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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
1843 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS310

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Tel Rifa’at, Aleppo, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

Al Souria placed the fatalities higher, noting: “The initial death toll following the targeting of the outskirts to the city of Tel  Refaat  with rockets by Russian warplanes is six martyrs, with additional injuries among civilians, including three children.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Omar Abdulkareem Aleito
Child male brothers killed
Belal Mohmmad Abdulbaset Aleito
Child male brothers killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS342

Incident date

January 4, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed and several others injured in alleged Russian and/or Assad regime airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources.

The Shaam News Network produced two reports on the alleged incident. The first report put the death toll at two and an unspecified number of wounded, while the second report said five civilians were killed in addition to “casualties”.

The Daesh agency Al A’maq blamed Russia. However others claimed Assad regime helicopters had also participated in the attacks.

According to the VDC, Farouk Bakeer – a White Helmet volunteer – died in al-Bab on January 4th, though it attributes his death to an Assad regime airstrike. All 4 Syria blamed Russia, noting; “Activists said Russian warplanes raided Daesh-occupied al-Bab four times, targeting Osama bin Zaid Mosque and a field hospital in the city, and causing the deaths of five civilians according to a preliminary toll, including a civil defense worker  called Farouk Bakir. In addition a number of civilians were wounded.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Farouk Bakeer
Adult male White Helmet volunteer killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

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

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS374

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

دير العصافير, Dayr al Asafeer, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.465278, 36.419722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians including a woman and child were killed and 10 others injured in airstrikes on Dayr Al Asafeer, according to sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “warplanes believed to be Russian” carried out the attacks, while the White Helmets – who put the initial death toll at two (one woman and one child) with 10 injured – did not say who was responsible. They reported that a raid with two missiles targeted residential streets, destroying buildings, adding that “the rescue team in the southern district have moved the wounded and pulled a boy alive from under the rubble and evacuated civilians from the targeted area as well as cleared the roads.”

The Tulip kindergarten was among those buildings struck.

While most sources blamed Russia, Radio al Kul said the Assad regime had dropped cluster munitions on the town. And the al Baath Media site also claimed regime credit for the attack, noting that “the air force of the Syrian army targeted sites and gatherings of militants in the towns of Darya, Deir Al Assafir and Outaya in Damascus.”

The White Helmets also listed an unidentified woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Maram Seika’a or Saibaa
Child named by the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • A member of the White Helmets rescues a child following an airstrike on Dayr al Asafeer, on January 12th 2016. (via, The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)
  • Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Te burial of Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)

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.

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 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

RS406

Incident date

January 16, 2016

Location

قصر البريج, Qasr al Burayj, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.31798, 37.70512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alaan TV reported Russian raids on Qasr el Bureji, but did not provide information on casualties.

According to Halab News, eight civilians died in a bombardment by warplanes, though they did not identify the planes.

Step also put the death toll at eight, though it was unclear from their report whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

According to Zaiton magazine, Russia carried out the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS438

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Location

المشلب, Al Mashlad (Ar Raqqah), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9449373, 39.0474701 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including four children died in strikes on the Al Mashlab neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime carried out the attacks, while some sources do not identify those responsible.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named civilians as having been killed by warplanes (also named in the VDC list below), but did not identify the planes.

But in a later report, they attributed strikes to Russia.

The Syrian Observatory also published reports of the raids in Raqqa on this day, but did not say who was to blame.

According to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, six civilians – including a pregnant woman – died in Russian strikes.

Members of the Hindwani family were named as victims of Russian aircraft by Raqqa Post.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “alleged Russian warplanes launched several rockets on Al Mashlab town in Raqqa city which killed 5 individuals from one family including 3 children and a woman.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Hindawi al-Jumaah
Adult male killed
Musaab Hindawi al-Jumaah
Child male killed
Ahmad Hindawi al-Jumaah
Child male killed
Maya Hindawi al-Jumaah
Child female killed
Wife of Hindawi al-Jumaah
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Izzo Hakima
Age unknown named by SHRC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman1 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Hindawi al-Jumaah, killed in a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on 21st January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Musaab Hindawi al-Jumaah, killed in a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on 21st January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Ahmad Hindawi al-Jumaah, killed in a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on 21st January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Maya Hindawi al-Jumaah, killed in a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on 21st January 2016. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

No Russian reports were published for January 21st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman1 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS472

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

برلهين, Berlahin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.25381, 37.40072 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed in the village of Berlahin on 27th January 2016, according to one source. SNN reported that there were Russian bombardments in Al Bab around that time. Commenting on the incidents, they added that the death toll was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries sustained in the raids.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 did not claim at this time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS504

Incident date

January 29, 2016

Location

الصالحية, Al Salhiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7133253, 40.7575607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a brief news report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least seven civilians including two children died when a “suspected Russian warplane” fired missiles on the village of Al Salhiya.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed
Age unknown named by 811 Syria, who it said were internally displaced persons originally from Al Joura. killed
Mohamed Alterman
Age unknown male named by 811 Syria, who it said were internally displaced persons originally from Al Joura. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS540

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians including five children were killed in airstrikes on Anadan according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible, and there is some question as to exactly when certain victims died.

The Shaam News Network reported that three children from one family were killed in a bombardment of Anadan by Russian aircraft.

It said several towns and cities in the northern countryside of Aleppo were targeted, wounding civilians and causing widespread destruction to residential buildings.

Al Jisr TV reported that three children died and others were injured in Russian bombing in Anadan.

Adnan Modlej posted distressing footage from the city which showed several injured children. A resident being filmed said that Anadan suffered more than 50 airstrikes. It does not say who was responsible.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed missiles fired by Assad regime warplanes, putting the death toll at three children.

It published an image of the child Hazem Mohammad Abdul Razzaq Kouraj, saying he was killed by regime warplanes. Hazem is also listed by the Violations Documentation Center, but as killed “due to Russian air forces shelling“.

Nine victims including five children were named by the VDC.

Other reports cast some confusion about when certain victims died. The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies listed 7 deaths in Anadan on February 5, many of which overlap with names listed by VDC as victims from February 4. Between the two days, the Damascus Center lists 9 victims in Anadan – the same as VDC listed for February 4. The Center listed Rawan Hjazi and Bilal Hjazi as dying on February 4. It listed an additional male victim, Othman Ibrahim Hamidi, as dying on February 5. On neither day does it list the child Rama Hjazi. All of those listed were described as victims of Russian strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rawan Hjazi
Child female Listed by VDC killed
Rama Hjazi
Child female Listed by VDC killed
Bilal Hjazi
Child male Listed by VDC killed
Omar Aaraj
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hazem Mohammad Abdul Razak Koraj
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Bashar Mohammad Hashem
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Ahmad Ali Jwaid
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Anas Usama Atiq
Child male Listed by VDC killed
Ahmad Usama Atiq
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 men)
  • 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]

  • Footage by Adnan Modlej shows major destruction in a civilian quarter of the town and some of the wounded in hospital including children.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Hazem Mohammad Abdul Razzaq Kouraj (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 men)
  • 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]