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

CS1273

Incident date

July 25, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that 18 civilians had died and up to 50 had been wounded in the last 48 hours – however, sources were conflicted as to whether the deaths were caused by the US-led Coalition or Russia. It should also be noted that these are general numbers and Airwars has not yet been able to break them down further to separate casualty incidents.

Ahmadalhashloum, Thefreesyrians and Hadialabdallah blamed Coalition air and artillery strikes for the casualties.

But Maherallosh referred to a “massacre committed by the International Air Force and Russian Airlines in the city of Al-Raqqa during the last 48 hours”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 25th-26th: “Near Raqqah, 24 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, four observation points, three sniper positions, two command and control nodes, two supply caches, two mortar systems, a VBIED, an ISIS communication tower, a front-end loader, an ammunition cache, a tactical vehicle, and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed a supply route.” It additionally reported that “On July 25, near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed five mortar positions, a VBIED storage facility, a VBIED, and ISIS equipment.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2367 CS1268a

Incident date

July 25, 2017

Location

الخميسية, Al-Khamesiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.764585, 39.564181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and child were killed in an airstrike on the neighbourhood of Al-Khamesiya. Although sources explain it was a mother and child, the mother was 17 years old, so Airwars have classified her as a child. 

Most sources blamed Russian aircraft for this event, however, the wording of a Baladi report suggested that the US-led Coalition may have been responsible. The source reported five deaths from one family in Ar Raqqah: Dari’eya (incident CS1268) and went on to say that “a girl and her mother were martyred by similar shelling to the village of al-Khamisiyah in rural of Ar Raqqa.”

Raqqa is being Silently Slaughtered reported that the house was specifically struck by Russian aviation.

There were no reports of any wounded civilians and no other details at this time.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

11 months years old male killed
17 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khalid Badr al-Hindi, 11 months old, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Khamesiya, 25th July 2017. (via RBSS)

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 July 1st – 31st 2017.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV511575
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020
  • July 25, 2017, in Al Khamesiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3128/CS1268a 37SEV511575

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 25th-26th: “Near Raqqah, 24 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, four observation points, three sniper positions, two command and control nodes, two supply caches, two mortar systems, a VBIED, an ISIS communication tower, a front-end loader, an ammunition cache, a tactical vehicle, and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed a supply route.” It additionally reported that “On July 25, near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed five mortar positions, a VBIED storage facility, a VBIED, and ISIS equipment.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2369

Incident date

July 25, 2017

Location

البوحمد, Bouhamad, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.786111, 39.436389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed, and 15 others were wounded, following an airstrike on Bouhamad, which was described by local media as a “massacre”.

Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with most attributing the blame to Russian warplanes, however Baladi News attributed blame to the Syrian regime. 

Seven civilians were named as killed.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between July 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
    7
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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

RS2368

Incident date

July 25, 2017

Location

السبخة, Sabkha, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.810278, 39.263889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 30 civilians died in an airstrike on a camp for displaced people in Sabkha in the eastern Raqqa countryside, according to sources on the ground. The majority of reports blamed Russia for this event.

According to the Step News Agency, “15 civilians were killed in air strikes targeting a displaced people’s camp near the town of Al-Sabkha in the eastern Ar Raqqa countryside”.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported “the massacre by two Russian planes in the town of Sabkha, which killed 15 people, five of whom were sons of Hassan al-Karmu and five members of the family of Khalil al-Karmu”

Jorfnews was alone in blaming the Saad regime

In unpublished notes from an Amnesty field report shared with Airwars, a witness said that up to 30 civilians were said to have been killed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Age unknown killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (0–4 children0–4 women)
  • 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 (14) [ 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 July 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
    10 – 30
  • (0–4 children0–4 women)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1262 RS2366

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Location

الميادين شارع الاربعين, Al Mayadin, Al-Arba’eeb street, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.017721, 40.447309 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians died in airstrikes on Al-Arba’eeb street in Al Mayadin, local media said – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition, of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Step News Agency, Almayadeen, Syrianpc and Radioalkul were among the sources that pointed towards the Coalition. Almayadeen reported: “civil sources in the city of Al-Mayadeen told the Syrian SANA agency that aircraft belonging to the Coalition, led by the United States, bombed Al-Fansh junction in the city on Monday morning at peak time as people headed to their work on agricultural land and at shops, causing the death and injury of dozens of civilians and serious damage to infrastructure and property”. Enab Baladi added that while “it could not confirm the identity of the flight that carried out the strikes, some accounts said it belonged to the international coalition flight.”

According to Hasaka Rasd, “air strikes by warplanes at 8 am targeted the end of Al-Arbaeen Street next to the intersection of Al-Fansh in the city of Al-Ma’adien in the eastern suburb of Deir Al-Ghazal, killing five civilians and wounding others.”

Two unidentified martyrs and a number of wounded.” The Violations Documentation Center in Syria also listed Abdel Samad al Sakan and Abdul Qadir al Sakan and added that another four civilian males were killed in the attack. The documentation center identified the “international coalition forces” as the culprit.

A later report by Euphrates Post added that raids had specifically targeted “the house of Abu Aziz and the houses of Dr. Hawash Al-alyan and Maawiya Jajan”.

However, according to RFS Media Office and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Russia was likely responsible for the raids. RFS Media Office said that “residential buildings” were targeted by Moscow’s warplanes. Alghadalsoury was alone in saying that the strikes were “probably” carried out by the regime.

Ahmad Shibli reported that in addition to five deaths, dozens more civilians were wounded. He didn’t identify the “warplanes” responsible. Deir Ezzor Free added that strikes targeted “Al-Arbaeen Street and the surroundings of Al-Nour Mosque”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdel Samad Al- Sakan
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Qadir Al – Sakan
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Hossam Saleh Abdullah Al – Hamad
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hossam Saleh Abdullah Al-Hama, killed in a raid on Al-Arbaeen Street, July 24th 2017. (via Hasaka Rasd)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 24th-25th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes destroyed 14 ISIS oil stills and five well-heads.” It later also added that “On July 24, near Abu Kamal, Syria, one strike destroyed three ISIS oil stills and a vehicle.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

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 July 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1259

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was killed in an airstrike on Raqqa according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame.

Ahmad Shibli, Hasaka Rasd and @alhasakaalhadth blamed the Coalition for the victims death.

However, according to Baladi, he was killed in a Russia strike. This appeared unlikely, with Russian strikes apparently confined to the east of the province at the time. Some other sources didn’t identify who carried out the “air raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud al-Issa
Adult male the director of Ibn Khaldun School killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Mahmoud al-Issa, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa, July 24th 2017. (via Hasaka Rasd)
  • Mahmoud al-Issa, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa, July 24th 2017. (via Mahmoud Aljadoua’)
  • Mahmoud al-Issa, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa, July 24th 2017. (via Mahmoud Aljadoua’)
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
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 24th-25th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, a VBIED, and a mortar system; and damaged a fighting position.” It additionally reported that “On July 24, near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions, three oil refinement stills, a vehicle, a command and control node, and a weapons cache.” And that “On July 24, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed one supply cache and suppressed 14 fighting positions.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Monday 24 July – Tornados and Typhoons hit three positions in Raqqa… Three more Paveway IVs were dropped on 24 July, targeting a further three terrorist firing points.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2363

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Location

Arbeen, Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

35.801386, 39.27784 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 10 civilians including four to eight children and between one and two women died and as many as 50 others were wounded in multiple airstrikes on Arbeen in the Damascus countryside, according to sources on the ground. While several reports attributed this event to Russia, a number of sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The lowest death count was given as eight civilians, though @shahed_alep and Ahmad Shibli put the number killed at ten – and laid the blame with Russia. Ahmad Shibli specifically said that a “Russian raid targeted civilian houses”, adding that seven of the fatalities were children – and that a further 50 non-combatants were wounded in the strike(s).

According to RFS Media Office, “Russian air force fighter jets bombed the city of Arbeen in the eastern Ghouta with more than 10 air strikes using dozens of space rockets, resulting in the deaths of eight civilian martyrs, including five children and two women.”

RFS’ correspondent went on to add that the Russian missiles reportedly “penetrated the upper floors” of a building and that missiles “exploded inside the shelters”.

Alarabiya, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that “it was not clear whether Russia or the Syrian regime” were responsible for the strikes. The report said that “according to the Observatory, a warplane struck at 23:30 hours local time on Monday [July 24th], carrying out a raid with eight missiles targeting the centre of the city of Arbeen”.

Alarabiya’s report went on to quote Rami Abdul Rahman, the directory of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights”, who said that the raid “killed eight civilians including at least four children and a woman”. Rami Abdul Rahman added that “30 other people, including children, were injured, several of them critically”.

Sources published very graphic images of the aftermath of the airstrikes, which included pictures of severely wounded and dead children. Caution is required when viewing these photographs and the accompanying video footage.

The report by Alarabiya gave further details on some of the images: “Pictures by an AFP photographer at the hospital show the bodies of children wrapped in white cloth and stretched out on the ground, two of them  babies.

“In another photo, doctors and nurses are helping a screaming child lying on the bed. On another bed, three young children were sitting, faces covered with blood. One is crying, the other is in shock”.

A woman provided the following testimony to Alarabiya: “‘My sister came to visit us with her son and daughter and they were all killed,’ said a woman, weeping next to three buried corpses.”

According to Abdul Rahman, this was the first time that civilians had been killed since the start of a truce.

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–8 children1–2 women)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Harrowing scenes, including injured children, following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Harrowing scenes, including injured children, following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Harrowing scenes, including injured children, following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child cries in pain following an alleged Russian raid of Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is treated in a medical facility following an alleged Russia raid on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via jobar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The dead bodies of chiil;dren in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbenn, July 24th 2017 (via jobar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child following an alleged Russia raid on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded children following an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of five children killed in an alleged Russia airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Corpses of two civilians killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)
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    A man is treated for injuries sustained in an alleged Russian raid on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)
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    Translation: '8 martyrs and more than 50 wounded, most of them women and children, the result of air raids carried out by the warplanes on the city of Arbeen in Ghouta in Damascus a little while ago.'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressing and graphic images (including a decapitated child) following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic images from the aftermath of an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–8 children1–2 women)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2362

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Location

الجاير , Al-Jaber/Al-Jayer/Albu Jabir , Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.033926, 41.0987592 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six or seven civilians (six of whom were named by local media) died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Jaber, according to sources on the ground.

Different reports named the location of the event as either Al-Jaber, Al-Jayer or Albu Jabir, however, it’s Airwars’ understanding that these names all signify the same place, and that the name written slightly differently due to the accent spoken.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently put the death toll as high as seven.

Raqqa rwb added that one of the fatalities was an unidentified woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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]