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

RS842

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

الشيخ خضر, Sheikh Khudar (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2219801, 37.1749448 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died in an air or artillery strike on Sheikh Khudar, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia was repsonsible or the Syrian regime.

The Shaam News Network, reported on alleged Russian raids with warplanes and helicopters across Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. It said that this coincided with “violent artillery shelling“, killing one civilian in the Sheikh Khudar neighborhood.

SRG_Syria blamed Russia, putting the death toll at two with one other civilian wounded.

Alaraby reported:“According to local sources in Aleppo, a helicopter belonging to the Syrian regime threw two explosive barrel devices before noon on a street in the Sheikh Khader neighborhood, east of the city, resulting in material damage, and the occurrence of injuries among the civilian residents of the neighborhood.”

Zaman-Alwsl also said barrel bombs had been dropped, but didn’t identify the culprit.

According to Asmasy_1, “Warplanes and helicopters target Shikh Khudur, Qadi Askar, Bustan Al-Qasir in Aleppo by explosive barrels.”

Aawsat blamed Russian and regime warplanes and said that one civilian died.

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
    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]

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 June 1st – 31st 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
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1313

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

مقلة, Muqla, banks of Euphrates, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.797703, 39.497702 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on boats on the Euphrates river near the village of Makla, according to local media – though it was unclear whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame for the casualties.

According to Sound and Picture, “Coalition aircraft targeted civilian boats along the banks of the Euphrates, causing civilian injuries from the village of Makla, east of Raqqa. Coalition aircraft had dropped leaflets calling upon civilians to leave areas under the control of Daesh.”

However, Baladi reported that raids had been conducted by both Coalition and Russian jets on the Euphrates River, killing and wounding an unspecified number of civilians in Makla.

The incident was first reported on August 1, 2017 at 1:30 pm by @Raqqa24.

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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted civilian boats on the Euphrates, near the village of Makla (مقلة), which is located on the river banks. The coordinates for the village of Makla (مقلة) are: 35.797703, 39.497702  

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 Makla, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV450611
    Military Grid Reference System

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
Official source

For August 1st-2nd: “Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two ISIS headquarters, an IED, an ammunition cache, and a fuel supply point.” It additionally added that “On Aug. 1, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two ammunition caches, and a VBIED factory; and damaged a fighting position.” And that “On Aug. 1, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units, destroyed two staging areas and an ISIS headquarters; and damaged a VBIED factory.”

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R3869b

Incident date

August 30, 2019

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6155094, 36.5471898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and others were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime shelling of Kafar Nabil, according to local media.

Macro Media Center (MMC) blamed Russian and Syrian regime forces for the shelling, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) attributed blame to the Syrian regime forces alone.

SN4HR identified one civilian, while Shaam News put the total death toll at two civilians. MMC added that others were injured.

A tweet from @mohanadalshekh named one of the civilians killed: Wagdy Ahmad Al-Musas Al-Hamid, a young man. The source also reported that surface-to-surface missiles were used.

According to @Josef40629350, “very large amounts of destruction and fires in the city of Kafranbel due to targeting the city with high explosive [Smerch] missiles” and @kefranbil reported on rocket launchers.

An image of a burning car was posted by @abuhuzaifa_ and a video was posted by @AyhamSteif, which identified “inside this car, a man is burning in the city of Kafr Nabl.”

A tweet from @IdlibPlus also identified residential neighborhoods as being struck by the missiles.

Sources were contested as to whether the regime or Russia were responsible, with @MasarPressNet identifying Russia and @HalabTodayTV attributing the strikes to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wajdi Ahmad al Hamido
Age unknown 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
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Wajdi Ahmad al Hamido was alleged killed by a Russian or Syrian airstrike on Kafar Nabil on August 31st (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Image of Wagdy Ahmed Al-Hamidou "Wajdi Al-Suwas", a civilian killed in airstrikes on Kafr Nabil on August 30, 2019. (Image posted by KafarNabil via Facebook)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1964

Incident date

March 12, 2017

Location

درعا, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.900000, 36.200000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult males were killed in an alleged airstrike on Dara’a, local media reported. Only one source, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, blamed the Syrian regime for the raid whilst the others all blamed Russian warplanes.

One of the men killed was a doctor. He was known as the “father of the martyrs” as in August 2014, an alleged Syrian regime raid killed all members of his family in a strike on Basra al-Hariri. Enabbaladi reported that “the doctor joined the ranks of the Syrian revolution since the early days and worked with a group of doctors in the ambulance caring for wounded demonstrators.”

Additionally it was reported that he participated in more than one battle, including the “Southern Storm”, and was injured during the Battle of the “Alotin” in Al-Khadr Hill in July 2014, the battle that coincided with the killing of his sons.

A media activist, who was covering the fighting in the neighbourhood, was also killed in the raid.

There were no reports of wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Hassan Hariri
Adult male killed
Mohamed Abazid, nicknamed George Samara
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    People grieve over the body of Dr. Hassan Hariri, after he was killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via , Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office)
  • Dr. Hassan Hariri, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via Smo-sy)
  • Dr. Hassan Hariri, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via Enabbaladi)
  • Dr. Hassan Hariri and Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via @stefmhameed)
  • Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via LCCSY)
  • Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via SN4HR)
  • Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via Homs 24 news)

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 March 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
  • (2 men)
  • 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

RS2127

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

various locations, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian air raids, some of them with phosphorous bombs targeted the towns of Khan_shikhun, #Tremala, #Kafarsgana, and #Serja, south of Idlib, with reports of casualties.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The moment an alleged Russia raid struck Idlib, April 14th (via Hussein Alzeidi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2045

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

معرة النعمان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6477913, 36.6591881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and between five and six others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the city of Maarat al Numan in the Idlib countryside. The majority of local sources only reported injuries while Syrian Mirror reported that there were also deaths of civilians from the airstrikes. The injured civilians were rescued from the rubble by civil defense teams and transported to local medical points.

The consensus among local sources that identified responsibility, including @angelinazoom and Syrian Network for Human Rights, was that Russian planes were to blame for carrying out the airstrikes.

According to Syrian Mirror, the airstrikes were composed of both rockets and cluster bombs and caused the destruction of houses and shops. Images of the remnants of the cluster bombs were posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights and Smart News Agency.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Hndawi
Age unknown male injured
Mohamed Chardoub
Age unknown injured
Hazem Othman
Age unknown injured
Mohammed Sarkabi
Age unknown injured
Anas Samahi
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Remnants of cluster bombs from airstrikes against Maarat al Numan on March 30th, 2017 (via Smart News Agency)
  • Image of the destruction of a building caused by airstrikes against Maarat al Numan on March 30th, 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre Facebook)
  • Remnants of cluster bombs from airstrikes against Maarat al Numan on March 30th, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2386

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Location

ابو شهري, Abo Shahri, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and son were killed in airstrikes on Abo Shahri and the countryside in the surrounding vicinity. There were no reports of wounded civilians. 

All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes.

According to Baladi “Russian aircraft and aircraft launched intensive raids, targeting the town (Ma’adan) with rockets and explosive bombs, as well as targeting the eastern countryside about 100 air strikes.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Qais al-Khalaf al-Harami
Adult male father killed
Tamim Qais al-Harami
male son killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 August 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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

RS2693

Incident date

November 6, 2017

Location

رسم الحمام, Rasim Al-Hamam, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.41304, 37.15712 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A girl was killed and others were injured in airstrikes on Rasim Al-Hamam. Sources all blamed Russia.

RFS Media Office reported that “Russian warplanes and the air force launched a series of intensive air raids on the eastern villages of Hama, targeting the villages of “Al-Balil, Um Treika, Al-Harjan, Jab Al-Safa, Tal Al-Halawa, Qasr bin Wardan, Hawayes,Rasim Al hamam  East Hama, which led to the martyrdom of a girl in the village of Tal Halawa.”

Another source reported that reported that “a Russian air raid on the town of  Rasim al Hamam in the eastern countryside  of Hama and civilian deaths and injuries”.

Civil Defence Hama said that two civilians were injured and civilian homes were damaged.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Moments after the airstrike in Hama, 6th Nov 2017. (via Civil Defence Hama)

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
  • (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 (7) [ collapse]