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

RS881

Incident date

June 9, 2016

Location

حي ‏الجزماتي‬, Al Jazmati (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1999667, 37.1935272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including a child and a woman died and dozens more were injured when non-combatants’ homes were struck by airstrikes in the Al Jazamati neighborhood of Aleppo, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted or unclear as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY blamed Russian strikes killed three civilians.

In a graphic and disturbing video, the Shaam News Network said that a mother and her daughter were pulled from the rubble following a strike, though it was unclear from the report who was responsible, as it referred to “Russian enemy planes and Assad’s helicopters” continuing to fly above Aleppo and its countryside “firing vacuum and cluster and phosphoric missiles and barrel bombs on the homes of unarmed civilians”. The footage shows a young child being dug out from the ground. At 2’04” a resident gives the following testimony: “They’re bombing indiscriminately. They’re bombing all the neighborhoods, they’re civilians here, women, a little girl, she’s 2-3 years old, what has she done to deserve to be killed? The woman we just pulled her out she’s all broken, another man all broken up and another woman dead. Shame on you world, shame on you Muslims, be scared of God. Where are the Arab countries? Where is the UN? We are being bombed every day, we don’t know where to go, have mercy on us.”

The source added that a family were still stuck under the rubble.

The White Helmets also posted a video depicting a child being removed from rubble. A further report said that one woman and a girl were killed while three other people were pulled out alive, though they did not identify the “warplanes” responsible. It also published an image of a woman being carried by members of their team after they had rescued her alive when her home was targeted.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the regime was responsible for the death of three non-combatants including a girl.

According to Zakarianassani, “the little girl Shaza from Al Jazmati was killed today by the child killer that is Assad forces”.

Videos published by Ammar Alhalabi and Hadi Alabdullah reported that an entire family was still trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Shaza
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • A woman was found alive under the rubble following a strike on her home in Al Jazamati, June 9th. The White Helmets escort her to safety (via White Helmets)
  • A video showing a child casualty following a strike on Al Jazmati.
  • "Al Jazmati massacre due to Russian warplane shelling (Youtube via Shaam)
  • "Russian warplane shelling in Al Jazmati and a whole family is stuck under the rubble. There are martyrs and wounded. Initially 3 martyrs and 3 wounded" (Youtube via Ammar Alhalabi)
  • "At least 3 martyrs and 3 wounded and a whole family is still under the rubble" (Youtube via Hadi Alabdullah)
  • "watch the raids on al Jazmati whose victims were a young girl and a woman and three people were injured 10/6/2016" (Youtube via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Civilians pulled from rubble by the White Helmets (via Aleppo White Helmets )
  • "One woman and a girl killed and three people pulled out alive from under the rubble following raids by warplanes targeting al Jazmati neighbourhood east of the city of Aleppo" (via Aleppo White Helmets)

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.

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 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1042

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died and many more were wounded in an airstrike on Al Marja, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the death of one child – and published an image of the victim.

Step, however, put the death toll at two and blamed both “Russian and Syrian  warplanes”. Step later reported that two women were killed and “others injured, including children”.

According to Shahba, a child and a woman were killed in a Russian strike.

Zakaria Nassani, who blamed only “warplanes”, also said that two women died and put the number of wounded at three.

Syria Mubashar and Shahba, however, put the number injured as high as 10 and blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of the destruction caused by suspected Russian warplanes at Al Marja (Tweet via @ZakariaNassani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby held in an adults arms, killed in alleged warplanes shelling on Al Marja (Tweet via @SN4HR)
  • A man carries a child victim wrapped in blankets, the aftermath of alleged warplane shelling (via Step)
  • The White Helmets search through the rubble in Al Marja after alleged warplanes shelling (via Step)
  • A mixture of local people and The White Helmets survey material destruction in Al Marja (via Step)
  • The scene of a demolished building in Al Marja, the results of suspected warplane shelling (via Step)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A member of the White Helmets holds an infant in his arms, allegedly killed by warplane shelling in Al Marja (via Step)

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 July 16th – 27th 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
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1349

Incident date

September 25, 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

Three civilians were killed in the Al Mashhad neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media. Reporting was conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian Regime was responsible.

LCCSY reported: “Aleppo: Three martyrs and some wounded as Russian warplanes bombarded Mashhad neighborhood.”

Thiqanewsagency reported that a bus was hit with cluster bombs in the strikes.

In addition, Baladi News Network reported the use of phosphorus bombs.

While most sources blamed Russia, @BtwlatAljyshAls reported that “the Syrian Army is now targeting the neighborhood of Amiriya in Aleppo, the neighborhood of Al Sukkari, and Al Mashhad”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Subhi Qabakjabi
Age unknown male killed
Yussuf Attal
Age unknown male killed
Rabi’a Barkawi
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Evidence of alleged phosphorous bomb shelling on Al Mashad, Aleppo, September 25th (Youtube via Baladi)
  • Significant material destruction in Al Mashad following alleged Russian shelling, September 25th (via Eldorar)
  • A street in Al Mashad destroyed following alleged Russian shelling, September 25th (via Eldorar)
  • Footage shows fires in the street of Al Mashad following suspected Russian campaign on September 25th (via @reeema3110)
  • Civilian houses burn in Al Mashad following alleged Russian shelling on September 25th (via @RevolutionSyria)

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 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 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1511

Incident date

October 28, 2016

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Halab News, reported the deaths of “Abdallah al Hasan al Khalaf and his two children, following the explosion of a cluster bomb left by Russia planes following a bombing of Sarmin in Idlib”. The source added that the victims were from the town of al Eiss.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Abdallah al Hasan al Khalaf
Adult male killed
Child of Abdallah al Hasan al Khalaf 1
Child killed
Child of Abdallah al Hasan al Khalaf 2
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1737

Incident date

December 4, 2016

Location

حي المغاير , Al Maghayer neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1894219, 37.1555268 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died and several more were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime strikes on Aleppo’s Al Maghayer neighbourhood, according to local media.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was among sources blaming Russia.

However, the BBC pointed to the regime, reporting: “The armed opposition said government aviation continued its raids on the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, killing three people in the Al-Mughayir district”.

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 (10) [ 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 December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3573

Incident date

January 4, 2019

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around 11 pm in the night of January 4th, 2018, alleged Russian airstrikes targeted the villages of Dera Azza, Urm Al Kubra, Al Rashidin and Rehab Al Mohandeseen.

In the village Darat Izza, up to three civilians of the Qadili family were killed, including a father and son, while several more civilians were reportedly wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the suspected Russian planes “fired missiles near a chicken house sheltering IDPs in the west of Darat Izza city in Aleppo governorate” – killing three civilians including a child.

According to AMC, “two civilians (a child and his father) were killed, Friday evening [Jan 4th], by a Russian air strike targeting the city of Dara Azza in the countryside of west Aleppo.”

Multiple sources, such as Step News Agency, reported that several civilians had been injured in the strikes.

The incident occured at approximately 10:14 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • News report on alleged Russian airstrikes on Darat Azza and Urum Al-Kubra in Aleppo (via Jisir TV).
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Azza (via LCCsy).
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Azza (via SCD Aleppo).

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2158

Incident date

April 23, 2017

Location

أم توينة, Um Tuweyna, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.162942, 37.052336 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that Russian warplanes bombed Um Tuweyna, killing three civilians – including a child – and seriously wounding two others.

Smart reported that the village was controlled by the Islamic State.

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 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2339

Incident date

July 15, 2017

Location

أم قيبة , Umm Qiba village, near al Sokhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.908458, 37.529984 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three women were killed and other civilians injured in alleged Russian raids on the village of Um Qiba in the eastern Homs countryside, local sources reported.

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria said those killed included two daughters of Mkaimen al-Shihetan and Faysal al-Shihatan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female killed
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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