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

RS217

Incident date

December 1, 2015

Location

مهين, Mahin, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.241684, 37.056241 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including two women and one child, were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maheen according to the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Amirah Jedoua al-Aseer
Adult female killed
Daughter of Amirah Jedoua al-Aseer
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Daughter of Amirah Jedoua al-Aseer
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Maheen (مهين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.241684, 37.056241. 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

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Homs.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Incident Code

RS314

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on A’zaz, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network reported that four Russian airstrikes struck the city.

Activists told SNN that the raids targeted a field hospital and a women’s and children’s hospital, causing severe damage and huge fires which the White Helmets attempted to extinguish. They stated that three civilians were killed, that the hospitals were put out of service and that there were other raids on non-combatants’ homes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named one young man, Nasser Abd Al H’alia, from the village of Dibssi Afnan, as killed in a Russian air raid that targeted the Aleppo countryside as he traveled to A’zaz and Bab Al Salama on business.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nasser Abd Al H’alia
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A video of a children's hospital burning down after it was targeted by alleged Russians raids. (via, SNN)
  • The White Helmets extinguishing flames at a children's hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (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

RS346

Incident date

January 6, 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

Three non-combatants were killed and several others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Nawa, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes launched four raids on residential neighborhoods in the city, leaving three dead and several wounded including women and children (some of them critical), who were taken to a field hospital nearby.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Assadi
Age unknown male named by a local coordinating committee killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing damage and destruction to civilian homes which were targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, Aleppo Media Center)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the raids in Nawa. (via, Al Jisir TV)

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 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Dara’a governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS570

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

معارة الارتيق, Maarat al Arteek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.247681, 37.053483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Arteek, according to local sources.

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network reported deaths in the town as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes: “Russian planes launched intense air raids using cluster bombs on the towns of Anadan, Hraytan, al Tamoura, Mang, Tal Mssibain, Ma’arat al Arteek, Hayan, Bayanoun, Kafr Hamra, Kafr Naya, Miskan and the area of Qabr al Inglisi [the english tomb]. The raids led to the fall of martyrs and wounded in particular in Kafr Hamra and Ma’arat al Arteek.“

According to Shahba Press, three civilians died in a Russian strike. They provided no further details.

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Badr Saleh Omar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (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 (5) [ 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 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 – 3
  • (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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS634

Incident date

February 17, 2016

Location

الشيخ علي, Sheikh Ali, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.09736, 36.91384 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sheikh Ali, according to local sources.

Al-Arabiya blamed Russia, reporting an “unspecified number of dead including children“. Shahba Press also put the death toll at three, including a child – and also attributed the incident to Russia.

According to a 40-minute programme by Al Jissr Satellite TV, (video posted in incident above) three civilians were killed in the village of Sheikh Ali, allegedly by a Russian airstrike. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “three civilians (including a child) died in warplane raid in Shikh Ali in western countryside of Aleppo.” They didn’t identify the warplanes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV covering the alleged strikes. (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.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2735

Incident date

November 16, 2017

Location

حسرات, Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.619075, 40.898297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and two of his children were killed in airstrikes on Hasrat, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the airstrikes.

Civilian homes were allegedly struck, which some sources claim killed an entire family.

There were no reports of wounded and no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mr. Khalid Nawaf al-Ajmi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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]

  • Mr. Khalid Nawaf al-Ajmi, killed in airstrikes on Hasrat, 16th Nov 2017. (via Nawaf Essam)

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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

RS3995

Incident date

August 6, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة في ادلب, Several towns in Idlib, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source reported an unknown number of injured civilians as the result of alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on several cities and towns in Idlib governorate on August 6th, 2019.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian and regime warplanes and helicopters launched dozens of airstrikes accompanied by fierce rocket and artillery shelling that targeted the cities and towns of Khan Sheikhoun, Ma`arat al-Nu’man, Mozarah, Kfar Awayed, al-Rakaya, al-Tamanah, Kafar sijna, A`bdeen, Madayyah, Tabayish, al-Muntar, al-Hubeit, Tahtaya, Hayesh, Sheikh Damis and Umm Zaytuna. In Khan Sheikhoun, three martyrs were killed and many others were injured in the other targeted areas.”

Further information is currently unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1404

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Location

Kafr Nassr, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.42798, 37.11344 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Kafr Nasseh outside of Aleppo, according to local media.

Halab News listed two additional unidentified victims – and joined all other sources in attributing this event to Russia.

Photographic evidence shows that cluster bombs were used.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mayssar al Saleh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • A bulletin published showing the exact moments the raid hit and also the remnants left after. (via Baladi)
  • Interviews with local civilians in the aftermath of the cluster bomb raid. (via Step)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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]