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

RS413

Incident date

January 16, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52815, 37.95495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to 13 civilians including six children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Manbij, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that at least three non-combatants were killed, including two children, when suspected Russian warplanes shelled Manbij on January 16th.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – also blaming Russian forces – put the confirmed death toll higher at five (“at least four of them are children“). They also said that there was information about the death of another child, but did not provide any more details.

According to @MenbijCoordinat, six civilians died and an unspecified number were wounded in a bombardment by warplanes, though they did not identify the planes.

According to a brief post by the Shaam News Network, 13 died in raids by Russian warplanes.

Radio Al Kul also blamed Russia, putting the death toll at 13 in 27 raids.

Al Jisr also put the death toll at 13 and said Russia was responsible.

Alaan TV blamed “Russian aggression” and said that 13 victims included five children.

Step News Agency said that there had been more than 25 raids by the regime and Russia, killing 13 in Manbij.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

male killed
Adult female killed

Family members (3)

Child male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed

Family members (3)

Child female listed as killed in Raqqa because they came from there, but for three of them it says they died in Manbij, while one of them say Aleppo but does not specify where killed
Child male listed as killed in Raqqa because they came from there, but for three of them it says they died in Manbij, while one of them say Aleppo but does not specify where killed
Adult female listed as killed in Raqqa because they came from there, but for three of them it says they died in Manbij, while one of them say Aleppo but does not specify where killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male listed as killed in Raqqa because they came from there, but for three of them it says they died in Manbij, while one of them say Aleppo but does not specify where killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (6 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Thirteen people were killed and tens injured in Manbij east of Aleppo after airstrikes by the (alleged) Russian, strikes also targeted Tal Rifaat and Ihress in the northern countryside." (via, Al Jisir TV)

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 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (6 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS447

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 15 non-combatants died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dallou neighbourhood of Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network reported on a “new massacre in addition to the daily massacres committed by Russian aircraft against civilians in the countryside of Deir al-Zour and areas under the control of IS“, adding that after an attack carried out by Daesh against Assad’s forces Russia had responded by bombing civilians on a daily basis.

They said that the incident in Al Buliyal was the third “massacre” and the second in this town within the last few days. According to the Network, Russian aviation targeted civilians’ homes in the town with several high-explosive rockets. They put the initial death toll at 10, with dozens more wounded.

But a subsequent report by SNN said that even more people had been killed – “more than 15” – when Russian vacuum missiles hit residential buildings in “Al dilou street“. Many more, they added, were injured, with most of them being children.

Deir Ezzor is Being Silently Slaughtered put the number killed at 10, also blaming Russia.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that 12 people were killed, including one child and two women, in an attack by “alleged Russian warplanes“.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights provided a backgrounder explaining several incidents in Al Buliyal, reporting on violent clashes between Daesh and regime forces.

Nine victims were named by the Violations Documentation Centre including one Unidentified adult male.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (1 child2 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Clouds of smoke over the Dallou neighbourhood in Al Buliya, following an alleged Russian raid, Jan 22nd (via Deir Ezzor is Being Silently Slaughtered)
  • Image showing the moment of an alleged Russian strike on Al Buliyal, January 22nd 2016. (via, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Taher Mohammad al-Ahmad, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Buliyal, 22nd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Mustafa Mohammad al-Ahmad, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Buliyal, 22nd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hussain Hamdan al-Khalaf, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Buliyal, 22nd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike falls near a residential building in Al Buliyal. (via, Deir ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently)

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 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (1 child2 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS479

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadeen, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.01982, 40.45154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and several members of his family injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mayadeen, according to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently.

Alaan TV reported “the deaths of dozens of victims and wounded, including civilians and members of Daesh.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Majed
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (6) [ 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
    1
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS512

Incident date

January 31, 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

One 17-year-old male was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan using cluster munitions, according to local sources.

Both the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Violations Documentation Center blamed Russian warplanes.

The White Helmets also named the victim, but did not say whether the Assad regime or Russia were responsible for the attack.

However, they said cluster bombs were used, leading to the injury of other civilians (including women and children). They added that a fire was extinguished and that one of the bombs exploded during its removal, but no one was harmed.

According to Smart News “Our correspondent reported that Russian warplanes launched raids on the town of Hayyan using cluster munitions Hayan, killing one civilian and wounding two children were seriously injured, and the outbreak of fires in shops and fuel stations.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets tackle a fire following an alleged Russian raid on Hayyan, January 31st 2016. (via White Helmets)
  • Civil Defense remove un-exploded cluster bombs from the town of Hayyan following an alleged Russian raid. (via, Hayyan Media Office)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Qasem al-Majari. killed in an alleged Russian raid in Hayyan. (via, VDC)
  • Members of the Civil Defense put fires out following an alleged Russian raid. (via, Hayyan Media Office)
  • Civil Defense remove un-exploded cluster bombs from the town of Hayyan following an alleged Russian raid. (via, Aleppo Defense Media)

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.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS547

Incident date

February 4, 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

Two civilians died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local sources.

According to Step, Russia launched three strikes on the area, while Shahba Press said one civilian died in four Russian raids.

Two victims of Russian warplanes were later named by Halab News.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samir Ahmed Hamdaoui
29 years old male Listed by Halab News killed
Ahmed Gamal Halabieh
21 years old male Listed by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ 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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS580

Incident date

February 9, 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

Two civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local media.

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, 62-year-old Abdul Jabbar Mohammad Mraimini, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on tel Rifa’at. Shaam News Network also reported one death, however it did not specifically say this was caused by a Russian raid.

A video published by Tal Refaat Information Office showed repeated strikes on “civilian houses” in the area. The source said that they were conducted by Russia. According to Shahba Press, there were more than 20 Russian strikes launched on the Tuesday on Tel Rifa’at, killing one non-combatant and injuring dozens more.

Smart published a video showing child casualties from raids which they said were Russian.

Two victims of an alleged Russian strike were named by Halab News.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Osman Hussein Nehmeh
Age unknown male Listed by Halab News killed
Abdul-Jabbar Mohammed Mariamna
62 years old male Listed by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing an airstrike on Tel Rifa’at, Feb 9th.

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
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS613

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

عين ترما, Ain Tarma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51602, 36.35078 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four non-combatants including one child died in airstrikes on Ain Tarma in Damascus governorate, according to two local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime carried out the attacks.

The Shaam News Network reported that “The towns of eastern Ghouta are still living under bombardment by aviation Russian aggression on a daily basis“, adding that non-combatants were killed and five others in Ain Tarma. But in a second report, SNN put the death toll higher at four. Syria Mirror attributed the incident to Russia, also putting the number killed at four.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least 3 victims including a girl” died when regime warplanes fired missiles on Ain Tarma.

Zaman News also said that the regime was responsible and listed four victims.

Syrian Martyrs also named these victims and said that the regime was to blame.

But other sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hala Edris
Child male Named by Zaman News killed
Sa’eed Nazeef
Age unknown male Named by Zaman News killed
Abdo Al-Hatti
Age unknown male Named by Zaman News killed
Umar Al-Beqa’i
Age unknown male Named by Zaman News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Tweet by The Syrian Mirror speaking of four victims. (via, The Syrian Mirror)
  • Images of the aftermath of the alleged incident. (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia makes no public mention of having carried out strikes in Damascus from February 10th – February 16th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

RS645

Incident date

February 19, 2016

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.89044, 36.0399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to seven civilians died in a strike on Nawa, according to local sources – though only one source blamed Russia while the other suggested that artillery may have been responsible for the death of one of the victims.

Dara Martyrs named six victims. The VDC also named one victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Barakat Al-Hariri
Age unknown male Died in warplane strikes killed
Yasin Maher Abazeed
Child male died in a hospital in Jordan from injuries in artillery bombardment on Dara’a, Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Mohammed Kudur Sultan Al-Wadi
Age unknown male Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Nimr Al Farruh
Age unknown male Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Wael Mustafa Al-Multaji
Age unknown male Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Nasir Barakat Al-Hariri
Age unknown male Also named as killed in Alma, Named by Dara Martyrs killed
Adult male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child1–6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the one the victims from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Dara Martyrs)
  • Mohammed Barakat Al-Hariri, killed in a strike Alma, Dara’a, Feb 19th (via Dara Martyrs)

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 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
    5 – 7
  • (1 child1–6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]