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

RS312

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including three children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

The White Helmets published a number of videos showing them attending the scene, fighting a fire and rescuing an injured person from under the rubble.

One unidentified victim was also accounted for:

Unidentified – adult, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hassan Usama Ataya
Adult male killed
Bushra Ahmad Ataya
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Yara al-Hasan
Child female killed
Layan al-Hasan
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Fahed al-Qahwaji
Adult male killed
Fatme Aadel al-Naem
Child female killed
Rabea Basheer al-Hashash
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hassan Usama Ataya, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Provided by the VDC of Bushra Ahmad Ataya, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image provided by the VDC of Fatme Aadel al-Naem, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rabea Basheer al-Hashash, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yara al-Hasan, female child, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Arbeen, for which the generic coordinates are: 33.538143, 36.364331. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
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
    8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS344

Incident date

January 6, 2016

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.383201, 37.565723 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight or nine non-combatants including 3 women and 4 children were killed and seven others injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on a western neighbourhood in the town of Baza’a.

Citing an anonymous source, Syria News Desk noted: “Russian warplanes carried out three raids on the centre and outskirts of the city, killing nine civilians, including women and children, in addition to injuring more than ten others were wounded.”

While the Syrian Network also blamed Russia, others like Al Jisr only mentioned unspecified warplanes. Alaan TV reported that Russian strikes were accompanied by regime “shelling with heavy artillery and rocket launchers on the town, from sites 20 kilometres south of Baza’a.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A news bulletin documenting the riads. (via, Al Jisir TV)

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS376

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

طلف, Talaf, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9116252, 36.5593243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten non-combatants were reported killed and a number wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Talaf in the Hama countryside, according to local sources.

Fatality claims ranged widely, from one to ten civilians killed. The local Hama Media Centre later issued a video report in which it interviewed local activist Abu Rayan:

“Rayan: The Russian bear targeted us we were sitting peacefully and a rocket landed, there is no FSA here only civilians, look around you.

Q: Who was injured?

Rayan: Children

Q:are the children from Daesh?

Rayan: Yes the children aged four and five years old we moved from here are from Daesh (sarcasm).”

That said, small arms fire can be heard from the town at the time of the airstrike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • An interview with a local civilian by the Hama Media Centre regarding the alleged Russian raids. (via, Hama Media Centre)
  • Footage showing the destruction to civilian homes in Talaf. (via, Hama Media Centre)
  • A video of the raid in the exact moment that the airstrike fell. (via, Abu Obeida Khuzaymah)
  • Footage showing the internal destruction to residential homes. (via, Hama Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A deceased baby which was discovered in the rubble in the aftermath of the raid which struck Talaf. (via, Hama Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage of the leg of an injured man. (via, Abdalbarey Mstfa)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian raids which killed civilians in Talaf. (via, Al Jisir)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS408

Incident date

January 16, 2016

Location

تل مكسور, Tall Maksour, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.23928, 37.45711 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alaan TV said that five civilians died and seven others were injured – some critically – in an alleged Russian strike.

Halab TV put the death toll higher – at 15 – but did not say whose warplanes were responsible for the incident.

According to LCCSY, 15 civilians died in strikes on Tal Maksour and Berlheen, but they did not say who was to blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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

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
    5 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS441

Incident date

January 21, 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

Between three and five civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources.

The Syrian Press Centre reported that three civilians died in four Russian raids on residential neighbourhoods, leaving dozens more wounded, including women and children. A later report put the death toll at five, with more than 20 injured.

According to Shahba Press Agency, “Three people were killed and dozens were wounded when Russian aircraft targeted four neighbourhoods in the city of Al Bab in Aleppo’s  eastern countryside. The bombardment also destroyed many houses and public facilities in the city controlled by the organisation Daesh.”

Smart put the death toll at three with 19 injured and also said Russia was responsible.

All4Syria said “warplanes” (they did not identify them) launched several raids, killing five civilians and injuring others.

Halab News also mentioned raids by warplanes, but did not say who they belonged to. Neither did they give information on casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rateb Fares al Dali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    19–24
  • 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 (8) [ 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 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    19–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS474

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

حي الصناعة السكني, Muheet Al Sina'aa (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3223561, 40.1557589 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and the Violations Documentation Center, one man was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the industrial area in the city of Deir ez-Zor.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omer Jasem al Damouk
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

RS506

Incident date

January 29, 2016

Location

الحسينية, Hussainiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.35905, 40.15113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hussainiya, according to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and others.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nahed Mohammad al Mukhlif
25 years old female wife of Hamadi Al A’bd Al Duluth killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

RS542

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the the Al Bab road neighbourhood, according to multiple reports by Shaam News Network and additional local sources.

Akhbar El Thawra El Souriya reported 25 “civilian martyrs” weres killed by Russian warplanes in several neighborhoods of Aleppo, including Tareeq al-Bab.

Al Nateq Press reported 16 civilians were killed, including a woman and child in Russian aerial bombardment in several areas inside Aleppo: Al Mashad, Al Ferdous, Tareeq al-Bab, El Sha’aar and El Kallassesh.

The Syrian Press Center counted a single “martyr” in Tareeq al-Bab but 11 victims in the Al Mashad and Al Ferdous neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Shahba Press put the civilian death toll from Russian bombing in seven parts of Aleppo, including Tareeq al-Bab, at 20.

Step News Agency reported a death toll of 8 in Tareeq al-Bab district alone.

Three victims of “Russian air force shelling” (including one child) were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Razak Hasan
Adult male killed
Mohamad Allawi
Adult male killed
Redwan al-Redwan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on the Al Bab neighbourhood, Aleppo, Feb 4th (via SNN)
  • Images of the incident by Shaam News Network

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.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]