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

RS231

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.569294, 38.263063 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult male civilians were reported killed and 20 wounded in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra, according to the Shaam News Network.

SNN reported that three Russian fighter jets launched multiple air raids, with half of them concentrated on the city of Palmyra and the other half on the outskirts.

The raids reportedly caused “massive destruction, where entire neighbourhoods were razed to the ground.”

Three victims were initially named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammad al-Saleem al-Shalil –
Adult male killed
Yazan Jameel al Shail
Child Died from his injures on the 8th of December. killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud Mezel
Adult male killed
Khaled Abdulsattar al-Muhaya
Adult male He died, “due to his wounds sustained from Russian air forces shelling” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Palmyra (تدمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.569294, 38.263063. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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

RS264

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.37425, 36.6033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita, according to the Union of Hama Rebels and the VDC. The victim has been named as Zamzam Abdo Al Laban from Kafr Zita

Reporting remains confused, with multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita between December 9th and 12th which resulted in a likely total of six civilian deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zamzam Abdo Al Laban
Adult male From Kafr Zita. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafr Zita (كفر زيتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.37425, 36.6033. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS297

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

الشيخ مقصود, Sheikh Maqsod (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.236126, 37.150049 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians were reported killed and nine injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Maqsod, according to the Shaam News Network. SNN reported that Russian warplanes launched several raids which came after the signing of a ceasefire between  rebels and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units.

However all other sources blamed the Assad regime. Ana Press noted: “Regime aircraft this afternoon targeted the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood of Aleppo, killing two people and wounding others. The event is the first of its kind in two years, as the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood has not been subjected to shelling, or airstrikes – not even from the Russian planes, which intervened in the region recently, since the neighbourhood has for several years been under the control of Kurdish factions in the city of Aleppo.”

Hawar News also blamed the regime, saying that barrel bombs had killed three civilians including an unborn child. It named the dead as Adnan Sabri Jawish aged 56 years and 20-year old Silvana Mustafa who was pregnant.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Sabri Jawish
56 years old named by Hawar News killed
Silvana Mustafa
20 years old female pregnant named by Hawar News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Sheikh Maqsod following airstrikes on December 21st 2015. (via, Ana Press)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd 2016, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces… In Aleppo province, a Su-34 bomber made a strike on a command centre of one of the Ahrar ash-Sham illegal armed groups uncovered by UAVs. Direct hit on the building occupied by terrorists completely destroyed the facility.”

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 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS329

Incident date

December 29, 2015

Location

الشيخ مسكين‎, Sheikh Miskeen, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.827948, 36.158664 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult civilian men named as Abdullateef Abdul Ghani al-Omari (pictured) and Kamal Al Khaswan were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Miskeen.

Smart News said the air raids were linked to a major ground offensive: “Russian occupation planes carried out dozens of air strikes on Tuesday morning at Sheikh Miskeen in the Dara’a countryside, in an attempt to provide air cover for the forces of al-Assad and his militias, which are trying to break into the city. Our reporter quotes the Syrian Commission for the Media as saying that Russian planes carried out 18 raids this morning targeting neighborhoods of the city, which led to massive destruction to homes and infrastructure, though there were no reports of injuries as yet.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullateef Abdul Ghani al-Omari
Adult male killed
Kamal Al Khaswan
Adult male 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdullateef Abdul Ghani al-Omari, killed by an alleged Russian 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

For December 28th-30th 2015, Russa has stated that “In the course of last two days, since December 28, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 121 combat sorties engaging 424 terrorists’ objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Daraa, Raqqah and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

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

RS361

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

أورم الجوز, Orme al Joz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.79192, 36.56668 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four four non-combatants including two named children were killed – and four more children injured – in an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme al Joz, according to The Shaam News Network and the Violations Documentation Centre.

The Shaam News Network said that a raid by Russian planes killed “several” people and wounded others.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wajih Nusf el Daya’a
Adult male named by the Local Coordinating Committee killed
Hiba Mohammad Shaman
Child female killed
Ahmad Jomea Qashqoush or Kashkouk
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 man)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid which caused destruction to residential homes. (via, Emadoo Mourad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photograph of a deceased child following an alleged Russian raid on Orme al Joze. (via, Tnsyqyt Awrm Aljwz Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photograph of a deceased child following an alleged Russian raid on Orme al Joze. (via, Tnsyqyt Awrm Aljwz Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photograph of a deceased man following an alleged Russian raid on Orme al Joze. (via, Tnsyqyt Awrm Aljwz Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of a child in a medical facility receiving treatment. following an alleged Russian raid on Orme al Joz. (via, Cairoportal)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between January 11th-15th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 man)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS393

Incident date

January 15, 2016

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two woman and a child were alleged killed in a Russian airstrike on Zamalka, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. However Step News and others said the town also came under attack from heavy artillery fire.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Muhi Eddin
Adult male killed
Aysha al-Bukaei 
Adult female killed
Ahmed Dubie
Child added later by Syria2011 saying they had died of their injuries in ‘artillery shelling’: killed
Fatima Tayfur
Adult female added later by Syria2011 saying they had died of their injuries in ‘artillery shelling’: killed
Sheikh Suhail
Adult male added later by Syria2011 saying they had died of their injuries in ‘artillery shelling’: killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women2 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 (6) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women2 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS425

Incident date

January 20, 2016

Location

حزانو, Hazana, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.08965, 36.71404 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including four children were killed and 20 injured in an airstrike on the town of Hazana, according to multiple sources. While most sources blamed Russia for the attack, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that it was committed by the Assad regime, while British Foreign Office told the Telegraph that they could not be certain whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that seven non-combatants including three children died and about 20 others were injured when suspected Russian warplanes bombed areas of Hazana. They added that the death toll was expected to rise as some people were in a critical condition.

According to the Shaam News Network, five were killed, including a child, with more wounded, when Russian warplanes targeted residential buildings with two highly explosive missiles, leading to extensive destruction.

At 1.06 in a video published by Al Jisr, they put the death toll at five, including one child, saying that the victims died when Russia targeted the village with vacuum bombs.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that six people including three children were killed when regime warplanes fired missiles on the town.

The London-based Telegraph newspaper published an article in which they reported that the strike was on a British-funded bakery “designed to help 18,000 Syrians“, adding that the raid on Hazana came hours before the DFID-funded facility was due to open. They put the death toll at eight, including three children. The report stated that Russia was responsible for the raid, but went on the quote the UK Foreign Office, who said “there could not be complete certainty as to whether Russian or Syrian warplanes had carried out the raid on Jan 20, but Britain held the Kremlin responsible for a series of indiscriminate strikes.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Mohammad Hijazi Saleh
Adult male killed
Leen Firas Saleh
Child female killed
Nour Firas Saleh 
Child female killed
Ahmad Firas Saleh 
Child male killed
Yehya Mohammad Yehya Saleh 
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Ismaeil al-Ali
Adult male killed
Moetaz Imad Khateeb 
Adult male killed
Sate Badleh
Adult was listed under Maarat Misreen but it says he was killed in Hazana killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids on Hazana. Footage shows a man pulling a small child out of the rubble and carrying it to the ambulance. (via, Kamal Dabas)
  • A news Bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike in Hazana. (via, Al Jisir TV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstike on Hazana. (via, SNN)
  • Showing vehicles destroyed by the alleged airstrike in Hazana. (via, SNN)
  • Image capturing the exact moment the alleged airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Civilian homes destroyed by the alleged airstrikes on Hazana, 20th January 2016. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians attempting to clear up the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via, SNN)
  • The aftermath of the incident on Hazana on 20th January 2016. (via, SNN)
  • A civilian covered in dust after being trapped under the rubble in Hazana. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 20 2016, the says “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have performed 82 combat sorties engaging 204 terrorist objects in Syria“, but makes no mention of carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS459

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.228263, 36.816857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

12 civilians including four to five children and five women were killed – and 20 others injured – in airstrikes on Termanin, according to multiple sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that the target of the strike, a military commander of an Islamic battalion, was a 13th victim.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published an initial report in which they said that the strike was carried out by regime warplanes. They put the death toll at at least 12 including five women and four children.

But according to a later report by SN4HR, Russian aircraft were responsible, killing 13 people including three women and five children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Russia, reporting that “the commander of al-Mujahedeen battalion in the Islamic movement of Ahrar al-Sham” died along with 12 members of his family, including five women and five children, when Russian warplanes targeted his house and other homes in Termanin.

The Shaam News Network also put the civilian death toll at 12, with more than 20 wounded. They published images of injured children, and said that an aerial bombardment by Russian planes targeted non-combatants’ homes, resulting in “a terrible massacre against civilians and destruction of residential buildings.“ Activists told SNN that three houses were completely destroyed.

A video posted by the White Helmets depicts the aftermath of an “air raid on the town of Tarmanin“, but did not say who was responsible. They put the number killed at six civilians, with 20 more injured – “most of them in a critical condition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child is placed in an ambulance after an alleged Russian airstrike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured child following an alleged Russian strike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians are dug out of the rubble by the White Helmets in the immediate aftermath of the incident in Termanin. (via, The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives medical treatment at a hospital in Termanin. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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,” but makes no mention of strikes in Idlib.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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]