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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Russian Military
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Incident Code

RS2691

Incident date

November 6, 2017

Location

البويطة, Buweita, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.316029, 36.694937 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and a child were killed in airstrikes on village of Al-Bawiyyatah in the town of Tal Al-Daman. Sources all attributed the blame to Moscow.

Sources are conflicted as to whether the child was male or female – VDC amongst others reporting the child was female – while others reported the child was male.

Members of the Civil Defence teams recovered their bodies from under the rubble. An  ambulance was also damaged by the shelling, according to Hasanalwai.

Smart News Agency specified that “10 civilians were injured and transferred to Hospitals in the area”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child killed in the bombing of Buweita, 6th Nov 2017. (via Hasanalwai)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Moments after the bombing of Buweita, 6th Nov 2017. (via SCD Aleppo)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The death of a child due to bombing in Buweita, 6th Nov 2017. (via SCD Aleppo)

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 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

RS2777

Incident date

December 1, 2017

Location

الجلاء, Jala'a, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.632043, 40.830081 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians were killed, including a 12-year-old girl, due to “barbaric shelling” in the town of Jala’a, local media reported. Only one source blamed Russia, while the others blamed “unknown” warplanes.

While there were no reports of any wounded civilians, local media did report the destruction of several houses and a medical compound.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

The daughter of Mahmoud al-Assaf
12 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2825

Incident date

December 29, 2017

Location

الخوين, Al Khwain, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.478114, 36.83559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in air and artillery strikes on Al Khwain, according to reports from the ground. Local sources either attributed the blame to the Syrian regime or to Russia.

The only civilian harm allegation is from Step News Agency who reported that “The Russian and Syrian air raids targeted today, the towns of “Al Taman’a  and Khwain and Tahtaya” and the city of “Ma’arat al-Nu’man” in the southern countryside, killing five civilians and wounding others”. It does not specify where they died.

Other local media reported “heavy shelling of land-to-land missiles” and the use of cluster bombs.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2479

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

الصهرية, al Sahariya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.482252, 36.429291 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a woman and her daughter, were killed and at least two others, children, were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the village of al Sahariya in the northern Hama countryside, according to local sources.

Reporters Without Borders said that the airstrikes caused the destruction of a house and the victims of the airstrikes were a mother and daughter from the same family. Civil defense teams rushed in to help the victims following the airstrikes.

Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes. While the majority of sources, including Al Araby News and Radio Al Kul, blamed Russian planes for carrying out the airstrikes, Smart News identified the regime as responsible.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “a girl and her mother, IDPs from Rasm al Awabed village in Hama governorate eastern suburbs, killed in Syrian-Russian Alliance warplanes missiles fired on al Sehriya village in Hama governorate northwestern suburbs, September 20, 2017.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

RS080

Incident date

October 27, 2015

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Media activist Jummah Al Ahmad was one of two civilians killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan, according to reports. According to the White Helmets “A mosque was totally destroyed and two civil defence team members injured in Hayyan centre, Ali Hayek and Ahmad Sarraj” in the attack.

A second victim was later named by VDC as Mohammad Yehya Seraj.

In its obituary of Juma al Ahmad (who had died shortly after the airstrike of his injuries), Shabha Press Agency wrote: “He died from wounds sustained by the bombing of the Russian occupation planes on Hayan City on Tuesday evening, during his media work. Abu Noor was born in 1981, he is married and has four children, and worked with the agency Shahba Press since the beginning of its founding year 2013, and covered many of the battles and massacres committed by the Assad regime in Syria.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jummah Al Ahmad
Adult male Media activist killed
Mohammad Yehya Seraj
Adult male killed
Ali Hayek
Adult male civil defence member injured
Ahmad Sarraj
Adult male civil defence member injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • A mosque at Hayyan said to have been badly damaged in a Russian airstrike (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of bombing Hayyan (via White Helmets)
  • two civil defence team members were injured in Hayyan centre ((via White Helmets)
  • Juma Al Ahmad, media activist born in Hayan town in 1981. (via SNHR)
  • Jummah Al Ahmad (via VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Yehya Seraj (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Aleppo governorate on October 27th-28th 2015: “For 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 71 combat sorties engaging 118 terrorist objects in the Idlib, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Damascus and Lattakia provinces…

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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS177

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadeen, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.01982, 40.45154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Violations Documentation Center one adult male civilian and one woman or girl were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Mayadeen.

Local media activist Hussein al Ahmad reported that “One of them targeted Al Quds mosque in the town which led to its destruction.” Photos show a severely damaged building.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manhal al-Badawi
Adult male named by VDC killed
Areej al-Najem
Adult female named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (0–1 children0–1 women1 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • A picture of the aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on Mayadeen, Nov 20th (via Syria 24)
  • The body of a man killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mayadeen Nov 20th (via All4Syria)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mayadeen, Nov 2oth (via All 4 Syria)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (0–1 children0–1 women1 man)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS3730

Incident date

May 28, 2019

Location

خان العسل, Khan Al Assal, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and others injured in a Russian airstrike on the town of Khan Al Assal countryside, West Aleppo on May 28th, 2019.

Some of the local sources said that airstrike targeted a mosque there. @NagiNajjar tweeted “two martyrs, after an airstrike that targeted a mosque in the town of Khan Al-Asal in the western countryside of Aleppo.”

Blame was attributed to both Russian forces and the Syrian regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Images of areas in Khan Al-Assal targeted with alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on May 28th, 2019 (via @Tania_Tania_C).
  • Images of areas in Khan Al-Assal targeted with alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on May 28th, 2019 (via @Tania_Tania_C).
  • Images of areas in Khan Al-Assal targeted with alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on May 28th, 2019 (via @Tania_Tania_C).

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
    1 – 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3752

Incident date

June 2, 2019

Location

الزكاة, Al Zakat, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including a woman were reported killed and another woman injured in artillery shelling or airstrikes on Al-Zakat in Hama on June 2nd, 2019.

Shaam News reported the death of two civilians in airstrikes on Al Zakat, Hama, June 2nd.

The two victims were identified as Dia’a Muhammad Al-Essi and Asia Al-Saleh. The injured woman was identified as Mahasen Al-Kamel. The three civilians belong to the same family.

This source attributed the fatalities to “the Russian Air Force and the Assad Air Force”, and made reference to the use of phosphorous in their account of a number of airstrikes, including the incident in Al Zakat on June 2nd.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Dia'a Muhammad Al-Essi ضياء محمد العيسي
Age unknown male killed
Asia Al-Saleh آسيا الصالح
Age unknown female Wife of Ahmed Mohamed Al-Essa killed
Mahasen Al-Kamel محاسن الكامل
female Wife of Dia'a Muhammad Muhammad Al-Issi

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ 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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]