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

CS802 RS2230

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Location

مزرعة القادسية, Al Qadissiya, Ar Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.945833, 38.981667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as three civilians died in an airstrike on Al Qadissiya village – including one adult male – according to local sources. There were reports of multiple strikes on the village. The allegations were against both the Coalition and Russian warplanes. A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

Only one source – RFSMedaioffice – reported that there was an unspecific number of wounded.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “warplanes believed to belong to the Coalition carried out more than 18 strikes on places in the outskirts of al-Raqqah city and al-Jisr area and other areas in the village of al-Boasi and the farm of Qadisiyah in the western countryside of al-Raqqah.”

However, according to @ThwarAlraqqa, Russia carried out more than 12 raids on the village.

@Sour_News, amongst others, reported that the vicinity was a farm. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

30 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The countryside in Qadisiya where alleged Coalition airstrikes took place on May 11th 2017. (via @saad_alsabr)
  • Aboud al-Khalif al-Hamid, killed in a airstrike on Al Qadissiya farm, 11th May 2017. (via RBSS)
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 Al Qadissiya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV192819
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 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 May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, three fighting positions, an ISIS barge, a VBIED factory, a weapons storage facility; and damaged two ISIS supply routes.” It later added that “Additionally, 13 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 10th that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, a command and control node, a supply cache, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, and a vehicle.”
For May 11th-12th. “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.” It later added that “Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria on May 11th that closed within the last 24 hours…. Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two VBIEDs, a fighting position, a weapons cache, a vehicle; and damaged two ISIS supply routes and a bridge.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Thursday 11 May – Typhoons attacked three targets in eastern Syria, as well as a truck-bomb factory north-west of Raqqa. Tornados also struck six times in Mosul…On Thursday 11 May, a pair of Typhoons, armed with Paveway IVs, destroyed a truck-bomb staging area some fifteen miles north-west of Raqqa, while another pair supported the SDF in eastern Syria, hitting a mortar team and two Daesh-held buildings near Al Ulwah. The same day, two flights of Tornados patrolled over Mosul, using Brimstone missiles against two Daesh positions very close to Iraqi troops. A further Paveway IV eliminated a mortar in a courtyard, and three more Paveways cratered roads along which Daesh might have tried to move truck-bombs along.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2227

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

سمومة, Samouma, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.933019, 38.094621 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 11 and 14 civilians were killed – from two families – and others were wounded, following an airstrike on Samouma, Aleppo, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the strikes. Some sources attributed blame to the Syrian regime, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however most blamed Russia.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights specified that the Syrian regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the vicinity. Local journalist, Ahmad al Shibli, however reported Russian warplanes were responsible.

Sources reported that the victims were from the family of Abdel Wahab Al-Ahmad and the family of Abdul Aziz Jassim Al-Mahmoud, as well as two other young people – according to Step News.

The bombing consisted of seven raids, and destroyed as many as five houses.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Abdel Aziz Jassem al Mahmoud
55 years old male killed
Marwa al Mahmoud
16 years old female killed
Da’aa al Mahmoud
14 years old female killed
Louay al Mahmoud
12 years old male killed
Tarek al Mahmoud
9 years old male killed

Family members (7)

Zahra al Makiz
Age unknown female killed
Haifaa al Mahmoud
16 years old female killed
Bara’a al Mahmoud
14 years old female killed
Hiba
6 years old female killed
Buthaina
6 years old female killed
Hanan
4 years old female killed
Manal
3 years old female killed

The victims were named as:

Zakour Mustapha al Midhi
37 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 14
  • (6–10 children1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The list of casualties in the aftermath of the airstrike on Samouma, 10th May 2017. (via Ahmad al Shibli)

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 specific strikes between May 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
    11 – 14
  • (6–10 children1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2228

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

دير الزور, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and five people died – indulging one adult male – following an airstrike on Dier Ezzor. Others were also wounded, however there were no specific numbers reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some attributed blame to the Syrian regime, however most blamed Russia.

DeirEzzor24 was the only source to report that five civilians were killed when a warplane struck a civilian home. They did however identify the named victim in conjunction with other sources. 

Sources mentioned that “he is the third brother of two martyrs killed before -Karim and Mohammad.” However, this was likely not in this raid. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Subhi Hassan al-Kardoush, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dier Ezzor, 10th May 2017. (via Mahmoud Haj Kassem)
  • Subhi Hassan al-Kardoush, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dier Ezzor, 10th May 2017. (via Free Dier Ezzor)
  • Subhi Hassan al-Kardoush, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dier Ezzor, 10th May 2017. (via Shaheed.DeirEzZoar.Syria1)

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 specific strikes between May 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
    1 – 5
  • (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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2226

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

شعيب الذكر, Shua'ib Al Zikr, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.800735, 38.267642

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that Russian warplanes allegedly targeted Shua’ib Al Zikr with cluster bombs, killing five civilians and injuring nine. According to Smart, the vicinity was under the control of ISIS.

There are no other details at this time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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 specific strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2222

Incident date

May 9, 2017

Location

اللاطوم, Al Latoum, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.018056, 38.891111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and nine civilians were killed, and “dozens” were wounded, following an airstrike in Al Latoum, according to local media. Sources all attributed blame to Russian warplanes, with the exception of the Syrian Network for Human Rights who blamed the “Syrian-Russian alliance”.

Sources reported that huge fires broke out and many people became displaced as a result of the raids on the residential area.

The strike reportedly occurred just after midnight.

@SyriaPressorg1reported that both women and children were included in the death toll. VD however, does not name any children. 

Palmyra Media Centre reported that women and children were included in those injured civilians. 

A source tweeted on the 14th of May that five of those killed were all from one family.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (3–8 women1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Text reporting on the five civilians from one family killed on 9th May 2017. (via @Palmyra)

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 specific strikes between April 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
    5 – 9
  • (3–8 women1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2223

Incident date

May 9, 2017

Location

العريضي, Al A'ridi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

36.182825, 37.926156 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians were killed, and others were wounded, following an airstrike on the residential neighbourhood of Al A’ridi, local media reported. Sources all agreed that Russian warplanes were to blame for the raids.

According to @Huthaifamu94, this was the third massacre which had occurred in Deir Ezzor on the 9th of May 2017. 

Although the Violations Documentation Centre named three adult males and one adult female, many sources also named three children.

Smart news reported that the vicinity was under control of ISIS.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saad al-Mofti
Adult male killed
Layth al-Laji
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Ali
Adult male killed
Wife of Ahmad al-Ali
Adult female killed
Reem al-Abdullah
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3 children1–3 women3 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ 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 specific strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3 children1–3 women3 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2224

Incident date

May 9, 2017

Location

حي الحميدية, Hamidiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One adult male and as many as five children was killed, in airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Hamidiya. Up to four civilians were also wounded. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some attributing blame to Russia, while others blamed the Syrain regime.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the people killed were “former fighters”. SO4HR was the only source to make this claim.

Syria News Desk said that the Syrian regime targeted “a four-storey residential building”, causing it to collapse almost entirely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male from al Mari’aa town killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (4–5 children1 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 (10) [ 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 specific strikes between May 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
    1 – 6
  • (4–5 children1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2221

Incident date

May 9, 2017

Location

رسم الفالح, Rasim Al Faleh, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.155278, 37.796111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 32 civilians were killed – including women and children – and dozens were injured, in an airstrike on Rasim Al Faleh, Aleppo, according to local media. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for he raids.

Sources were conflicted as to how many civilians were killed in the strikes. Almost all sources reported that 16 civilians were killed in the strikes – Zaman al wasl specified that half of them were women. Smart reported that only three civilians were killed – including one child. Step reported the lowest figure, suggesting that two civilians were killed in the strikes. VDC however named 17 civilian casualties, and a local source, Maskana, named 24. Overall however, 32 caulties are named spread across all sources. 

Sources were in agreement that a car was targeted on the road leading out from Rasim Al Faleh, carrying civilians who were fleeing clashes. An image published shows a truck upturned on the side of the road.

Some sources reported that civilians housing was targeted too, causing huge fires to break out. Zaman al wasl reported that Atira school was partially damaged too.

Some of the dead were unidentified, however named as from the same family.

One source named the car a Honda, the other Hyundai.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

male killed
Child female killed
Child female killed

Family members (3)

Adult female killed

Family members (3)

Family members (4)

The victims were named as:

Age unknown killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child female killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Child male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown unknown number killed
Age unknown lost his leg injured
Adult female injured
Adult female killed
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 32
  • (11–13 children3–13 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Rasim Al Faleh, 9th May 2017. (via Ahmad al Shibli)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Rasim Al Faleh, 9th May 2017. (via Ahmad al Shibli)
  • The car in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Rasim Al Faleh, 9th May 2017. (via Al Sharqiya voice)
  • Ahmad Kareem, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Rasim Al Faleh, 9th May 2017. (via VDC)

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 specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 32
  • (11–13 children3–13 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]