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

RS2493

Incident date

September 22, 2017

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafr Sajna, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5261134, 36.5813398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Kafr Sajna in southern Idlib. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

One local source included wounded in the casualty estimates but did not specify whether it was in Kafr Sajna or Deir al Sharqi. Both sources that reported in the incident, Smart News Agency and Idlib Media Centre, attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes.

Step tweeted photographs and claimed that a salt factory was targeted.

The child Ahmad Khaled Al-Qasoum, was also named in a previous incident. It is unclear in which incident he was killed.

Graphic footage shows the bodies of children who were burned alive due to the raids.

Local media suggested that children were burned to death due to Russian warplanes.

Al Jazeera tweeted that “The rocket attack targeted the positions of al Nusra Front in Idlib”. They blamed Russian warplanes.

eqtsad reported that “Russian battleships on Friday, with several missiles of the type “Caliber”, targeted the villages and towns of the southern countryside Idlib, as part of its fierce air attack on the elements of life there.”

They added that, “A rocket landed in a salt factory in the village of Kafrsajna in the southern suburb of Idlib, killing the child, “Ahmad Khalid al-Qassum al-Issa”, an only child for the family that works as guards for the factory in order to earn their living. The rocket caused the child to be burnt and the villagers were unable to save him. The fire turned him into a charred body. A number of wounded, in addition to the exit of the plant from the service and destroyed completely.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Khaled Al-Qasoum
Child male killed
Ahmed Ibn Khaled Al-Issa
Child killed

Summary

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

  • Ahmad Khaled Al-Qasoum, killed in airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via VDC)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via Qasioun)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via Syrian Coalition)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic video of a child burning to death.
  • Alleged Russian warplanes.
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via Step)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via Step)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via Step)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via Step)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via eqtsad)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via eqtsad)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via eqtsad)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via eqtsad)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via eqtsad)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Sajneh, 22nd Sept 2017. (via eqtsad)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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

RS2600

Incident date

October 5, 2017

Location

الكندير صبيخان, Water crossing between Al-Kandeer and Sbeikhan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.856214, 40.597572 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecifiied number of civilians were killed and wounded, following an airstrike on Al-Kandeer – specifically the water crossing between Al-Kandeer and Sbeikhan.

Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the strikes. A single source, Step News Agency, blamed Russian raids, however all the others reported sighting “unknown warplanes” or “military aircraft”.

None of the sources reported on specific numbers of dead and wounded, however, most alleged it was “several” or more than one.

There were, according to DeirEzzor24, “several raids” altogether on the vicinity. 

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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2819

Incident date

December 26, 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

Two civilians were killed, including a Civil Defence volunteer, in airstrikes which struck civilian housing and a popular market in Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the strikes. Many didn’t name a culprit but pointed only to “military aircraft” and “helicopters”.

Footage published by the Syrian Civil Defence shows a victim while he was alive, talking about his role in the SCD. A later video published shows his funeral, with footage of friends and family mourning over the much loved man.

@AleppoAMC put the number of other victims wounded as high as eight.

@SyrianCoaltion was the first to report that two civilians had been killed in the raids when “helicopters targeted civilian houses at Al Azizia farm east of Khan Sheikhoun”. Images show children being dragged form the rubble of their homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar al-Dedo
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Memorial footage showing Bashar al-Dedo before he died in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence Idlib)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @RaedAlSaleh3)
  • Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @RaedAlSaleh3)
  • Injured children dragged from their homes which were struck by airstrikes in Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)
  • Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 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
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS009

Incident date

October 2, 2015

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Intense bombardment was reported on the 2nd of October 2016 in and around the province of Aleppo.  In the town of Tadef two people were reported to have been killed as a result raids that were widely blamed on Russia.

Only one source, Sada Islamic, blamed the coalition for the strikes publishing photos of the aftermath.  They were also the only source to mention one victim instead of two.  None of the sources named the victims.

Centcom press release covering the period made no mention of strikes in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Photo showing the aftermath of raids on Tadef and blaming 'Crusader Nusairi Coalition' (via Sada Islamic)
  • Photo showing the aftermath of raids on Tadef and blaming 'Crusader Nusairi Coalition' (via Sada Islamic)
  • Photo showing the aftermath of raids on Tadef and blaming 'Crusader Nusairi Coalition' (via Sada Islamic)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2919

Incident date

January 19, 2018

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8141415, 36.6017972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ariha, according to local media. All sources reported Russian warplanes were to blame.

The sources reported that there were “civilian casualties”, however none specified how many.

@kazim1959idleb reported that there were five strikes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Ariha, 19th Jan 2018. (via EdlibEMC)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Ariha, 19th Jan 2018. (via EdlibEMC)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Ariha, 19th Jan 2018. (via EdlibEMC)

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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS331

Incident date

December 30, 2015

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and “dozens” wounded in airstrikes on Douma, according to the Shaam News Network – though the Network did not state whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

The White Helmets told SNN that aircrafts bombed the city with about 12 rockets which led to the death of two civilians. It said the death toll was likely to increase due to the large number of casualties, adding that some people were still trapped under rubble due to widespread destruction caused by the raids.

According to SNN, Assad regime artillery also targeted residential buildings and facilities with a number of shells – though an associated smoke plume appears to indicate an aerial missile or bomb attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage suggests December 30th attack on Douma was an airstrike. (via, Orient News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 28th-30th 2015, Russa has stated that “In the course of last two days, since December 28, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 121 combat sorties engaging 424 terrorists’ objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Daraa, Raqqah and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

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
    6–24
  • 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

Incident Code

RS395

Incident date

January 15, 2016

Location

دير حافر‎, Dayr Hafir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.151494, 37.707842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians including one child were killed and seven others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Dayr Hafer, according to local sources.

Other sources also said Russia was responsible for the death of two young men.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Satouf al-Aswad
Adult male killed
Son of Jasem al-Kordi 
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]

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 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

RS3020

Incident date

February 11, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly killed and wounded following an Assad or Russian-waged aerial and artillery strike in Harasta, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local sources reported.

Multiple sources reported about shelling in Harasta, that according to Orient News’ correspondent, took place during the night and included “dozens of artillery shells in addition to six surface-to-surface missiles.”

Jsirtv reported that the city was hit by more than 60 artillery and missile shells, notably in residential areas.

However, few mentioned whether the heavy shelling caused civilian harm. LCCSY noted that shelling in various parts of eastern Ghouta, including Harasta, had caused “martyrs and wounded civilians.”

Both Ghouta Media Center and Damascus Media Center identified the Syrian regime as responsible, while LCCSY indicated Russian culpability.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (7) [ 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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]