Location

بعيدين‬, Baeedin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2361737, 37.1832275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including a woman died and up to 11 more people were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Baeedin, according to local media. A number of sources said that the three victims were elderly people.

The media opposition activist Abu Mohammad al-Halab told Syria News Desk that “the Russian air force struck houses in the centre of the neighbourhood”. Cluster bombs were reportedly used.

It should be noted that the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported deaths were caused by “government warplanes (allies) missiles”, which despite mentioning of the Syrian regime, most likely still pointed to Russia as “the ally”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–11
  • 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 (16) [ 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–11
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1426

Incident date

October 10, 2016

Location

حي كرم الجبل, Karam al Jabal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2105198, 37.1769404 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, the city of Karam al-Jabal in Aleppo was struck by artillery strikes that led to the deaths of three civilians. All sources but one – Shaam News Network (who blamed both Russia and the regime) pointed to the regime as the culprit.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “three citizens were killed in shelling by the regime forces at areas in Karm al-Jabal neighborhood in Aleppo city”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (8) [ 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
    3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]