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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
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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
Official source

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
Official source

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]

Incident Code

RS1391

Incident date

October 3, 2016

Location

الحيدرية, Al Haidariya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2372814, 37.1923256 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians including a child died and four more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s al-Haidariya neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground.

Most sources reported the death of one civilian, who according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was an unidentified child.

The twitter account SheroAlo1 said that two people had died.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the strike – by suspected Russian warplanes – “targeted the bakery in Haidariya and destroyed it”.

The majority of sources blamed Russia, though the Step News Agency attributed the event to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

  • Aftermath showing damage to the local buildings in Al Haidariya. (via Alshaheda)
  • Aftermath showing damage to the local buildings in Al Haidariya. (via Alshaheda)
  • Aftermath showing damage to the local buildings in Al Haidariya. (via Shahba)
  • Aftermath showing damage to the local buildings in Al Haidariya. (via Shahba)

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.

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 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS1590

Incident date

November 15, 2016

Location

قرية المكرمية, Al Makramia , Homs , Syria

Geolocation

34.8671039, 36.7795765 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported warplanes struck in the villages of Mukramiya and Talbisa in northern Homs, resulting in the death of two children. All sources attributed the attack to Russia or “warplanes”.

Alaraby blamed Russia for the attack and put the death toll at two – both children. The source also alleged a number of wounded.

Syria News Desk provided the most information, stating “a girl was killed and other civilians injured today [Nov 15th] after Russian warplanes conducted two raids on the village of al Makramia which is under the control of the opposition. The raids caused widespread destruction to houses and other property”. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (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”.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1798

Incident date

December 28, 2016

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 or two civilians, including a man, were killed, and others were injured, including children, in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma. Sources are conflicted as to who was responsible, with some blaming Syrian regime and others Russia. 

According to one source, three missiles were launched on Douma. A different source claims there were four raids.

Sources suggest that it was residential homes which were struck in the raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ibrahim Al Hablana
Adult male killed

Summary

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

  • Mohammad Ibrahim Al Hablana, killed in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 28th December 2016. (via @SN4HR)

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.”

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 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]

Incident Code

RS1837

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

دكيلة, Dakila, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.176972, 37.383642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and a girl were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Dakila. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid. There are no reports of wounded civilians.

There are no other details at this time.

The incident occured during the day.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

RS2033

Incident date

March 26, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamneh, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The town of al-Latamneh, Hama, was reportedly exposed to chlorine gas attacks which killed two civilians. There were also claims that dozens more civilian were wounded through suffocation. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Orient News reported that helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime had carried out chlorine gas attacks on al-Latamneh for the third time in less than two days, and that the attack suffocated dozens, both civilians and opposition members. It is unknown r if any of the cases of suffocation led to deaths among those affected.

Syrian Mirror, who did not identify the culprit, mentioned that cluster bombs had been used in the attacks, which reportedly struck civilian houses.

Two civilians were reportedly killed in the attack. Smart News Agency, said that the chlorine attack that had targeted “Latamna Surgical Hospital”, killed two civilians, including a doctor. However, Orient News said that the doctor was killed the previous day, March 25th, in a similar attack.

The number of wounded varied among the sources. Smart News Agency said that four people were seriously wounded while al-Modon News said the number ran into “dozens”.

While most sources pointed blame to the Syrian regime, Smarts News Agency and al-Hadath identified Russia as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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]

  • Footage showing the destruction of the local hospital caused by contested airstrikes in Al Latamneh, Hama, March 26th, 2017 (via al-Hadath Center)
  • Footage of the moment Latamneh, Hama was struck by either Russia or Assad-waged airstrikes on March 26th, 2917 (via al-Hadath 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 March 1st - 31st 2017.

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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

RS2143

Incident date

April 18, 2017

Location

دارة عزة , Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilian including women and children were wounded in as many as ten alleged Russian airstrikes on Darat Izza, according to sources on the ground.

EduRights Foundation said that a school was struck. It reported: “This morning [April 18th], a school in the city of Dara Azza in the countryside of western Aleppo was subjected to air raids by Russian planes, which led to the injury of a number of children and their families. The school suffered great destruction and was put out of service.”

According to Ali Alsaeed, there were 10 Russian strikes, resulting in “several martyrs and wounded”.

The White Helmets said that alleged Russian “raids left seven wounded, all women and children, in addition to extensive destruction in the bombarded areas.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The moments an alleged Russian strike hit Darat Izza, April 18th 2017.
  • Ruins of a school in Darat Izza, allegedly struck by Russian warplanes, April 18th 2017 (via EduRights Foundation)
  • Ruins of a school in Darat Izza, allegedly struck by Russian warplanes, April 18th 2017 (via EduRights Foundation)
  • Ruins of a school in Darat Izza, allegedly struck by Russian warplanes, April 18th 2017 (via EduRights Foundation)
  • Ruins of a school in Darat Izza, allegedly struck by Russian warplanes, April 18th 2017 (via EduRights Foundation)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Izza, Apruil 18th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Izza, Apruil 18th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Izza, Apruil 18th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Izza, Apruil 18th (via White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]