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

RS395

Incident date

January 15, 2016

Location

دير حافر‎, Dayr Hafir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.151494, 37.707842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians including one child were killed and seven others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Dayr Hafer, according to local sources.

Other sources also said Russia was responsible for the death of two young men.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (7) [ 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 11-15 January.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS427

Incident date

January 20, 2016

Location

شقرة, Shaqra, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3917089, 40.1224566 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians were killed when Russian warplanes allegedly targeted a funeral following a previous airstrike on Shaqra on January 20th.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that on the first incident in Shaqra on this day (listed above) in which “Fayez Al Shokan, five members of the Al Hayess family, Khaled Al Fadila, Firas Thabet Al Zarra’a and Mohammad Al Ka’oud” died when a house in mourning was targeted. They go on to say that while the family were burying these victims, “Russian planes targeted the funeral procession killing Muhannad Al Ali Saleh”.

According to the Shaam News Network, following the strike on the house of in mourning, “Russian aviation came back and targeted a funeral killing and wounding more people, the numbers of those are not yet known.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said six died.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that at least eight non-combatants died and 15 were injured in a raid by “suspected Russian warplanes” who “launched 4 rockets on a mourning location“.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhannad Al Ali Saleh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its report for military actions on January 20 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Deir ez-Zor governorate: “In the course of the last day, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 16 combat sorties engaging 57 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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

RS461

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Hayyan, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. The children were listed as having died on January 25th.

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported thatRussian enemy planes carried out air raids on the city of Mare` and Tal Rifa’at and the towns of Masagan, Ma’arasta al Khan, Mayer, Ihress, tal Jbeen, Tal Msseibin, Ratiyan, Hardtanin, Hayyan, Ma’arasta Al khan and Deir Al Zeitoun region,” adding that this led to the death of one person in Hayyan.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights – who published an image of a wounded child – helicopters belonging to the Assad regime dropped two barrels bombs on the town.

Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Child male killed
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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]

  • Injured civilians are rescued from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids, 26th January 2016, Hayyan. (via, North Media Institute)
  • An injured child in the aftermath of an alleged Russia and Syrian regime raid on Hayyan, 26th January 2016. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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

RS493

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were reports of “many victims” following alleged Russian raids on Hamidiya.

No further details are available at the present time. 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS529

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

غرناطة, Garnata, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8937633, 36.6794443 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes allegedly carried out raids “on the town of Al Rastan and the villages of Um Sharshouh and Ghirnata as well as the village of Burj Kai“. It said one civilian was killed and “several” others wounded in Garnata.

Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes launched two raids on the village of Granada,” which “led to the death of a woman” and left four civilians injured.

Al Jisr posted a video the following day that references the death of a woman in in Garnata due to “Russian airstrikes” on February 2nd. The narrator films as another airstrike hits what he says is Garnata in the distance.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS562

Incident date

February 7, 2016

Location

معارة الارتيق, Maarat al Arteek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.247681, 37.053483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including two women and two children died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Arteek, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Additionally, Shaam News Network reported alleged Russian strikes on the town, but did not provide casualty numbers: “They [Russia] also targeted with cluster bombs anadan city and the towns of Tamourah, Meng, Tel Mssibeen, Ma’arat Al Arteek, Hayan, Bayanoun, Kafrhamra, Kafrnaya which killed people in kafr hamra and Ma’ara al Arteek and caused several injuries.

Three victims of an alleged Russian strike were named by Halab News in addition to an unidentified woman.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee also named these people as killed in “shelling“, but didn’t give any further details. According to Shahba Press, four non-combatants died in a Russian raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fatima Abdul Qadir
30 years old female Listed by Halab News killed
Badr al-Din Yahya Ja’alok
2 years old male Listed by Halab News killed
Elaf
8 years old male Listed by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS595

Incident date

February 11, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians including up to two children were killed in airstrikes on Palmyra, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Violations Documentation Center said that two adult male non-combatants died as a result of Russia shelling. In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported Russian raids on Palmyra, leading to the death of two civilians. Baladi News Network also put the death toll at two, while Halab Today said that two children died. Both sources blamed Russia.

According to the Palmyra Coordination Committee, “violent raids by Russian occupation planes” led to the death of “two young men in al A’bbara area“. It said they were “the sons of Hamdoush al Qassem [al Shabrak].”

Palmyra News Network published a video which it said showed  “the house of Akram al Shabrak, in the city of Palmyra, after it was bombed by Russian occupation planes” – though it is unclear if this was where the two men died.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the regime was responsible. In an initial report it said two children died – but this could be referring to a separate incident on the same day and location, given that the victims are children and the VDC names two adults.

Another SN4HR report named Mrs. Aisha Al Khaled as a victim and said that she died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult female Listed by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (0–2 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The house of Akram al Shabrak, city of Palmyra, after it was allegdly bombed by Russian planes.
  • Picture of one of the sons supposedly killed (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (0–2 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS627

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including up to five children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sakhour, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially attributed the incident to the Assad regime by posting an image of a child whom they said was wounded when regime warplanes fired on the neighborhood. However, it then changed position and reported that at least two children died in an attack by “suspected Russian warplanes“.

But Shaam News Network said Russia was to blame and that five civilians had died. According to the White Helmets, a raid by a “warplane” (they did not say who it belonged to) “led to the death of an entire family made up of 5 people.” The White Helmets posted a graphic video showing three children and their mother being removed from the rubble. The caption of a second video read: “An entire family made up of 4 people was killed and the civil defence manage to rescue two people from under the rubble.” AMC put the death toll higher, at five children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic video showing deceased children killed in the alleged raid. (via, AMC)
  • White Helmets trying to rescue people at the scene of the attack (deleted from Facebook)
  • The aftermath of the alleged strikes (via Orient)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of two children supposed killed in the attack. (via, Dmagoooo)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man saves a wounded child. (via, SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets attempt to rescue trapped civilians. (via, The WHite Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video showing deceased children killed in the alleged raid. (via, AMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • 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]