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

RS858

Incident date

June 5, 2016

Location

الموحسن, Muhassan, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2257487, 40.3109038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network reported that several civilians had been killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mohassan in Deir ez-Zor.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “warplanes” had carried out raids in the area, but neither identified them nor provided casualty figures.

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 (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 strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS890

Incident date

June 11, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child were killed and other civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Kalassa, according to local sources.

LCCSY and Qasioun were among sources blaming Russia for the death of a child.

According to Baladi, two civilians died and four were wounded – it also attributed the incident to Moscow.

Other sources put the death toll at two but didn’t identify the culprit of the raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Mohamed Al-Raai
9 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (39) [ 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 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1237 RS2353

Incident date

July 19, 2017

Location

قرية الجبلي, Al Jabli, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.791111, 39.319722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian male and a female were killed following airstrikes in the Al Jabli village in Raqqa governorate. However, it was contested as to who was responsible, with some sources blaming Russia, while others blamed the US-led Coalition.

Al Sabkha reported on the “martyrdom of the sister Khadija Yousef Al-Hamoud Al-Akla was resident in her uncle’s house and minor wounds to the rest of the family”.

One source, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), claimed that Russian warplanes were responsible, whereas the Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that the Coalition was to blame.

Three further sources also alleged that Russia was responsible, however their reports were carbon copies of the RBSS report and therefore the allegations are effectively single sourced.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (9) [ collapse]

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Jabli, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 19th-20th: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, a supply cache, and a tunnel; and suppressed a mortar team.” It additionally reported that “On July 19, near Raqqah, Syria, 19 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units; destroyed 34 fighting positions, two IEDs, and a VBIED; and damaged four fighting positions and a mortar position.” And also that “On July 19, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes destroyed two ISIS fighting positions and a storage facility and suppressed a mortar system.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Wednesday 19 July – Tornados destroyed an explosives warehouse in northern Iraq, whilst Typhoons and Tornados struck a command post and defensive position in Raqqa…Update: air strikes against Daesh – GOV.UK In northern Iraq, intelligence had identified a warehouse near Hawijah in which large quantities of homemade explosives were being stored by Daesh. A flight of RAF Tornados attacked the building with two Paveway IV guided bombs, and demolished it on Wednesday 19 July. A mixed pair of one Tornado and one Typhoon meanwhile provided close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting to clear the terrorists from Raqqa. A coalition surveillance aircraft identified a Daesh defensive position, and our aircraft conducted a successful attack with a Brimstone missile. A terrorist command post was also identified within the city, and this was struck with two Paveway IVs.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3245

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

كفر زيتا, Kafar Zeita, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, an unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zeita Specialist Hospital for women and children, Kafar Zeita.

@SHHAMA2012 tweeted: “The Russian air force bombed the Kafr Zeita Specialist Hospital directly with incendiary, concussion and explosive rockets, destroying the women’s and children’s section, ruining the walls of the hospital and causing serious damage to the equipment”. However it said that there were no injuries and that the hospital was not put out of service.

But the Shaam news Agency reported that “there were a number of wounded civilians”.

However, other sources said that the hospiral was put out of service or “destroyed”. Photographs show significant destruction and the collapse of entire walls.

The Smart News agency noted five Russian strikes, including the use of cluster bombs.

 

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on Kafar Zeita, 12th March 2018. (via @SHHAMA2012)
  • The aftermath of air and artillery strikes on Kafar Zeita, 12th March 2018. (via @SHHAMA2012)

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 status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3253

Incident date

March 13, 2018

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52034, 36.36494 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians – a man and a woman, both named – were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes, and an unspecified number more were injured, local media reported.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “The areas of the town of Haza have been hit by a renewed bombardment of the regime forces by 10 shells, which affected areas, causing material damage, without information about casualties.”

Despite, this, all others sources reported that there were two fatalities as a result of the raid, including Violations Documentation Centre, who named the victims, blaming warplane shelling by the “Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Abu Alkheer kheer noted that the victim Abd al-Rahman Ali Arafeh was his brother. He added that his aunt was also killed.He also noted that Abd al-Rahman Ali Arafeh was “the third among his brothers, and that his mother was killed by the bombardment of his house in al-Ghouta East”.

Sana Kasem published a post on Facebook saying that “my dear brother ‘s daughter, Ayat Husam Kasim, was taken prisoner by the army. The brutal regime caused a house to fall on her head. She was 20-years-old”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
20 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abd al-Rahman Ali Arafeh, killed in airstrikes on Hazza, 13th March 2018. (via Abu Alkheer kheer)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abd al-Rahman Ali Arafeh, killed in airstrikes on Hazza, 13th March 2018. (via Abu Alkheer kheer)

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4045

Incident date

August 18, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians were reported killed, and others injured, in airstrikes on Al Hamidiah in Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, on August 18th.

Shaam News documented “two martyrs killed in Maarat al-Nu’man”, while other sources cited one civilian killed in the incident.

@IdlibPlus tweeted “a civilian martyr and a number of injuries were reported as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the outskirts of Ma’rat Al-Nu`man city in the southern countryside of Idlib with airstrikes.”

Syrian Human Rights Committee identified one of the civilians killed as Abdul Qadir Mahmoud Al-Asfar.

Smart News also reported “many wounded” and @ufuk_sy tweeted that there were “wounded in the bombing of the Russian occupier’s warplanes.”

The majority of sources attributed the attack to Russian forces but @ZaitunAgency attributed the strikes to Russia in one tweet and the regime in another tweet.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caotion Translation: "Civilians wounded due to warplanes shelling with vacuum missiles residential neighborhoods of Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city in Southern Idlib countryside" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Abdul Qadir al-Asfar was killed in airstrikes on Al Hamidiah in Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, on August 18th.
    Abdul Qadir al-Asfar

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1164

Incident date

August 18, 2016

Location

الحميدية, Hamidia, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an unspecified number of civilian deaths in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hamida, Sinaa and Kanamat in Deir Ezzor.

According to LCCSY, “The Russian aviation raided a gas station near Dawar Al-Halabiah and Al-Orwa gas station in the town of Al-Ginenah, while another raid struck the town of Ayyash in the western countryside. Hamidiya, Sinaa, and Kanamat neighborhoods in the city also suffered similar raids which resulted in rising the number of martyrs.”

Other reports aid there had been strikes in the area but made no mention of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

On August 18th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 tactical bombers took off from airbases on the territories of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran and carried out a group air strike on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the Deir ez-Zor province. As a result, the strikes have eliminated 5 large depots with armament, munitions and fuel, 6 control centres, a large number of militants, artillery positions and armoured hardware of terrorists."

Summary

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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1229

Incident date

September 6, 2016

Location

الصالحين, Al Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two members of the civil defense were killed and up to five other civilians were wounded in a raid on Al Salheen, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to the Smart News Network, “regime Helicopters targeted Al-Salheen with explosive barrels and wounded three people. When the civil defense team came to rescue the wounded, the helicopters struck again and killed three civil defense members.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that the regime was responsible.

But Syria News Desk blamed Russia, reporting that “three civilians were killed and five others injured following two raids launched by Russian planes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasan Hanan
Adult male killed
Ihsan Dalati
Adult male ambulance driver killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'Hasan Hanan and Ihsan Al Dalati, civil defense members in Bab Al Nayrab center, died in government warplanes missiles fired on Al Saleheen neighborhood in Aleppo city as they were aiding the injured of previous shelling, September 6, 2016.'
  • The two White Helmets killed in alleged Russian strikes were buried by team members and local people (via AMC)

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 September 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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]