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

RS2325

Incident date

July 5, 2017

Location

السخنة/ كدير, al-Sokhna/Kadir, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to local media, a family of three – a married couple and their child – was killed by Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes in Homs, though the exact location is unclear among the sources.

Several sources reported the death of the three civilians, a man, a woman and their child, and many identified them by name.

However, while the Violations Documentation Centre (VDC) reported that the family was killed in al-Sokhna in Homs, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) said that the family was killed by warplanes firing missiles on Kadir village, also in Homs.

Most sources pointed to Russia as the culprit, though the incident remains contested as SN4HR attributed blame to the “Syrian-Russian alliance”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mouhammad Basam al-Salibi
Adult male killed
Wife of Mouhammad Basam al-Salibi
Adult female killed
Son of Mouhammad Basam al-Salibi
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mouhammad Basam al-Salibi was reportedly among the victims of the contested airstrikes in al-Sokhna, Homs, July 5th 2017 (via VDC)
  • Mouhammad Basam al-Salibi, his wife and his son - possibly the child on the picture - were among the victims of the contested airstrikes in al-Sokhna, Homs, July 5th 2017 (via VDC)

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 June 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
    3
  • (1 child1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2324

Incident date

July 5, 2017

Location

عقيبرات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes killed one child and wounded several others as the ISIS-held city of Akeirbat, Hama, was hit from the skies, local media reported.

Smart News Agency was the only source reporting about the civilian harm caused by the airstrikes. The media reported; “a child was killed and others were injured in an air strike that is likely to be Russian on a town controlled by the Islamic State, east of Hama city, central Syria”.

Meanwhile, the remaining sources cited the Russian Ministry of Defence, who allegedly announced that type T-95 bombs were launched on July 5th, targeting ISIS-controlled warehouses.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video of the moment three alleged Russian airstrikes are being launched in Akeirbat, Hama, July 5th, 2017 (via RT Arabic)
  • Video of the moment three alleged Russian airstrikes are being launched in Akeirbat, Hama, July 5th, 2017 (via Sputnik Arabic)

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2323

Incident date

July 5, 2017

Location

منزل الواوي في مراط, Wawi house, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.31407, 40.23865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One girl was killed and several other civilians were wounded following an alleged Russian airstrike in Wawi house, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

In this incident, the “al-Wawi home” in Al Saba’a district was reportedly hit, causing the death of one named girl and a number of civilians were left wounded.

Mrat was reportedly struck by warplanes on several locations on July 5th (see for example incident RS2322).

While it was unclear among the sources who carried out the strikes on the other locations in Mrat on July 5th, all known sources who reported about the specific strike in the “al-Wawi home”, attributed blame to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Daughter of Jasem al-Atia
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (3) [ 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 June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2322

Incident date

July 5, 2017

Location

مراط, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.31407, 40.23865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including one or two children, were killed and several were wounded following airstrikes launched by either Russia or the Syrian regime in Mrat, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

Step News Agency reported that the Russian airforce  launched surface-to-surface missiles in multiple locations in Deir Ezzor, including Mrat.

According to Free Deir Ezzor, the strike hit the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque, totally destroying it, killing one girl and wounding her father Mohammad al-Obaid and another civilian.

Many sources echoed Free Deir Ezzor’s reports, reporting the death of two girls. Only one source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that only one girl had been killed and another wounded.

Euphrates Post was the only source to claim that a male civilian had died; he was  identified by name. It was, however, not clear whether if this was associated with the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque incident or with another strike in Mrat on the same day, July 5th (RS2323).

The large majority of the sources attributed blame to Russia. The event, however, remains contested as the Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the Syrian regime as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed al-Obeid
Adult male injured
Daughter of Mohammad al-Obaid
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Son of Mohammed al-Attiyah,
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed al Kamel
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (11) [ 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 June 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
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2321

Incident date

July 4, 2017

Location

ابو دالية, Abu Daliya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.032385, 37.391057 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were left wounded after warplanes belonging to Russia or the Syrian regime carried out airstrikes in Abu Daliya, Hama, local media reported.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that “Syrian- Russian alliance warplanes fired missiles on the mosque of Abu Dali village in Hama governorate eastern suburbs, severely destroying it and rendering it inoperable on July 4, 2017”.

Step News Agency added that the strikes had wounded “several” civilians.

While SN4HR attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime, Al Latamna Youth Group associated only Russia with the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2320

Incident date

July 4, 2017

Location

كنامات, Kinnamat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.332278, 40.156246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that a number of civilians were wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes in Kinnamat neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor.

Besides from the wounded, the incident also inflicted great destruction, Sharqiya Voice reported.

DeirEzzor24 reported the use of rocket-propelled grenades while Sharqiya Voice reported that “bunker-busting missiles” had been used.

All sources attributed blame to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (4) [ 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 June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2319

Incident date

July 4, 2017

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One woman and a child were killed and up to five were left wounded, local media reported, in alleged Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes in Douma, Damascus.

Without identifying a culprit, Enab Baladi reported that four air raids had struck residential areas in Douma, leading to the death one one adult woman and one male child, both identified by name.

Smart News Agency cited the Civil Defense who said that “a child and a woman were killed and other wounded, following raids targeting the city”, adding that activists said that the warplanes were likely to belong to the Syrian regime.

Like the Civil Defence, several sources attributed blame to the Syrian regime. However,  once source, @ahmadalgotany, pointed to Russia as the culprit and the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the warplanes belonged to the “Syrian-Russian alliance”. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Najwa al-Ajweh
Adult female killed
Mohammad Dalwan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images from Douma on July 4th, 2017, during and after the city was hit by airstrikes, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime (via @ahmadalgotany)
  • Footage from the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes in Douma on July 4th, 2017 (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes in Douma on July 4th, 2017(via @SyrianCoalition)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Mohammed Delwan was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes in Douma on July 4th, 2017 (via SCDrifdimashq)
  • Footage from the immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested airstrikes in Douma on July 4th, 2017 (via Syrian Civil Defense Center)

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 June 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
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

RS2318

Incident date

July 3, 2017

Location

الطابية جزيرة, Tabiya Jazera, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.279167, 40.311111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and another five were wounded as alleged Russian warplanes carried out an air raid on an oil refinery in the village of Tabiya Al-Jazyra, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

All sources reported that the two victims were working at the oil refinery and that the strike was carried out by Russia. For instance, Smart News Agency cited an activist on the ground who said that the “warplanes were likely to be Russian”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (3) [ 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 June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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