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

RS2290

Incident date

June 18, 2017

Location

حمادي عمر, Hamadi Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed and three other civilians were wounded – including a woman – following an airstrike on Hamadi Omar, local media reported. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the strike.

According to both the Smart News Agency and the local source, Adyb.alhwrany, the town was under ISIS control when the strikes took place. 

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
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (2) [ 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 specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2293

Incident date

June 20, 2017

Location

زملكا, Zamalaka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were wounded following air and artillery strikes on the residential neighbourhood of Zamalaka, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some sources attributing blame to Russia while others blamed the Syrian regime.

Douma.Revolution published a video showing a man who was trapped under the rubble being rescued by members of the Syrian Civil Defence. The wounds to his leg looked severe. 

@eyeonhomeland described the artillery shelling as heavy, while other sources reported that the damage to civilian homes was significant. 

LCCSY reported there were three strikes overall on the vicinity – they also blamed the Syrian regime for indiscriminate bombing. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man is pulled from the rubble following an airstrike on the residential neighbourhood of Zamalaka, 20th June 2017. (via Douma.Revolution)

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 specific strikes between June 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
    0
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2294

Incident date

June 20, 2017

Location

جبل ركبة المرزوق, Rakbat Al Marzouk Mountain, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.730327, 36.719055 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Smart News Agency reported that four civilians were killed – including a woman and a child – and seven others were injured, following an airstrike on Rakbat Al Marzouk Mountain. Smart News reported on this incident twice, and blamed Russia in both instances.

It added that the vicinity was under the control of ISIS.

According to the source, the planes “targeted the tents of nomads”, killing four of them. 

The shelling allegedly also killed a herd of 20 sheep.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ 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 specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1046 RS2295

Incident date

June 20, 2017

Location

خشام, Khasham, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3020098, 40.2914143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 civilians, including several women and children, were killed and dozens more injured in airstrikes on Khasham village in Deir Ezzor governorate. However, it was not clear who was responsible with allegations lodged against the Coalition, the Russian air force and the Syrian government.

In total, five sources alleged that the Coalition was responsible, four sources said Bashar al Assad’s government was to blame, three said Russia was responsible and six sources did not reach a final conclusion apportioning blame.

A number of reliable sources – including Smart News Agency, Euphrates Post, Radio al Kul and Baladi News – reported that phosphorous munitions were used in the attack, likely to be a contributing factor to the high casualty rates.

Several sources also reported that after the initial strike, the aircraft returned and struck a house where civilians had taken cover during the original attack.

Several victims were identified by name, but many others who were killed remained unidentified, sources reported.

DeirEzzor24 reported that of the wounded, several were critically ill and suffered from amputations, burns and maiming.

Radio al Kul reported similar injuries and said the death toll was likely to rise with 15 of 50 or more injured in a life-threatening condition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Age unknown female killed
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 16
  • (4 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A reported victim of the contested strike at Khisham, June 20th 2017 (via Deirezzor24)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A reported victim of the contested strike at Khisham, June 20th 2017 (via Deirezzor24)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has not publicly reported any strikes in Deir Ezzor for June 19th-21st..

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
    13 – 16
  • (4 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2296

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

الجنينة, Al-Ginena, Al Hussan and Al Baghiliya villages, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3680555, 40.1196671 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Smart News Agency, reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded by alleged Russian warplanes on an airstrike in Al-Ginena, Al Hussan and Al Baghiliya villages.

The source reported that “the aircraft bombed civilian houses in the villages of Al-Geneina, Hussan and Baghiliya (6 km west of Deir Al-Zour city), injuring a number of civilians, including children, without specifying their exact numbers.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2297

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecific number of civilians were killed and wounded in air and artillery strikes on the area of Akeirbat, including – according to Enabbaladi – the village of Abu Ramal. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. While most blame Russia, only one blamed the Syrian regime.

According to sources, as many as 30 raids struck the vicinity, which was allegedly controlled by ISIS at the time.

Multiple sources reported that white phosphorus was used in the raid, which is an internationally banned weapon.

A local tweeted that there were “dozens of martyrs and wounded people”, however others say there were only a few. Regardless, there are currently no specific casualty numbers.

There are no other details at this time.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 24
  • 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]

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 specific strikes between June 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 – 24
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS2298

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

داعل, Dael, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.756529, 36.138453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult males were killed, and as many as 30 civilians were wounded, following air and artillery shelling on Dael, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some blaming Russia, others blaming the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to the “Syrian-Russian alliance”.

Images show wounded civilians being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the incident. Additionally, footage released by Shab Da’eli lens, shows the exact moment – just before midnight – that the strikes hit the vicinity. 

The Smart News Agency reported that “13 children and eight women” were included in the numbers of wounded civilians. 

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Yazan Khalifa Shahadat, killed in an airstrike on Dael, 21st June 2017. (via VDC)
  • Ahmad Jameel al-Mohsen al-Asemi, killed in an airstrike on Dael, 21st June 2017. (via VDC)
  • Wounded civilians being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the airstrike on Dael, 21st June 2017. (via AmjadAssaf)
  • Wounded girl being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the airstrike on Dael, 21st June 2017. (via AmjadAssaf)
  • Wounded girl being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the airstrike on Dael, 21st June 2017. (via AmjadAssaf)
  • Wounded girl being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the airstrike on Dael, 21st June 2017. (via AmjadAssaf)
  • The exact moment an airstrike hit Dael, 21st June 2017. (via Shab Da’eli lens)

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 specific strikes between June 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
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2299

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

الشيخ ياسين, Sheikh Yassin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.33367, 40.148313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 10 civilians were killed, and 10 more were wounded, following in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Yassin. Sources all blamed Russian aircraft for the raids.

According to sources, the vicinity was struck shortly before 2.30am, at “break-fast” during Ramadan. A residential neighbourhood was partially destroyed in the attack with RPG shelling, and four cluster bombs, according to local media.

Free Deir Ezzor described the “sounds of violent explosions shaking the region at 2:30 am on Wednesday []June 21st]”.

Rfsmediaoffice reported that many civilians were rushed to hospital with wounds – however they did not specify the severity of the injured. 

Sheikh Yassin was reportedly under the control of the regime forces at this period in time. 

The incident occured at 02:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (3–4 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (12) [ 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 specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (3–4 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]