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

RS2248

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

العرضي, Al A'radi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3352757, 40.1499438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 30 civilians, including two to four women and two to five children, were killed and between 20 and 30 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the Al A’radi neighborhood of Deir Ezzor city, local media reported.

At the time of reporting seven civilian deaths, Deir Ezzor News acknowledged that the number of those dead was subject to increase due to many civilians in critical condition. Euphrates Post also reported that in addition to the eight civilians they stated were killed, 10 others among the wounded were in critical condition.

There were conflicting reports given as to who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including Syria News Desk and Violations Documentation Center, blamed regime planes for the casualties caused by the airstrikes. However, other sources, including Syrian-Mirror and @HalabTodayTV, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

According to local sources, at least six airstrikes were carried out and struck five residential buildings on Hanano Street near the Harwil mosque in the center of the neighborhood. In addition to air fire from aviation, Smart News reported that artillery fire also struck the town. The raids resulted in the complete destruction of two floors of three buildings, damage to three other buildings, a few shops and their products, and a number of civilian cars.

The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities and civil defense teams were still removing victims from the rubble and clearing the streets well into the night. Included in those killed was the wife of Tha’er Al Fallah and two of her children and the husband, wife, and three of the daughters of the al Arwa family. At the time of the airstrikes, it was alleged that the area was under the control of ISIS and multiple local sources reported that members of ISIS were also killed in the airstrikes.

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Mayada al Abed
Adult female killed
Fawzia al Badei
Adult female killed
Wife of Tha'er Al Fallah
Adult female killed
Samir al Amwa
Adult male Displaced from Palmyra killed
Wife of Samir al Amwa
Adult female Displaced from Palmyra killed
Daughter of Samir al Amwa
Child female Displaced from Palmyra killed
Daughter of Samir al Amwa
Child female Displaced from Palmyra killed
Daughter of Samir al Amwa
Child female Displaced from Palmyra injured
Child of Tha'er Al Fallah
Child killed
Child of Tha'er Al Fallah
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 30
  • (2–5 children2–4 women2–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (29) [ 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 30
  • (2–5 children2–4 women2–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (29) [ 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]

Incident Code

RS2252

Incident date

May 23, 2017

Location

حمادة عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a child, was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Hamada Omar near Al Akeirbat in eastern Hama, according to local media and activists.

Local sources that reported on the incident either named Russia as the culprit, including Al Hadath Magazine and Step News Agency, or did not identify who was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2254

Incident date

May 24, 2017

Location

محيميدة, Mheimediya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.44294, 40.08619 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians, including one to two children and one woman, were killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the village of Mheimidiya in the western suburb of Deir Ezzor, according to local sources.

Three of the civilians killed were reportedly from the Mohammed al-Abar family and were killed when the airstrikes struck their two-story house. In a Euphrates Post report, their estimate of three killed was acknowledged to be an initial toll following the airstrikes.

The majority of sources, including Zaman al-Wasl and Syrian Network for Human Rights, identified regime planes as responsible for the casualties in Mheimidiya. However, another source, Ahmad al Shibli twitter (@7UFCmSxd0IUBffH), blamed Russia for carrying out the airstrikes.

Additional sources, including Shaam Network, did not specify whether Russia or the regime was responsibe and instead identified both regime and Russian planes as perpetrating bombings in the area. In addition to striking civilian homes, the airstrikes also destroyed a number of shops.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Najah Moheisen al-Abbar
Age unknown female killed
Son of Muhammad al-Issa al-Abbar
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–2 children1 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–2 children1 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2255

Incident date

May 25, 2017

Location

الترن, al Tarn, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.985229, 38.041534 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and others were wounded in three alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the village of al Tarn near the village of Dibsi Faraj in the western Tabaqa countryside of Raqqa, according to local sources and activists.

Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including Syrian Network for Human Rights and @sharqiya_voice, identified Russian planes as responsible. However, @Raqqa_SL reported that the regime was to blame for the casualties caused by the airstrikes. An additional source, a tweet by @24Raqqa, did not differentiate between Russia and the regime in reporting who carried out the bombing.

The airstrikes struck a mosque in al Tarn, which resulted in the death of the Imam of the mosque and the destruction of the building to the extent that it could no longer hold services. In addition to the mosque, the airstrikes also caused the destruction of several houses.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al Othman al Ali al Sheikh
Adult male Imam killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image of Ahmad al Othman al Ali al Sheikh, killed in airstrikes against al Tarn on May 24th, 2017 (via RBSS Facebook)
  • Image of Ahmad al Othman al Ali al Sheikh, killed in airstrikes against al Tarn on May 24th, 2017 (via Issa Abou Salem Facebook)

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
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2256

Incident date

May 25, 2017

Location

دبسي عفنان, Debsi Afnan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8175348, 38.2162857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were killed and a woman was wounded in two alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the town of Debsi Afnan in the western Raqqa countryside, according to local activists and sources. In reporting the estimate of two killed, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently acknowledged that it was the initial toll.

Conflicting reports were given by local media as to who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including @Mohab_Nasser2 (journalist from Tabaqa Media Centre) and @Sharqiya_voice, attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes. However, other sources, including RBSS and Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that the regime was to blame for the raids on Debsi Afnan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yousef al-Faraj
35 years old male killed
Mohammed al-Khalif al-Faraj
30 years old male killed
Zakur Ibrahim al-Khalifa al-Faraj
21 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image of Yousef al-Faraj, killed in airstrikes against the town of Debsi Afnan on May 25th, 2017 (via @SN4HR)
  • Image of Yousef al-Faraj, killed in airstrikes against the town of Debsi Afnan on May 25th, 2017 (via Al Ragga Truth Facebook)

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
    2 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2257

Incident date

May 25, 2017

Location

الفار, Al Far, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.9924, 37.272856 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Al Far in the eastern Aleppo countryside, sources on the ground reported.

According to multiple local sources, the air bombardment on the town included the use of cluster bombs. The majority of sources, including Step News Agency and @MasarPressNet, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes while the rest did not identify a culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2258

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

العقيربات حمادة عمر , Hamada Omar near Al Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilian deaths and several injuries were reported as a result of airstrikes on the village of Hama Omar in Hama Governorate on the 26th of May 2017, an area under the control of the Islamic State (Daesh).

It is unclear who was to blame for these airstrikes; sources pointed at the Russians and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Arab Fawaz al-Ahmad
Adult male killed
Hasan Allawi al-Rayya
Adult male killed
Saed al-Mosa
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hassan Allawi al-Rayya was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes in Hamada Omar on the 26th of May 2017. (via Hasan Abou Omar)

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
  • (3 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 (12) [ collapse]