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

RS603

Incident date

February 13, 2016

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died in airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that multiple Russian warplanes targeted Aleppo on February 13th, adding that there were 20 strikes on Tel Rifa’at, but they did not report any casualties. Shahba Press also blamed Russia for carrying out more than 20 strikes, and put the death toll at five.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights at least five victims died when regime warplanes missiles fired on Tel Rifa’at. Step News Agency referred to strikes by both Russian warplanes and Syrian military helicopters.

One victim was named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The VDC later named five other victims killed in a Russian strike.

According to a tweet by Sharafabood, an “Emir of Jabhat el Nusra, Abdul Salam el Sun“, was also killed. Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also named him as killed in a Russian strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bassam Hamadeh
Adult male Listed by VDC, also known as Abo Jameel killed
Ahmad al-Khateeb
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Ahmad al-Khateeb
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abd al-Salam Walid Saloum al-San
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abdo Omer Hamida
Adult male Listed by VDC, possibly same as Hassam Hamadeh killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4–5 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 (13) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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.”

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
  • (4–5 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS635

Incident date

February 17, 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

Up to five civilians including three children died in an airstrike on the Al Sakhour neighborhood in Aleppo according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Al Jazeera reported that four civilians from the same family were killed in a Russian raid. Baladi also blamed Russia, but put the death toll at five.

According to a 40-minute programme by Al Jisr Satellite TV, (video posted above) two children were killed in Al Sakhour area of Aleppo city, allegedly by a Russian airstrike. However, the VDC said that the regime was responsible and listed five unidentified victims.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the alleged strikes by Jisr TV. (via, Jisir TV)

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.

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
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • 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

RS667

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Bulial, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.192087, 40.379369 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians died in multiple airstrikes on Al Bulial, according to local sources. While the majority of reports blamed Russia, some pointed towards the Assad regime.

According to All4Syria: “Russian warplanes carried out 12 raids on a farm in the village of Albulial, resulting in a number of civilian deaths. Among them were Hussein al-Ajil and Basil Mattar al-Farhan Saleh and Shadi Saleh Ma’ajoun al Hijjo and Lakman Watani al Zarzour.” [the last name was also linked to the previous event.]

Other sources blaming Russia included Nabd Syria, Smart, Deir Free and Syrianpc. They all put the death toll at two.

According to Yasmin Alsham there was “heavy artillery shelling in Al-Mohsen and Al Bulial towns as the fighting with IS continues around the military airport.” Other sources referred to raids but didn’t identify the culprits, while LCCSY said as many as 12 missiles were fired from a “warplane”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein al-Ajil
Age unknown named by All4Syria killed
Basil Mattar al-Farhan Saleh
Age unknown named by All4Syria killed
Shadi Saleh Ma’ajoun al Hijjo
Age unknown named by All4Syria killed
Shadi Saleh Al Ma’joun
Age unknown named by Syrian PC killed
Basel Matar Al-Farhan
Age unknown named by Syrian PC, The VDC also named Basel Martar Al-Farhan, however, they said that he was killed in “Syrian regime shelling”.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Basel Matar Al-Farhan killed in a contested raid. (via, VDC)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS699

Incident date

March 1, 2016

Location

المسطومة, Al Mastumah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8755, 36.62967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man and his granddaughter died in strikes on the village of Al Mastumah according to local sources – though these were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime, with only one report attributing the incident to Moscow.

Shaam News Network reported that “Activists in Idlib province documented the targeting of the town of Al-Mastumah south of the city of Idlib with three ballistic missiles sourced from Russian warships in the Mediterranean which killed the civilian Ahmed Al Ali and his granddaughter, a little girl. There were also many injuries among his family, who were taken to medical hospitals.“

However, according to other sources this was an attack by the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least two victims including a child died when regime forces fired surface to surface missiles. Bansh City Coordinators posted a video (see below) titled: ‘A new breaking of the truce: 2 martyrs and 9 wounded following regime strikes on the village of al Mastouma in the Idlib countryside 1/3/2016’. This was also posted by the Syrian Network.

According to a tweet by the Smart News Agency the regime shelled around the village. RFS said Al Mastumah was targeted with three consecutive rockets and cluster bombs, but it was not clear whether Russia or the regime was responsible. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also mentioned the incident, but did not say who carried it out.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmad Al Ali
Adult male killed
Granddaughter of Ahmad Al Ali
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–9
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Idlib - Al Mastuma - wounded following alleged regime forces raids on the village with ground to ground missiles (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

Russian Military

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–9
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS731

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and ten civilians died and 10 more were injured in an airstrike on Al Salheen which violated a ceasefire, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Janobia reported that Russian raids on Al Salheen killed 10 civilians and wounded a “large number” more. Al Jazeera, citing Shaam News, also said Russia was to blame, as did Jisr TV.

However Mobtata said the regime was responsible: “The regime bombarded the Al-Salheen neighbourhood in Aleppo.” Syriannews – citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – also said that this was a regime incident. It quoted Observatory director, Rami Abdel Rahman, “who explained that the death toll ‘is the highest within the city of Aleppo, since in start of the ceasefire in February 27′”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Mobtada News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Mobtada News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Mobtada News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Civilians in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Civilian in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Civilian in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Footages of the shelling on Al-Ma’adi and Al-Salheen (via al-Jazeera twitter)
  • "Al-salheen: a new air raid targets civilians in breach of ceasefire yesterday 3/11" (via Mustafa51202403 twitter)
  • "Aleppo: 10 martyrs in Al-Salheen in a russian warplanes’ massacre" (via Jisrtv twitter)

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 for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS763

Incident date

April 24, 2016

Location

المواصلات, Al Mowasalat (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2188989, 37.2510338 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman and one child died and eight others were injured in airstrikes on Al Mowasalat in Aleppo, according to local sources – though some were unclear as to whether this was a Russian or regime incident.

Smart News agency published a video showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian strike in which three died including a woman and a child and more than eight were wounded. The footage includes interviews: Hussein from the neighboorhood said that “this is a civilian area and yet the Russians have bombed it.” Abu Yahya, a paramedic said “this is a civilian area and there are not armed groups here. The place which was targeted is a school for children and children were inside playing, what are they shooting at?”

A video by Halab news agency said two or three civilians died and more than five were injured in “regime and Russian airstrikes,” while a tweet by Baladi showed “the effects of destruction in Russian shelling Al-Mowasalat“.

Shaam News Network said that regime and Russian warplanes killed several people including children. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime and reported that “at least” a woman and a child had been victims of the regime shelling.

Two victims were listed by the VDC as killed in “warplane shelling” by “Syrian government and affiliated militias“:

Unidentified – child, male

Unidentified – adult, female

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Video of the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al-Mowasalat, Aleppo (via Halab News Network)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Mowasalat, Aleppo (via Baladi Network)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting al-Mowasalat, Aleppo (via Baladi Network)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

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
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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

RS796

Incident date

May 11, 2016

Location

Ibn Khaldoun (Ar Raqqahh), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or five civilians including three children and one women died in airstrikes on the Ibn Khaldoun neighborhood of Ar Raqqa, according to local sources which also said that a school was targeted – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes killed three children when they carried out raids which targeted the Ibn Khaldoun neighborhood and Zee Kaar school.

An initial post by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said three children died in Russian strikes, however, subsequent reports only mentioned “warplanes” and did not say who they belonged to.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “government warplanes” killed three people including a child and a woman when they fired missiles on the neighborhood, targeting Zee Kaar school. It reported that the school was partially destroyed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Mohammad Shawha
Adult male killed
Fatima Baha’a Al Deen
four-years-old years old Fatima was also named as killed in “warplane shelling” by the VDC and multiple other sources, including Alamawi and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed
Marwa Mahmoud Al Nawri
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of raids on Zee Kaar school and the Ibn Khaldoun of the city of Raqqa, May 12th 2016 (via RBSS)
  • Fatima Baha’a Al Deen, four years old, killed in a strike on Ibn Khaldoun (Ar Raqqahh), May 12th (via RBSS)
  • A photo of the young man Mahmoud Mohammad Shawha who was martyred after raids by warplanes on Ibn Khaldoun area last night. (via RBSS)
  • - the signs of destruction resulting from the air raids last night near Zee Kaar school and Ibn Khaldoun area. (via RBSS)
  • Government warplanes targeted Thei Qar School in Ibn Khaldoun neighborhood in Raqqa city, partially damaging it, May 11. (via SNHR)

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 May 1st – 31st

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
    4 – 5
  • (3 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

RS829

Incident date

June 2, 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

Seven non-combatants from the same family died in an airstrike on Banis, according to local sources  – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

LCCSY said that a family of seven died in a strike by Russian warplanes using cluster bombs.

Iraq gate also put the death toll at seven and also blamed Russia.

According to Alitihad Press, “Russian warplanes targeted the homes of civilians in the with several cluster rockets, killing nine people, including seven members of one family, and injuring dozens more. There was also widespread damage to civilian buildings.”

However, SRG attributed the incident to “regime warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "7 dead from one family by the Russian aviation targeted the outskirts of # # Punch in the countryside of Idlib, northern cluster bombs"
  • "A massacre in Bennish and bombardment using phospour on Baghdad street in Northern Aleppo countryside"
  • "7 martyrs from the same family due to Russian warplane shelling on Bennish in cluster bombs"
  • "7 martyrs from the same family in regime warplane shelling in Bennish"

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 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
    7 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]