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

RS684

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One 57-year-old woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Talbiseh and at least four other civilians were injured, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported: “Two hours before the start of the ceasefire Russian planes carried out violent and intense air raids on the town of Talbissa causing the death of one woman and wounding others.“

Talbisa Media Centre said Russian planes carried out “16 extensive raids…the airstrikes targeted the downtown of Talbisah far from fighting points: “One elderly woman was killed and found under the ruins of her house in addition to several injuries among children, women and infants. The search for survivors under rubble is still ongoing.” It posted a number of graphic videos showing casualties, including young children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Atia al-Daher al-Khateeb
Adult female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on 26th February 2016. (via, Talbissah)
  • Footage of the warplanes targeting the area. (via, Talbissah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of a child with a head injury following an alleged Russian raid on Talbisiah. (via, Talbissah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of a child with a head injury following an alleged Russian raid on Talbisiah. (via, Talbissah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured newborn struggles to breath following an alleged Russian raid on Talbisiah. (via, Talbissah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man receives medical treatment for his wounds in a hospital. (via, Talbissah)
  • A child is checked by a doctor following an alleged Russian raid on Talbisiah. (via, Talbissah)

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.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS748

Incident date

April 7, 2016

Location

الحسينية, Hussainiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.35905, 40.15113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One 65-year-old male civilian, Hanoud al-Assaf, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Hussainiya, Deir Ezzor, according to local sources.

Reports at the time cite heavy clashes in the near area between rebels and the Assad regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hanoud al Assaf
65 years old male 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
    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
Official source

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

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
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS942

Incident date

June 26, 2016

Location

الزربة, Az Zarbah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.06763, 36.97987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that an airstrike on the town of al-Zirba killed one civilian, and wounded several others, though it is currently unclear whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Both Halab News Network (HNN), Thiqa News Agency and Halab news identified the victim by name, and many media, such as the Baladi Network and Shahba Press, referenced “the dead and several wounded”.

It was contested who carried out the strike, as al-Baladi News attributed it to the Assad regime, while according to LCCSY, HNN, Shahba Press and al-Masry al-Youm it was the work of Russia.

Syria-News, HNN and al-Baladi reported the use of “indiscriminate” vacuum bombs and “unlawful” cluster munitions.

A number of sources did not identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Razzaq Hussein al Khatib
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (18) [ 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 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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3958

Incident date

July 25, 2019

Location

لحايا, Lahaya, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Lahaya, Hama, on July 25th.

@HalabTodayTV said that “a civilian was killed by Russian airstrikes on the village of Lahaya in the northern Hama countryside

However, @shabablatamni accused the Syrian regime of responsibility for this incident and tweeted “Regime helicopters bombard with barrel bombs the village of Lahaya in the northern Hama countryside.”

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

RS4001

Incident date

August 10, 2019

Location

التمانعة, Al Tamana'a, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was reported killed and 17 others, including 11 children, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Tamana’a, Idlib governorate, on August 10th, according to local sources.

Baladi News stated that “the raids caused the martyrdom of one civilian as a preliminary outcome, and wounded 17 others, including 11 children and three women, found by civil defence teams who took them immediately to medical points.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights, among other sources, identified the fatality as Bayan Abdullah Ulwan.

@ahmadalsoury1 reported “a civilian martyr and 17 other injuries, most of them children and women, as a result of Russian and Assad warplanes bombing the outskirts of the town of Al Tamana’a, south of Idlib.” According to @syr_television, one civilian died and 11 children were injured in alleged Russian shelling.

@HalabTodayTV wrote that “a civilian was killed and 17 others were wounded, most of them women and children, as a result of a raid by the Russian warplanes on the town of Tamanah in the southern countryside of Idlib.” According to @EyadHoms20, a man was killed, and 11 children, three women and three men were wounded.

Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes carried out four airstrikes on farms in the town, killing one civilian and wounding 17 others, including 11 children and three women. The raids targeted a cave near the farm where families were sheltering.”

According to Baladi News, “a warplane belonging to the Russian Air Force launched four consecutive raids with high-explosive missiles, targeting the town of Al Tamana’a and the surrounding farms in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

@abuhuzaifa_ wrote that the incident took place around noon.

Nearly all sources reported that Russia was responsible for the strikes, but @ahmadalsoury1 blamed Russia and the Syrian regime, while Rok Online only pointed to the Syrian regime.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Bayan Abdullah Ulwan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption Translation: "A man was martyred and 11 children, 3 women and 3 men were injured as a result of airstrikes targeting the town of Al-Tamana`a in the southern countryside of Idlib by a Russian warplane at noon today" (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • Image Caption Translation: "A martyr and 17 others, including 11 children and 3 women, were injured due to airstrikes targeting Al-Tamana`a town of Idlib countryside by a Russian warplane." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption Translation: "A martyr and 17 others, including 11 children and 3 women, were injured due to airstrikes targeting Al-Tamana`a town of Idlib countryside by a Russian warplane." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption Translation: "A martyr and 17 others, including 11 children and 3 women, were injured due to airstrikes targeting Al-Tamana`a town of Idlib countryside by a Russian warplane." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption: "Russian forces killed a civilian in al Tamana’a town in Idlib, on Aug 10 Bayan Abdullah Ulwan was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on al Tamana’a town in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 10, 2019." (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Translation: “Russian warplanes launch air strikes with vacuum missiles on the outskirts of the town of Tamanah in the southeastern countryside of Idlib” (via @syrian191124).
  • Photo of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Tamana'a in Idlib governorate on August 10th, 2019 (via @syrian191124).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4036

Incident date

August 16, 2019

Location

الغدفة, Al Ghadfa, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed and at least three other civilians were injured in airstrikes on Al Ghadfa, Idlib, on August 16th, 2019.

Both Shaam News and Step Agency reported that “Russian and Syrian warplanes launched several airstrikes” on a number of cities and towns including Al Ghadfa, on August 16th.

Shaam News and other sources documented the fatality in Al Ghadfa as a child, yet Step News referred to a “civilian killed” with no reference to the age of the casualty.

Meanwhile, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the child Ahmad Tareq al Ali was killed as Syrian regime warplanes fired missiles on west of al Ghadfa village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 16.”

Syria Civil Defense also stated that two women were injured in the airstrike and a tweet by @jisrtv identified that three civilians were injured. A video posted by @blaas083 includes an interview with a cousin of the victims, who states that four children were injured and one of them, 4 years old, was in critical condition (later died).

A video posted by @anasanas84 on Twitter and other images show destruction to a building from the airstrike.

Two sources named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reports of the incident, while three sources attributed sole responsibility for the attack to the Syrian regime. One other source did not positively attribute blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Tareq al Ali
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "A child was martyred and two women were injured, as a result of a warplane air strike targeting al-Ghadfa town of Idlib countryside, our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "A child was martyred and two women were injured, as a result of a warplane air strike targeting al-Ghadfa town of Idlib countryside, our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "A child was martyred and two women were injured, as a result of a warplane air strike targeting al-Ghadfa town of Idlib countryside, our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @IdlibPlus, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmad Tariq Muhammad Al-Ali, killed in strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS1248

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Bab al Nairab neighbourhood, according to a single source.

Halab Today reported a Russian strike killed one civilian.

However, both Syriansnews and Buraq media said that there had been no civilian casualties, and did not identify the culprit of the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets dig through the rubble in the Bab al nairab neighbourhood of Aleppo, uncovering human remains. (Youtube via HNN)
  • Local people protest and ask armed groups to unite following alleged warplane shelling which resulted in civilian casualties (Youtube via HNN)

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.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1555

Incident date

November 9, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 14 civilians died and  others were injured in airstrikes on the town of Hraytan in Aleppo. While the majority of local sources attributed the airstrikes to Syrian regime forces, the Local Coordination Committees in Syria identified both Russian and the Syrian regime warplanes as launching airstrikes in Aleppo.

According to LCCSY, 14 civilians died – “most of them as a result of Russian and Assad strikes on Hraitan and Bshantra”.

A video posted by Qasioun News showed the exact moment the airstrike struck  Hraytan, causing a large cloud of smoke and some material damage.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the name of one victim.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Abdul Ghani
Age unknown male from the town of Anadan killed

Summary

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

  • Footage showing the exact moment alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes struck Hraytan, 9th November 2016. (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Footage showing the exact moment alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes struck Hraytan, 9th November 2016. (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Omar Abdul Ghani, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Hryatan, 9th November 2016. (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 not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces had carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 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
  • (1 man)
  • 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]