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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
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Incident Code

RS1114

Incident date

August 10, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 11 civilians including women and children were killed, and up to 30 more injured by airstrikes on the town of Orme al Kubra, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame for the casualties. The Syrian Network for Human Rights gave conflicting reports of either regime warplanes or Russian warplanes as the culprit; however, the majority of sources, including LCCSY and Halab Today, blamed Russia.

The Shaam News Network attributed the event to both Russia regime warplanes, reporting that “Activists said warplanes struck the Nursing Institute in the town, and the homes of civilians in several neighbourhoods. More than 10 people were killed and dozens injured. Civil defense teams are working on the transfer of medical hospitals.”

The airstrikes reportedly struck Omar Bin Adb al Aziz college, which trains nurses; and those killed and injured included doctors and students at the college.

Additionally, a bus carrying civilians was reportedly struck targeted and multiple other cars were burned by the bombing.

Videos posted by Halab Today and Buraq Media show the physical destruction in the aftermath of the strikes on the college, which was said to have completely destroyed the building.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 11
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Burqa Media)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A burnt body is recovered from the foot of a car following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Syrianpc)
  • Inside a building which was destroyed by the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via Smart News)
  • Fires in the street in the aftermath of the incident. (via, SHRC)
  • The exact moment the strike hit. (via, JisirTV)
  • A burning van in the immediate aftermath of the incident. (via, Enab Baladi)
  • Thick smoke fills the air in Urma al Kubra following an alleged raid. (via, Qasioun)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian is carried from the scene where an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid hit in Urma al Kubra. (via, Syria News)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, AMC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, AMC)
  • The streets burning in the immediate aftermath of the incident. (via, 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 August 1st – 10th 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 – 11
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1146

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

معراته, Maratah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.709221, 36.475634 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child and a woman were reportedly killed and up to 10 more civilians injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maratah, local media said.

According to LCCSY, “Russian warplanes raided the El Shaheed Farooq school for basic education in the town of Maratah in the south-west countryside of Gabal al-Zawiah. Idlib. The raid led to the death of a child and wounding of 10 other civilians”.

Orient news reported the death of one woman, while Syrian Press Centre said that one civilian died and three more were wounded. According to RFS Media Office, “two girls were slightly injured” in a Russian strike.

A number of other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ 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 August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1178

Incident date

August 21, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians – reportedly children – died and up to nine other non-combatants were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Naha, local media said.

According to LCCSY, “two children died and others were wounded when Russian warplanes carried out a cluster bomb attack on Kafr Naha”.

@syriapost1 and @ShahbaPress tweeted that “nine people were injured as a result of air strikes on the village of Kafr Naha”.

Radio AL Kul reported that Russian jet launched “15 rockets and cluster bombs on the towns of Kafr Naha and Urma al Kubra”.

A number of other sources reported that civilians were wounded in the attack but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (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 August 20th – 31st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1211

Incident date

September 1, 2016

Location

Al Ghia, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.381935, 40.136107 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and 16 civilians died and up to 20 were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Giah, according to local media.

Halabnews, Islammemo_cc, Wesal_TV, Alnateq1, Zaman Masdar, Alnaba, Eldorar and HNN all attributed the event to Russia, putting the death toll at either 15 or 16 civilians.

Euphrates Post, also blaming Russia, said that three died: two children and their mother.

According to SRG, the victims of the attack were “mostly women and children”, though the source didn’t provide numbers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 16
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (13) [ 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
    3 – 16
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1243

Incident date

September 9, 2016

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.958429, 36.711587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A female child was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike which struck Fatima Al-Zahra’a Mosque in Binnish, Idlib, 9th September 2016, according to sources on the ground.

Most sources blamed Russian warplanes fort he alleged raid, but others do not name a belligerent at all.

According to sources such as SN4HR, 6-7 civilians were injured in the strike, which reportedly occurred around midnight.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rama Jahjah
Child female named by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Image showing damage to the mosque which was targeted by alleged Russian raids on 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Smart)
  • Footage showing damage to the mosque which was targeted by alleged Russian raids on 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Shaam)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Fatima Al-Zahra’a mosque, 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Baladi)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Fatima Al-Zahra’a mosque, 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Baladi)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Fatima Al-Zahra’a mosque, 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Baladi)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Fatima Al-Zahra’a mosque, 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Baladi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rama Jahjah, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Binnish, 9th September 2016. (via Atfalalsham)
  • Inside the mosque in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Binnish, 9th September 2016. (via Eldorda)
  • Inside the mosque in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Binnish, 9th September 2016. (via Eldorda)
  • Inside the mosque in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Binnish, 9th September 2016. (via Eldorda)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Fatima Al-Zahra’a mosque, 9th September 2016, Binnish. (via Smart)
  • Rama Jahjah, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Binnish, 9th September 2016. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1276

Incident date

September 17, 2016

Location

جنات السلامة, Janat al Salama, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2939575, 37.8688425 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three children and one or two women, reportedly from the same family, were killed in the village of Janat al Salama, in the countryside of eastern Aleppo, according to local media.

All sources but one blamed Russia for the event. The majority of reports agreed Russian warplanes were to blame. Shahbapress, for example, referred to “the martyrdom of three children and a woman in the Russian raids on the village of Janat al Salama.”  Baladi Network, however, claimed that the warplanes were the regime’s.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1–2 women)
  • 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 (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
    4
  • (2 children1–2 women)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1308

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

الحوطة, Al Houta, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.43222222, 37.74444444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and a woman died in strikes on the village of Al Houta, outside Aleppo, local sources reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

@thiqanewsagency identified the names of three victims, two children and one woman.  Other sources, including @SyriaPulse  @SyrianFNN and @DaretezzaMedia, also reported that three civilians were killed.

Baladi News posted a YouTube video of Al Houta showing a building reduced to rubble, which it attributed to Russian bombardment. The Syrian Network for Human referred to “Russian shelling,” and @RadioAlKul also attributed the strikes to the Russians, but most sources did not refer to a culprit.

However, Qasioun News said the raids were carried out by the Assad regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Marwa Talha
3 years old female killed
Tayba Talha
5 years old female killed
Jamila Yusuf Talha
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Houta, Aleppo (via Baladi News Network)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Houta, Aleppo (via Thiqa News Agency)
  • Civilians standing in the rubble caused by the contested strikes on al-Houta, Aleppo (via Jaafr M Deen Youtube)

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
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1340

Incident date

September 25, 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 four and five civilians from the same family were reportedly killed in either Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the Al Halak neighbourhood of Aleppo.

Sources like LCCSY, HNN and Islammemo reported that the strikes were conducted by Russian warplanes. Syrian Press Center added that cluster bombs and phosphorus were used.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Youm7 and Qasioun blamed the Syrian regime for the attack. Almodon added that barrel bombs were dropped on the neighbourhood.

Alwatan provided the lowest estimate of casualty numbers: “Three civilians, including a woman, were killed in bombing by Russian warplanes in Al Halak neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo.”

Alaraby said five people were killed and also mentioned the use of outlawed weapons: “Five people from one family were killed, due to the targeting of their home in the Al Halak neighborhood with cluster bombs.”

Various sources mentioned that several people were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mustapha Yasser Hassan
19 years old killed
Colin Hamza Mustapha
40 years old killed
Mustapha Ahmad Mustafa
40 years old killed
Mansh Zbeir Mustapha
40 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]