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
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS905 CS230

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

‏السموقة‬, Jisr Samouqa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.433611, 37.249444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an airstrike on the village of Samouqa, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the US-led Coalition.

Aleppo24, @ALAMAWI, Al Mukhtassar and Nabd Syria blamed Russia.

Aleppo 24 reported: “A family made up of 7 people killed and 3 other civilians killed in a cluster bomb raid thought to be Russian on the villages of Al Ghoz and al Samouq in al Shahba dam northern Aleppo countryside.”

According to Al Mukhtassar, “10 killed and dozens injured following Russian strikes using cluster bombs on the towns of al Ghoz and al Samouqa and al Shahba Dam area in northern Aleppo countryside.

However, LCCSY reported three deaths were caused by “airstrikes with cluster bombs, believed to have been carried out by international Coalition warplanes.”

There had been no prior allegations of Coalition aircraft using cluster munitions – though many such claims against Russia.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: a family made up of 7 people killed and 3 other civilians killed in a cluster bomb raid thought to be Russian on the villages of Al Ghoz and al Samouq in al Shahba dam northern Aleppo countryside.
  • Translation: Syria direct: 10 killed and dozens injured following Russian strikes using cluster bombs on the towns of al Ghoz and al Samouqa and al Shahba Dam area in northern Aleppo countryside.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA430334
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • June 14, 2016, in Samouqa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2973/CS230 37SCA430334

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 13th - 14th:
• Near Manbij, 13 strikes struck 10 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL cave entrances, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL command and control node, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL security headquarters.
• Near Mar’a, three strikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL tactical vehicle, and an ISIL mortar system.
For June 14th - 14th:
* Near Manbij, six strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1147

Incident date

August 14, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three named civilians including a baby girl died and several more were wounded in a strike on Talbissa, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The Shaam News Network reported that “a baby girl died as a result of warplanes carrying out air strikes on residential neighbourhoods in Talbiaa. Her brother and her mother, Maha Damour, were also killed.”

Talbisah and @RadioAlKul attributed the event to Russia. However, according to the Smart News Network, the regime was to blame for the death of three civilians including a baby girl.

LCCSY also pointed to the regime, citing the use of a “surface to surface missile”, which caused civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dam Al -Hana Abdul Qader Alqajo
Child female named by VDC killed
Sayf al-Din Abdul Qadir Alqajo
Child male named by VDC killed
Maha Damour
Adult female named by VDC 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of doctors attempting to recover Sayf al-Din Abdul Qadir Alqajo, who was killed on 13th August 2016. (via, Talbisah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Qader Qajo holding his daughter Dam Al Hana who died along with her mother and brother in an alleged Russian raid on August 13th 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dam Al -Hana Abdul Qader Alqajo, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Maratah. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sayf al-Din Abdul Qadir Alqajo, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Maratah. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An elderly man injured in the alleged Russian raid on Maratah. (via, Talbisah)
  • The exact moment the raids hit on August 13th 2016. (via, Talbisah)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On August 14th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strike with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the regions located to the south-west, east, and north-east from Deir ez-Zor. Two command and control centers, six large storages with ammunition and armament, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, seven off-roaders with large-caliber weaponry, and a lot of insurgents have been eliminated by the aviation strike." They also added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.

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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1848

Incident date

January 19, 2017

Location

رسم العيس , Rasm al ais, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.994645, 36.999917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Rasm al ais, according to local media.

Halab News listed three unidentified civilian fatalties – and blamed Russia for their deaths.

@RFS_NORTH, @Syrianaffairs1 and LCCSY also pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The Syrian Civil Defense center of Sarqib removes the body of Martyr after an air raid on the village of Rasme al-Ais 19/1/2017'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1944

Incident date

March 5, 2017

Location

قبتان الجبل, Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2642792, 36.9494636 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including one male child and one woman, were killed along with up to ten wounded, local media reported following alleged Russain shelling of Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo.

At least one child was killed by the airstrikes. Additionally, many  sources also reported the death of one man and woman. @kobtan_aljabal added that the child victim was displaced.  

Several sources mentioned the use of internationally banned cluster bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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]

  • Reporting from Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo, after it was hit by an airstrike on March 5, 2017 (via Smart videos)
  • Aftermath of the strike on Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo, March 5, 2017 (via @kobtan_aljabal)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike targeting Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo, March 5, 2017(via Smart News Agency)

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 March 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

RS2070

Incident date

April 4, 2017

Location

كفرنبودة, Kafr Nbouda, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.429388, 36.49078 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians from one family were killed in an alleged Russian raid on Kfar Nbouda, according to reports from the ground. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid.

The Smart News Agency reported: “Three civilians from a family were killed on Monday night [April 3rd] by a bombardment of warplanes likely to be Russian on the town in the countryside of Hama, central Syria, the civil defence correspondent told Smart. The civil defence said that the aircraft launched raids on the town of Kafr Nbouda (50 km northwest of the city of Hama), killing a man and his wife and child, without mentioning the presence of wounded.”

Halab News reported “three martyrs and others stuck under the rubble following Russian raids on Kfar Nbouda in the Hama countryside.”

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
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ 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 specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2156

Incident date

April 22, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man, a woman and a girl were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in a airstrike on Akeirbat, according to sources on the ground. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

According to the Smart News Agency,  a Russian warplane struck the vicinity, “killing a woman, and wounding two others, including a child, their health is critical.” They noted that the victims were displaced from the eastern Homs countryside.

Step reported “Russian warplanes launch several raids around Akeirbat and the surrounding area in eastern Hama killing a girl and a man and injuring dozens.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (2) [ 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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2178

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

دير شرقي, Deir Sharqi, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.603718, 36.738955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and “dozens” wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in Deir Sharqi, according to local media sources. 

The University Hospital in Deir Sharqi, which reportedly was used to primarily treat women and children, was struck.

The hospital was destroyed by the strike and taken out of service, according to Smart News, who put the injured toll at four civilians.

The three civilians that were killed were patients at the hospital, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported. They further noted that this was the third time in two months that this location had been targeted.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

12 years old female From Sinjar: Squiah Village killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three martyrs and dozens of wounded civilians, as a result of the targeting of military aircraft on University Hospital, south of the town of #Deir al-Sharqi, rural Maarra Al-Nu'man.
  • Translation: The extent of the destruction in the university hospital for children and women, in the village of Deir al-Sharqi, in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • Translation: Russian warplanes committed a horrific massacre this morning in the town of Deir al-Sharqi in rural Idlib, killing and injuring dozens of civilians who were taken to field hospitals.
  • Translation: The university hospital on the outskirts of Deir Sharqi, southern Idlib was destroyed after it was targeted by Russian planes.
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

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 specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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

RS2464

Incident date

September 18–19, 2017

Location

الطيبة , Tayba town,, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.08831, 38.914261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and his son died as Russian planes allegedly dropped cluster bombs on the town of Tayba, the Euphrates Post reported. Another source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a “female child” also died at Tayba.

Mahmoud Hussein Al-Turki and his son were reportedly killed as several air raids attacked the area at dawn. The wife and daughter of Muhannad al-Hazoum were also wounded.

The Euphrates Post was the only source able to attribute the bombing.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death of “a citizen and a female child in bombing by warplanes on areas in Al-Taybah town, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor yesterday [Sept 19th].

There was some ambiguity over the date. All sources put one said that the event was on September 19th, though Ashare Asouri  tweeted that a strike occurred on Sept 18th.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Child female injured
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]