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

RS2754

Incident date

November 24, 2017

Location

مخيم سوق الرفاعي, Souh Al Rifa’i camp , Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.461111, 40.396944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this incident, described by some as a “massacre”, up to 37 civilians, including children, women, and entire families were killed and dozens were wounded as Russia or the Assad regime carried out aerial shelling of Souh Al Rifa’i camp for displaced people in Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

The local reports differed to a great extent as the death toll spanned from three to as many as 36. However, as understanding of the events unfolded it became clear that the lower end of the death toll was closer to 21, yet 37 fatalities were named by sources.

According to the correspondent of DeirEzzor24; “the warplanes of the Assad forces targeted several missiles at the camp of Suh Rifai for displaced people (…), resulting in more than ten martyrs, including children and women.” Initially, DeirEzzor24 identified eight civilian fatalities by name, including women and children.

However, their correspondent added that the number of fatalities was expected to rise due to the “large number of injured, some of them in critical condition and due to the absence of medical services in the region.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at 21, said that 12 children and three women were among the fatalities.

Two days after the strikes, on November 26th, MadaSyriaMedia reported that the death toll had risen to 22, including 11 members of the Fahmi al-Kassar family and one Woman from al-Murabdeh.

36 civilians were later named by Euphrates Post, yet it remains unclear how many of these were children.

According to this source, “a large number” of civilians were left wounded while Thawra Suria referred to “dozens.”

Though the majority of reports identified Russia as responsible, the incident remains contested as DeirEzzor24 blamed the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Daughter of Deeb Alwahsh
Age unknown female killed
Child of the daughter of Deeb Alwahsh
Age unknown female killed
Child of the daughter of Deeb Alwahsh
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Hamad Hamadah
Age unknown female killed
Daughter of Hamad Hamadah
Age unknown female killed

Family members (3)

4 years old female killed
10 years old female killed
14 years old male killed

Family members (3)

Age unknown killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed

Family members (6)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed

Family members (12)

Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Hassan al-Wahish al-Hamad al-Juru)
Age unknown male killed
The child of Ibn Muhammad Al-Hamad
Child killed
Wife of Awad al-Ubaid al-Ali
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 37
  • (2–12 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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

Russia has not reported any strikes between November 4th - 20th 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 37
  • (2–12 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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

RS2752

Incident date

November 23, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was wounded as alleged Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes in Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, local media reported.

According to Smart News Agency and Fresh News, both citing sources on the ground, the warplanes launched four airstrikes, striking the headquarters of “Al Ezza Army” which belongs to the Free Syrian Army.

While both reported that one civilian was left lightly injured, Smart News Agency did not apportion blame while Fresh News pointed to Russian culpability.

Abd Alrazak Sbeh reported as the only one that numerous civilians were left wounded in this incident.

Regarding the culprit, the remaining sources agreed with Fresh News, all identifying Russia as responsible.

However, Mohamed Salom Ala blamed both Russian warplanes in combination with unidentified surface-to-surface missiles.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The moment Khan Sheikhoun is being struck by the alleged Russian strikes on November 23rd, 2017 (via AlAzza Army)
  • The moment Khan Sheikhoun is being struck by the alleged Russian strikes on November 23rd, 2017 (via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • The moment Khan Sheikhoun is being struck by the alleged Russian strikes on November 23rd, 2017 (via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • The moment Khan Sheikhoun is being struck by the alleged Russian strikes on November 23rd, 2017 (via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)

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 November 4th - 20th 2017.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2749

Incident date

November 23, 2017

Location

الجرذي, al-Jarthi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.886667, 40.606111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including one child and two women were killed and many were left wounded as Russian or Assad warplanes struck al-Jarthi, Deir Ezzor, possibly supplemented by artillery shelling, local media reported.

Reports spanned from three to five civilian fatalities.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that one girl and two women from the same family were killed, blaming Syrian regime artillery” for their deaths.

The remaining sources reported five civilian fatalities, though all mentioned that two women – the wives of a Eid al-Fahmi – and his child were killed.

Moreover, one female IDP from the village of Abu Hardub and a man identified as “the son of  Mohammed Al Dahsh” were among the fatalities, as reported by for example DeirEzzor24.

DeirEzzor24 also reported that many civilians were left wounded.

Both SN4HR and DeirEzzor24 blamed the Syrian regime, though SN4HR blamed Assad artillery and not airstrikes like DeirEzzor24. Meanwhile Euphrates Post and al-Raya identified Russia as responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Wife of Eid al-Fahmi
Age unknown female killed
Wife of Eid al-Fahmi
Age unknown female killed
Daughter of Eid al-Fahmi
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Al Dahsh
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image published in association with reports about shelling on November 23rd, 2017 in Deir Ezzor, including al-Jarthi, though the exact location of this image is not clear (via DeirEzzor24)

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 November 4th - 20th 2017.

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
    3 – 5
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2750

Incident date

November 23, 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

In what was described as a “massacre”, alleged Russian airstrikes killed least eight but as many as 17 civilians, including at least two girls, many from the same families, and wounded dozens as the town of Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, was struck, local media reported.

Euphrates Post reported that “a massacre committed by warplanes killed a number of martyrs and wounded, mostly women and children, as a result of the targeting of the water-crossing in the town of Hassrat,” adding that the strikes took place around 2 pm in the afternoon.

While the initial reports put the death toll at eight or nine, Euphrates Post and Sharqiya Voice later reported that additional civilians were killed due the wounds they had inflicted.

Several days after the incident, on November 27th, 2017, Euphrates Post reported a total of 14 named victims.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least two girls were among the killed.

While the list below counts 18 named fatalities, it should be noted that some might be duplicates due to imprecise reporting. For example, two victims (Nuri Wayyas El Sheikou and Abdul Karim Abdul Hamid Al-Arran) are by most reported as killed in this strike. Though, Abdul Karim Abdul Hamid Al-Arran was also reported killed on November 24th in Hajeen (see RS2753) and Euphrates Post reported that both were killed in the “Sayyal -all-Shaafah crossing”. However, VDC referred to the “Hasarat Shaafa Crossing” in its reporing about the two men’s deaths.

However, as of now, a total of 18 civilians have been reported killed in this event.

Sources also reported that between 20 and “dozens” were left wounded, the highest reported by Step News Agency.

All known reports, who identified a culprit, pointed unanimously to Russian warplanes.

The incident occured at approximately 2:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

the son of Hussein Al-Ali Al-A’jmi
Age unknown male killed
the daughter of Hussein Ali A’jami
Age unknown female killed

Family members (2)

The wife of Balhous the Qurain
Age unknown female killed
Ibn Hamoud Al - Hamidah Al - Qurain
Age unknown male killed

Family members (3)

Son of Awad al Taheer abu Mohammad
Age unknown male killed
Son of Awad al Taheer abu Mohammad
Age unknown male killed
Hamoudi
Age unknown male possibly son of Awad al Taheer abu Mohammad killed

The victims were named as:

Dr. Shuja’ al- Zarzour
Adult male killed
Saad Samir Al-Hamoud
Adult male killed
Khaled Al-Hameel Al-Zai’n
Adult male killed
The son of Shehata from al Malali
Age unknown male killed
Juma’a Murshad R Al Zai’n
Age unknown male
Saleh Juri al-Maa'dah
Age unknown male killed from his wounds killed
Nuri Wayyas El Sheikou
Adult male killed
Khalid Ramadan Al-Ja'alout
Age unknown male killed
Nasser Shehata al-Malaly
Age unknown male killed
Wife of Ali al - Zuait
Age unknown female killed
Abd al-Kareem Abd al-Hameed al-Aran
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 17
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Khaled al-Hamel al-Zain, one of the victims of the alleged Russian shelling of Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, November 23rd, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)
  • Saad Musallam Al-Hamoud, one of the victims of the alleged Russian shelling of Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, November 23rd, 2017 (via Mari al Bukamal)
  • Dr. Shuja’ al- Zarzour, one of the victims of thealleged Russian shelling of Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, November 23rd, 2017 (via Mari al Bukamal)
  • Nuri Wayyas El Sheikou, one of the victims of the alleged Russian shelling of Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, November 23rd, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)
  • Abd al-Kareem Abd al-Hameed al-Aran, one of the victims of the alleged Russian shelling of Hasrat, Deir Ezzor, November 23rd, 2017 (via VDC)

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 November 4th - 20th 2017.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 17
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2762

Incident date

November 23–24, 2017

Location

ابوحردوب, Abou Hardoub, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.853038, 40.637715 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and others were injured in air and artillery strikes on Abou Hardoub, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Local media reported that house of Oweid Al Dulan struck. He was killed as well as two members of his family

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Oweid Al Dulan
60 years old male killed
Khaled Slueiman Oweid Mohammad al-Dulan
Child male killed
Grandchild of Oweid Mohammad al-Dulan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Victims of the raids on Abou Hardoub, 25th Nov 2017. (via S.M.C.)
  • Victims of the raids on Abou Hardoub, 25th Nov 2017. (via S.M.C.)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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
    3
  • (2 children1 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2751

Incident date

November 23, 2017

Location

الباغوز, Al-Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.43221, 40.99226 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed by airstrikes, possibly supplemented by artillery shelling, in Al-Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, local media reported, though the apportion of blame was unclear.

While all reports agreed that three civilians were killed in this event, they disagreed in terms of cause and responsibility.

While Step News Agency, Violations Documentation Center Syria and Masar Press all blamed Russian aerial shelling, Euphrates Post blamed the Syrian regime for launching rockets and artillery shelling.

Finally, Sound and Picture said that the three victims were killed by artillery shelling carried out by Iraqi forces – a very rare allegation in this context.

 

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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, Iraq Government Forces, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The streets of Al-Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, as it was struck by the contested shelling on November 23rd, 2017 (via Masar Press)

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 November 4th - 20th 2017.


Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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
    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, Iraq Government Forces, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2747

Incident date

November 22, 2017

Location

صحيان, Sahiyan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.700000, 36.700000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Smart News Agency, reported that three civilians were left slightly wounded as an aircraft, “likely to be Russian”, carried out air raids on the highway in the town of Sihan, south of Idlib. The strikes reportedly struck a highway restaurant.

Currently, there are no further details available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between November 4th - 20th 2017.


Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2746

Incident date

November 20, 2017

Location

القورية, Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.96, 40.55 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, a father and son, were killed and at least another two were wounded as an unidentified drone struck in Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, local sources reported.

In the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights general reporting from the Euphrates River, the media reported that “two men were killed and another were wounded after being targeted by a drone in al-Quriyah area.”

Several sources reported that the two victims, both identified by name, were father and son.

Meanwhile, @mo7ama6 reported three civilian fatalities along with “dozens of wounded”. However, it should be noted that it said that the airstrike struck the Suf al-Rifai camp which is a few kilometers from al-Qouriya.

Finally, Sharqiya Voice, reported that two victims were “injured in the eyes, as they were targeted by an unmanned drone after they lost their way and approached the front line of IS in the city of Qouriya.”

None of the sources apportioned blame, but as the event took place on the Syrian regime/Russian side of the river, both are, as of now, suspected belligerents.

Also, it is unclear whether the strikes in the Suf al-Rifai camp are the same as reported by the two other sources, but as of now, they will be treated as the same incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdul Rahman Al Ali Al-Aboud
Adult male killed
Ali Abdul Rahman Al Ali Al-Aboud
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Rahman Al Ali Al-Aboud reportedly died in an unidentified air or drone strike along with his young son in Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, November 20th, 2017 (via Ahmad Al Kar`an)
  • Ali Abdul Rahman Al Ali Al-Aboud reportedly died in an unidentified air or drone strike along with his father in Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, November 20th, 2017 (via Ahmad Al Kar`an)

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 November 4th - 20th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]