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

RS2860

Incident date

January 7, 2018

Location

Kafar Nubul, Syria

Geolocation

35.849444, 38.553333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians including a child and a woman died and up to six others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Nubul, according to local media.

Ashark alarabi said that one child died and blamed Russia.

According to the Smart News Agency, “a child was killed and six civilians were wounded” in the strike.

But the White Helmets – who didn’t identify the culprit – said that there were  “two martyrs, a woman and a girl and the wounding of six others when and air raid targeted the homes of civilians in the center of the city of Kafar Nubul”.

@um-yousef put the death toll at three.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mutiaa Abd al Rahman
Adult female http://www.vdc-sy.info/index.php/en/details/martyrs/194889#.XO6I6HdFyUl killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS659

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.864249, 36.804977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to three civilians were killed and several more injured in airstrikes on Saqaib according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Shaam News Network posted photos in which it said Russia was responsible. Other sources, including Alsouria and Al Jazeera also blamed Russian and put the death toll at three.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights and a later report by the Shaam News Network, regime warplanes were responsible. SN4HR named a victim as killed.

Additional sources, including Damascus Center for Human Rights, FS_Muslim, LCCSY and Radio Al Kul, also attributed the incident to the regime.

A second victim was later named by DCHRS. Idlib EMC said that one woman was killed. A number of other sources referred to raids by “warplanes”, but didn’t identify the culprit.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Khaled Abbas
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Hussien Razzor
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman0–1 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 (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the attack. (via SNN)
  • One of the victims of the contested Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)

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
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman0–1 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 (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS723

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Location

أبو دالية, Abu Dalia, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.032385, 37.391057 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including two women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Abu Dalia, according to local sources.

Baladi News reported: “One male and two females were killed in warplane raid targeted center of Abu-Dalyeh town in Eastern countryside of Hama.” The Shaam News Network said: “In the eastern countryside Russian enemy planes carried out raids on the villages of Hamada, Omar Wajb, al Rayan and Abu Daliya near Akerbat which led to the death of three people in Abu Daliya.”

According to SPC, “Russian warplanes have launched air strikes on the houses in the village of Abu Dalia Friday, resulting in killing a family of three people in addition to the destruction of a number of houses and public facilities in the town of Hama, according to Hama Media Center.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS3097

Incident date

February 24, 2018

Location

كفربطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, up to three civilians, hereof one woman and one child, were killed as several left wounded as Assad and/or Russian-waged warplanes struck Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

Several reports told how Kafar Batna was subject to aerial shelling, especially striking residential areas. As the only one, Ghouta Media Center (GMC) reported about both aerial and artillery shelling. al-Arabiya reported that helicopters of the Syrian regime had launched explosive barrels in the town.

Sources reported two fatalities resulting from the strikes. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, one woman was among the victims.

GMC identified the name of one child fatality, a 45-days-old baby who indirectly was killed by the shelling as his parents were hindered to provide him milk.

In addition to the civilian deaths, several were also left wounded.

While al-Arabiya, as the only one, blamed the Syrian regime, the remaining sources pointed to either exclusive Russian culpability or to both belligerents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalid Dahbour
45 days years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Large parts of Kafar Batna, including residential areas, were left in rubble following the contested shelling of the town on February 24th, 2018 (via Ghouta Media Center)

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1659 RS2670

Incident date

November 2, 2017

Location

السيال, Al Sayyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.5713889, 40.9066667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians – including a woman and a child – reportedly died in an airstrike on al Sayyal, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition or Russia.

Al Hall pointed towards the Coalition, putting the death toll at two with nine more wounded.

According to the Our Bukamal facebook page, “warplanes targeted the eastern town of Sayyal this morning targeting the homes of al A’war killed the wife of Mohammad al Abboud al A’war and his sister and a child”.

However, Baladi attributed the event to Russia, reporting the death of “a woman and her daughter”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Wife of Mohammed Aboud al-A’war
Adult female killed
Daughter of Mohammed Aboud al-A’war
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sayyal (السيال) for which the coordinates are: 34.5713889, 40.9066667

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 2nd-3rd: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS line of communication. Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS line of communication, a VBIED factory and an ISIS headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1352

Incident date

September 26, 2016

Location

حي خان العسل, Khan Al Assal (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.169667, 37.040255 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians were reported killed as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes in Khan Al Assal, a village west of Aleppo.

LCCSY reported: “One dead and a number of wounded civilians due to Russian aircraft targeting Khan Al Assal in the western countryside with cluster bombs.”

Later, it also reported on Facebook: “Khan Al Assal town in the western suburbs was subjected to similar airstrikes, leaving two dead, including a woman, and dozens of wounded among civilians.”

Qasioun wrote that “a civilian was killed and seven others were wounded in Syrian military airstrikes on the town of Khan Al Assal in the western suburbs of Aleppo.”

Shahba Press claimed two civilians were wounded.

24Aleppo reported three dead civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1739

Incident date

December 4, 2016

Location

قرية أورم الصغرى, Urma al Sughra village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.13194444, 36.9 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that three children died and an unspecified number of other civilians were injured in an airstrike on Urma al Sughra village.

However, only one source – Halab News – explicitly blamed Russia, reporting the use of bunker-busting missiles.

Other sources did not apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2251

Incident date

May 23, 2017

Location

الطيبة, al Teeba, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.08895, 38.91597 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were killed and five others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian raids against the town of al Teeba near Palmyra according to a local source.

Smart News Agency was the only source to report on this incident and at this time we have no other details.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]