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

RS1195

Incident date

August 27, 2016

Location

صلخ, Salakh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.12706, 36.73477

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including a child died and as many as dozens more were wounded in an airstrike on Taftanaz, according to local media. The majority of sources blamed Russia, though the Syrian Network for Human Rights’ attributed the event to “government warplanes and its allies”. Alsharq also blamed the regime.

@SyrianArwad , @SyrianFnn, @ShahbaPress, @EdlibEMC all pointed to Russia, putting the death toll at two with 10 more injured.

According to LCCSY, “a man and a child died and dozens were wounded in Russian raids on Shalakh near the village of Taftanaz”.

The Violations Documentation Center listed and unidentified adult male and and unidentified female child as fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (17) [ 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 August 20th – 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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1227

Incident date

September 5, 2016

Location

غرناطة, Gharnata, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.89419, 36.67881

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and others wounded an alleged Russia airstrike on Ghirnata village, according to local media.

Nabd Syria and LCCSY blamed Russian airstrikes for the death of two non-combatants.

Other sources mentioned artillery and air strikes in the area but didn’t say who carried them out.

However, Homs Media Center reported regime actions in the area, saying that “regime forces stationed in Krad Al-Dasneya village fire artillery shells in Ghirnatah” – though the source made no mention of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (6) [ 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.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1587

Incident date

November 15, 2016

Location

كفرناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1656062, 36.9718334 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, a husband and wife, died in suspected Russian airstrikes on a hospital in Kafra Hamra, according to local media. Alarabiye reported that medical staff and patients were wounded in addition to the “killing of at least one civilian”.

A later report alleged two civilians were killed. A member of The White Helmets said “The elements of civil defense managed to recover the body of a man and his wife from the rubble after they were killed by air raid on the town of Kafarnaha in the countryside of Western Aleppo”.

The strikes on the hospital came as part of a campaign in which three hospitals across Aleppo were struck in a 24-hour period, according to multiple reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (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 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 have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1700

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة , Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

HNN listed two unidentified civilians as killed “following Russian enemy raids on Kafr Hamra”.

@ShahbaPress also put the death toll at two and blamed Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (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 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 have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1655

Incident date

November 21, 2016

Location

كرم نزهة, Karam Nuzha, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17131, 37.150058 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed, and others were wounded, in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on Karam Nuzha, Aleppo.

Most sources attributed blame to both belligerents suggesting the aerial bombardment was possibly a joint effort. However, LCCSY blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

Although no reports specifically named the number of wounded, according to sources, many were trapped under the rubble suggesting that a number were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1892

Incident date

February 15, 2017

Location

رسم نياص , Rasim Nayyas village, south of Abu adh Dhuhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.686581, 37.061906 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including a child died and up to 15 more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a petrol station/oil refinery in Rasim Nayyas village, local media reported.

All4Syria reported: “two civilians were killed and 15 others injured Wednesday in a Russian air strike on the village of Rasim Nayas in the eastern suburb of Idlib.

“‘The Russian airliner launched an air raid on the village of Nayas, targeting a petrol station, which caused the burning of the station and the killing of two civilians – and injury of others with burns,’ said Abdul Razzaq al-Subeeh, a correspondent for All Partners.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “two civilians including a child died in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Rasm Nyas town in Idlib governorate eastern suburbs, February 15, 2017.”

Idlib media centre published “photos of the targeting by Russian occupation forces of a refinery in Rasim Nayyas village south of Abdu adh Dhuhur in the Idlib countryside”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–15
  • 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]

  • 'Photos of the targeting by Russian occupation forces of a refinery in Rasim Nayyas village, south of Abdu adh Dhuhur in the Idlib countryside." (via EMC)
  • 'Photos of the targeting by Russian occupation forces of a refinery in Rasim Nayyas village, south of Abdu adh Dhuhur in the Idlib countryside." (via EMC)
  • 'Photos of the targeting by Russian occupation forces of a refinery in Rasim Nayyas village, south of Abdu adh Dhuhur in the Idlib countryside." (via EMC)
  • 'Photos of the targeting by Russian occupation forces of a refinery in Rasim Nayyas village, south of Abdu adh Dhuhur in the Idlib countryside." (via EMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–15
  • 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

RS1907

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

رسم حميدة, Rasim Hamida, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.705278, 37.280833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed and three wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on the ISIS controlled village of Rasim Hamida, in the eastern Homs countryside – though only one source has reported on the incident.

Smart News, who attributed likely responsibility to Russia, cited a civilian source, who stated: “the warplanes targeted civilian houses with cluster bombs in the village of Rasim Hamida, near Jib al Jirah. It led to the deaths of two civilians, and injuring a woman and her two children – they were transferred to Raqqa”. 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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

RS1958

Incident date

March 10, 2017

Location

اسطبلات, Istablat, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

35.8473, 37.27584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were killed and wounded following an alleged air and artillery strike on Istablat, Aleppo. The White Helmets reported that three injured civilians were rescued from the rubble, while no specific numbers of civilian deaths were reported. Despite this, all sources mention that civilians were killed in this raid. Additionally, sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Only one source, however, attributed the blame to Russia, while the rest blamed Syrian regime artillery shelling.

According to the White Helmets, civilians were trapped under the rubble and some of the injuries were severe. @HalabTodayTV reported that some civilians were “burned” presumably from the flames causing by the shelling. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Istablat, 10th March 2017. (via White Helmets)

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 March 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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