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

RS2061

Incident date

April 3, 2017

Location

الهبيط, al Habeet, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4379459, 36.5379524 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians – a mother and her two children – died and up to 20 more were wounded in an alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on al Habeet, according to sources on the ground.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian warplanes targeted the town of Habeet in the southern countryside of Idlib with twenty-three air-to-surface missile and concussion strikes on Monday evening April 3, causing the deaths of two children and their mother”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: “The children Ahmad and Mariam Abdulla al Abood were killed when suspected Russian warplanes fired missiles on the southern neighborhood in al Habeit village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs on April 3, 2017.”

However, Syria News Desk pointed to the Assad regime, citing a large number of injured civilians, a fifth of them children. According to this source, “in the southern Idlib countryside, 20 civilians were injured, including five children, yesterday night [April 3rd], as a result regime helicopters dropping two barrels containing chlorine poison gas on the opposition town of Habeet”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Abdulla al Abood
Child male killed
Mariam Abdulla al Abood
Child killed
Mother of the two Abdulla al Abood children
Adult female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Khan Sheikhan or Habayt or and Tel Asas west. The source didn't clarify the location shown in the image (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Khan Sheikhan or Habayt or and Tel Asas west. The source didn't clarify the location shown in the image (via White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2622

Incident date

October 10, 2017

Location

الحسينية, Al-Husayniya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.6333333, 40.7166667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including two female children, were killed and several were left wounded following airstrikes striking the village of Al-Husayniya, Deir Ezzor, local media reported, though it was unclear who carried out the strikes.

Several sources reported the death of two children. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported “two female children were killed and others were injured, as a result of bombing by warplanes on Al-Husseiniyah village, in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, after the midnight of Tuesday – Wednesday (October 10th-11th, ed.)

As the only source, Sharqiya Voice reported that three civilians had been killed and did not mention the two children among the victims.

Finally, Step News Agency, who reported about the incident a couple of days after, on October 13th, said that the strikes had not caused any damage.

Only @olay6663 identified Russia as responsible as the remaining reports did not identify the culprit and merely referred to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st - 31st 2017.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS197

Incident date

November 27, 2015

Location

القريتين, Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.229890, 37.238245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three non-combatants including two women were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on a farm 7km from the city of Qaryatain. The Syrian Network for Human Rights described the location as providing shelter to internally displaced civilians.

The VDC named two victims, and  SN4HR named the third victim who was named byrom Haraween in Homs

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aysheh Ahmad al-Hajji al-Saleibi
Adult female named by vdc killed
Hafizah Zaeim al-Sabrah
Adult female named by vdc killed
Aeid Sameer Sawan
Age unknown male named by SN4RH killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Al Qaryatayn (القريتين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.229890, 37.238245. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS678

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians including one female child died in an alleged Russia airstrike on Arbeen, according to local sources.

Arabstoday, Baladi, DCHRS and Smart reported Russian raids on Arbeen. Baladi said that one female child was killed. Other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible, while Freeqabon reported “artillery shelling”.

Erbinrevo named Ismaeil Haj Youssef as a victim, “due to Mig warplanes shelling in Arbeen”. He was also named in in a contested strike in Douma on the same day. Two victims – killed “due to air forces shelling” were listed by the VDC including one Unidentified – adult, male.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ismael Haj Yousef
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ismael Haj Yousef, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • White Helmets drive to the scene in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian raid. (via, The White Helmets)
  • The exact moments the raid struck. (via, Baladi 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1081

Incident date

August 1, 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

Three civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on Bab al Nairab on August 1st, 2016, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

LCCSY reported that three civilians were killed and several others wounded “due to the targeting of Bab Nairab neighbourhood at dawn [Aug 1st] with vacuum missiles by Russian warplanes.”

HNN [YouTube link] also reported the incident and blamed Russia. It stated that the “airstrike after midnight turned Bab Neirab neighbourhood houses into lonely stones” and led to the death of three people, including a child, and left ten wounded.

The Violations Documentation Center lists three victims in Bab Neirab, killed by “warplane shelling” of “Russian troops”

However, the Syrian Press Centre reported that the regime conducted a strike on Bab al Nairab.

Some other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Montaha Ramadan Bakeer
Child female killed
Mahmoud Mohammad Absi
Adult male killed
Mohammad Ali Jaroukh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, HNN)

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
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1405

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Location

الموحسن, Mohassein, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2257487, 40.3109038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including a mother and her child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mohassein in Deir Ezzor, according to sources on the ground.

According to Deir Ezzor 24, “Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes with cluster bombs of Al Abad which led to the martyrdom of two people, and wounding a large number of civilians as a result of the explosion of the cluster bombs”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hajja Maha
Adult female wife of Mot’eb Ramadan killed
And the son of Walid Al-Ayfan
Child male killed
Al Haj Salem al Mukhalaf
Adult male an elderly man, who later died from wounds sustained in this event. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Hajja Maha, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via MousaAlomar)
  • "Warplanes with cluster bombs target Al-Labed street in Mohssein in eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor." (via, Deirezzor24)
  • Al Haj Salem al Mukhalaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Euphrates Post)

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 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1437

Incident date

October 12, 2016

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, a mother and her two children, were reported killed in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Jarjanaz.

Shahba reported: “Two children were killed with their mom in a Russian warplanes shelling in Jarjanaz and others wounded.” Halab Today TV published a similar report.

All of the other sources reported that a woman and her two children were killed in the strike.

LCCSY, for example, wrote: “a woman and two children were martyred and dozens of others wounded due to Russian airstrikes with highly explosive rockets on Jarjanaz town east of Maarat Al Numan.”

However, Qasioun blamed the regime for the three deaths.

Anasanas84 tweeted that a man was found alive under the rubble, but his wife and two children died in the attack. The source added that the victims were displaced from Soran in Hama.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Jarjanaz, Oct 12th (via Smart News)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in in Jarjanaz, Oct 12th (via All4Syria)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Syrian News Desk)
  • A crater formed by an airstrike. (via Omar Alwan1)
  • Footage showing the damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via Maara Media Centre)
  • Damaged vehicles due to the alleged raid. (via Alidddd99)
  • Civilians stand by the crater which was formed by the alleged missile which hit Jarjanaz. (via Alidddd99)
  • Civilians stand by the crater which was formed by the alleged missile which hit Jarjanaz. (via Alidddd99)
  • Civilians stand by the crater which was formed by the alleged missile which hit Jarjanaz. (via Halab Today)
  • Footage showing the scale of destruction to civilian homes. (via EMC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jarjanaz (بنان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.617076, 36.783132. 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 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
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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

RS1856

Incident date

January 23, 2017

Location

قحطان, Kahtan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.988441, 38.921964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians from the same family were killed when an alleged Russian raid struck civilian homes near a hospital in Kahtan. Only one on the ground source – Euphrates Post –  reported on this incident, and it blamed Russian warplanes.

It alleged that the homes near Kahtan hospital were struck which led to the collapse of an entire building. Later on it tweeted the name of the road, Sitta Illa Rubu’ [quarter to six] street. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Kamal Ahmad al Hazza’ [Abu Ahmad],
Adult male killed
Ahmad Kamal al Hazza’
Child male son of Kamal Ahmad al Hazza’ [Abu Ahmad], killed
Mariam Breija’
Adult female wife of Kamal Ahmad al Hazza’ [Abu Ahmad], killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ 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 specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]