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

RS153

Incident date

November 15, 2015

Location

الميسر, Myassar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1943476, 37.2082043 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed – an uncle and nephew – and two or more people injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the  Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo.

Local media activist Hassan al Ahmad posted an image of the dead boy with the comment: “This is how Syria’s children are being killed as if their blood is cheap. A child martyr died today in al Mayssar neighbourhood in Aleppo by the treacherous Russian planes.” The boy’s image was later used in a tweet relating to civilians allegedly killed in Raqqa.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the child killed in al mayssar neighbourhood in Aleppo

Geolocation notes (1) [ 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 published no details of its Syria airstrikes for the period November 13th-16th 2015 inclusive.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2891

Incident date

January 12, 2018

Location

التمانعة, Taman'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were reported killed and wounded by airstrikes in Taman’a. Sources mostly blamed Russian warplanes, however, Shaam reported that both Russia and the Syrian regime were to blame for the strikes.

The aerial bombardment, which consisted of rockets and cluster bombs, also struck cities and towns of “Tumana, Khan Shaykhoun, Jirjnaz and Jisr al-Shughur”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3015

Incident date

February 11, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Assad or Russian-waged shelling of Arbeen, eastern Ghouta Damascus, both from the ground and air, killed at least one child and one woman, and wounded several others, local media reported.

Damascus Media Center reported that 15 airstrikes and five ground-to-ground missiles had struck Arbeen since the morning, targeting residential neighbourhoods. Orient News also reported the use of the same type of surface-to-ground missiles.

Several reports mentioned that the shelling had caused civilian harm. Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that shelling hit a range of towns in eastern Ghouta, including Arbeen, resulting in “martyrs and wounded”.

Specifically, one child was reported killed by the Civil Defence. Additionally, a tweet  Om Gazy mentioned the death of an unidentified mother.

Several civilians were reportedly left wounded, including the two children of the deceased mother, as reported by Om Gazy.

While the majority of sources identified the Assad regime as the responsible, the incident remains contested, as Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCCSY) attributed blame to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suhaib al-Zaghloul
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The moment Arbeen, Damascus, is being hit by Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes, February 11th, 2018 (via Arbeen Youtube)
  • The body of child Suhaib al-Zaghloul was found after days of digging following the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus on February 11th, 2018 (via Syria Civil Defence)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A two-months-old baby who had his feet amputated following the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus, that reportedly killed his mother and wounded his sister Batul, February 11th, 2018 (via Om Gazy)
  • Aerial shelling of Arbeen, Damascus on February 11th, 2018, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime (via Ghouta Media Center)
  • Glimpses of the destruction caused by the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 11th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS742

Incident date

March 23, 2016

Location

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5112138, 36.3881891 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in an airstrike on Hasreen, eastern Ghouta, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

According to the Shaam News Network, the raids were “launched by a Russian Sikhoi 24“.

The network reported: “Activists said the shelling today focused on the towns of Bala and Zibdeen and Harasta and Jisrain in the Eastern Ghouta which started in the early hours, causing the fall of two martyrs and wounding of several more on the outskirts of the town of Hasreen. There was also destruction of residential property which coincided with the ongoing attempts by Assad’s forces to progress in the region.” Allser7 also said Russia was responsible

But other sources blamed the regime, with All4Syria reporting that “two civilians were killed and others were wounded, in violation of a new truce, the cessation of hostilities by the regime forces that targeted cities and towns Ghouta east of Damascus air raids and artillery shells”. Douma Revolution also put the death toll at two, but didn’t identify the waplanes responsible.

 

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
    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

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS806

Incident date

May 24, 2016

Location

Afrin-Darat Azza road, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3402953, 36.8411064 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to reports by the Shaam News Network and multiple other sources, Russian airstrikes targeted the road between Afrin and Darat Azza destroying fuel transport trucks, and killing two drivers and injuring several other civilians in the vicinity. The reports noted that this road was considered to be a “humanitarian corridor” and “one of the most important lifelines in northern Syria“.

Most sources blamed Russia for the raids, or did not identify the warplanes. Syria Mirror said it was the work of the regime.

At present no names of victims have been confirmed. However photographs of a civilian that was killed were made available by @mazenaloush on Twitter and the Syria Mirror. Syria-news has also reported that ten civilians were wounded in the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The truck driver was killed in the air strike
  • The road between Afreen and Darat Ezza, photo courtesy of Zaman Masdar news.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The truck driver who was killed in the air strike
  • An oil truck on fire

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 May 1st – 31st

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3226

Incident date

March 11, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on Hamouriya, local media reported.

Shaam reported that “Russian aircraft, warplanes and helicopters continue to launch heavy air raids with rockets, explosive barrels, cluster bombs, napalm bombs and poisonous gases, in conjunction with the shelling by ‘elephant rockets’ and dozens of missiles on the eastern towns and villages of Ghouta”. The source went on to mention wounded civilians in Hamouriya.

Meanwhile, Local Coordination Committees of Syria said that there were “martyrs and wounded civilians as a result of raids by Russian warplanes on the cities of Zamalka and # Hamouriya and # Kafar Batna in the # Ghouta”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1962

Incident date

March 11, 2017

Location

رسم سبعة, Rasim Saba'a, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.773204, 37.53479 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that a woman and a child were killed following Russian warplane raids. Two civilians were wounded and a heard of 20 sheep were also killed.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1978

Incident date

March 16, 2017

Location

معراته, Ma’arata town, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.709304, 36.477785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that Russia carried out an airstrike on Ma’arata town, leding to an unspecified number of civilian casualties.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian warplanes launched vacuum missiles targeting Ma’arata in western Aleppo causing casualties among civilians.”

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]