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

RS1382

Incident date

October 2, 2016

Location

Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including a child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Hraitan outside of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

The illegal use of cluster bombs was mentioned by several media, while all sources identified Russia as the culprit.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Mokhalalati
12 years old male killed
Ahmad Hajj Hassan
20 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Mokhalalati, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian raid. (via, Hamedredwan)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1416

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

Rasim al Eis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.994645, 36.999917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on  Rasum al Eis village in Aleppo, according local media. The strikes also reportedly wounded a number of people, including children.

Most sources put the death toll at one. For example Halab Today said that “one person was martyred and three children were wounded and their houses burned as a result of warplanes shelling with cluster bombs in Rasim Al-Eis”.

But Syrian Press Center – who also blamed Russia – said that two people perished.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (7) [ 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 strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1512

Incident date

October 31, 2016

Location

Al Sheikh Ali, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.09694444, 36.9125 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and up to three more, including children, were wounded in an alleged Russia airstrike on Al Sheikh Ali town, according to sources on the ground.

The White Helmets reported: “Russian warplanes targeted the town of al Sheikh Ali in the western Aleppo countryside with vacuum missiles which led to the death of two people and the serious injury of two children. The civil defence is working on removing the martyrs from under the rubble and tending to the wounded.”

@SRG_Syria put the number of wounded at three.

While several sources named Russia as the culprit, a number didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1760

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

حي السكري , Al Sukkari neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were reportedly killed during an alleged Russian airstrike on the al Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media sources.

Halab News reported that the two unidentified civilians were killed “following Russian enemy raids” on al Sukkari.

Whilst Step News Agency corroborated the fact that there were Russian airstrikes in al Sukkari on this day, they did not explicitly mention any civilian harm in this particular neighbourhood. They did, however, report that 30 civilians died “in the city of Aleppo from Russian aerial bombardment”.

There were no other known sources reporting on the incident in al Sukkari.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

RS2067

Incident date

April 3, 2017

Location

حي جوبر, Jobar neighbourhood, Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528874, 36.337967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an unspecified number of dead and wounded civilians in heavy strikes by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes on Damascus’s Jobar neighbourhood. Reports said that there had been as many as 40 airstrikes within just a few hours

Aljazeera: “Russian and Syrian planes have carried out dozens of raids on the Jubar district and other areas east of Damascus, including the eastern Ghouta, causing deaths and injuries”.

According to Sharf, “The Joubar neighborhood was subjected to a fierce and barbaric campaign by the Russian and Asiad enemy planes, which carried out more than 40 air strikes in a few hours, accompanied by a very heavy artillery and missile attack. This led to the deaths of a number of martyrs and wounded.”

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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Russia warplanes over Damascus' Jobar neighbourhood, April 3rd 2017 (via Jobar Media Centre)

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
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2247

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

More than one civilian was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Akeirbat in eastern Hama, local media reported.

All sources that reported on the incident, including Aljazeera and Step News, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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

RS2249

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

الحريشة, Al Harisha, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.005113, 37.491875 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including two children, were killed and at least three others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Al Harisha in the Eastern Hama countryside, according to local sources. Smart News Agency named Russian planes as those believed to be responsible while other sources did not name a party to blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2704

Incident date

November 8, 2017

Location

القورية, Al-Qourya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.96, 40.55 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and son were killed following an airstrike on the river crossing at Al-Qourya. Members of their family were also allegedly injured in the strike. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible.

Euphrates Post blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes, however Smart News Agency reported that the Syrian regime was culpable for the civilian harm.

Some sources say their home was also damaged in the raid, so it can be assumed they lived near the river crossing.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yassin Ali al-Jassem
Adult male father killed
Omar Yasin al Jasem al Malali
Child male son killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Yassin Ali al-Jassim, killed in airstrikes on Al-Qourya, 8th Nov 2017. (via Mhamadahmade)
  • Yassin Ali al-Jassim, killed in airstrikes on Al-Qourya, 8th Nov 2017. (via Omar Omar)

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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (15) [ collapse]