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

RS1528

Incident date

November 5, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were killed, including a female child, and more than 15 civilians were injured, from airstrike shelling on Al Atarib city. Local media reported that cluster bombs struck a popular local market, which resulted in many civilians being trapped under the rubble. The airstrikes came during a unilateral truce declared by Russia and were part of a concerted effort to bombard the western countryside of Aleppo during the battle of Aleppo.

Sources were contested as to who was responsible for the airstrikes, with the majority identifying Russian planes as the culprits.

The head of the rural sector of the western civil defence in Aleppo, Mohamed Halaq, and various other local sources, including Smart News and Al Jazeera, attributed the airstrikes to Russian raids.

However, @Arakan_News blamed the Syrian regime for carrying out the airstrikes.

Images published by Smart News showed the damage to infrastructure, including buildings and roads, with some covered in blood from the victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nada Mostafa Al Sayyed
7 years old female named by Syrian Network for Human Rights killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Nada Al Sayyed, aged 7, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, 5th November 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)
  • Fires being extinguished in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)
  • Fires being extinguished in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 5th November 2016. (via Smart News)

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1637

Incident date

November 19, 2016

Location

الصاخور, al-Sakhour, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that several civilians were killed and injured following Russia or Assad regime airstrikes targeting the city of al-Sakhour, Aleppo.

Sources did not provide detailed information about the victims, and most sources merely referred to ‘several’ or ‘numbers’ of killed and wounded.

However, several reports mentioned that the city had been struck by chlorine gas, leading to suffocating. For instance, @aboalhodaalhoms said that there were “a number of cases of suffocation among civilians following helicopters dropping explosives containing chlorine poison gas in the Al Sakhour district.” Barrels bombs are known to be used by the regime, meaning that its involvement in this event can’t be ruled out.

Additionally, at least three sources reported the use of cluster bombs in the attack.

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, Syrian Regime

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

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

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
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2044

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

حقل شاعر النفطي, Sha'er oil field, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.896111, 37.945 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed, including a child, and four others were injured in airstrikes against the Sha’er oil field in eastern Homs, local media reported. The civilians that were injured were transferred to a hospital in the nearby village of Hamadi Omar in eastern Hama.

According to Smart News Agency, the airstrikes were likely carried out by Russian warplanes. However, only one source reported on the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2208

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

الطيبة, al-Tayba, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.08895, 38.91597 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Smart News Agency reported that warplanes, likely to be Russian, carried out air raids “on the vicinity of the village of Taybeh (…), killing two civilians, wounding three others, in addition to the death of livestock.”

Currently, no further information is available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2387

Incident date

August 15, 2017

Location

السخنة, Sokhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that “Russian warplanes launched several raids targeting the vicinity of the city of Sukhna and # Hamaima rural Homs east, resulting in casualties and material in the ranks of the # organisation of the state.”

There were no specific numbers reported, or any other details at this time.

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
    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
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between August 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2592

Incident date

October 4, 2017

Location

معبر مائي بين الميادين, Water Crossing linking al Mayadeen and Dhiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and a woman were killed, and as many as 15 more civilians were wounded, following airstrikes on the water-crossing linking al Mayadeen and Dhiban. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged strikes, however Aawsat News blamed the Syrian regime. 

According to a local source, @Zahra_Jaber, Russian ‘Caliber’ missiles struck the vicinity, with as many as ten raids. 

A single source, @ahraralmyadein, alleged that a hospital was struck with cluster bombs. 

According to sources, Russian and US-led Coalition aircraft bombed multiple water crossings in the vicinity on the 4th, killing between 100 and 150 civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

As'ad al-Awad al-Hammadi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • As'ad al-Awad al-Hammadi, killed by alleged Russian warplanes by bombing at the Water Crossing linking al Mayadeen and Dhiban, 4th October 2017. (via Soukhna Deira Heli)

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2468

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

الطوب , Al Toub, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.1739486, 40.3728676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in air raids on the village of Al Toub, local sources reported.

Jisir TV attributed the deaths to Russian warplanes, however, Syrian air strikes and snipers were reported in the area by Smart News Agency.

No other details are currently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2640

Incident date

October 15, 2017

Location

الطيبة, Al-Taybah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.08831, 38.914261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two sources reported that death of a man and his wife as a result of Russian airstrike. Both sources published exactly the same post: “The death of Khalifa Ali al-Azzawi / Abu Kawan and his wife as a result of the bombing of Russian airliners to their home and [they are] still under the rubble.” The sources were carbon copies of one another, effectively making this a single-source event.

There are no more details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalifa Ali al-Azzawi / Abu Kawan
Adult male killed
Wife of Khalifa Ali al-Azzawi / Abu Kawan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]