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

RS2217

Incident date

May 7, 2017

Location

الكناوية, Al-Kinawiya, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.97626, 37.876725 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians were killed, and others were wounded, following an airstrike which targeted a residential neighbourhood in Al-Kinawiya, Aleppo, according to reports from the ground. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid.

According to sources, women and children were killed. Additionally, a local source, @majd12347651, reported that the civilians were internally displaced persons. 

Homes were reportedly flattened in the raids.

There are no other details at this time.

The incident occured after midnight.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian killed in airstrikes on Al-Kinawiya, 7th May 2017. (via Ahmad al Shibli)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Al-Kinawiya, 7th 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
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2216

Incident date

May 7, 2017

Location

الطيبة, Tayba, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.08895, 38.91597 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that a child and two other civilians were killed, and two members of ISIS were wounded, following an airstrike on Tayba. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2215

Incident date

May 5, 2017

Location

الطيبة, al-Tayba, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.08895, 38.91597 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single source event, an aircraft “likely to be Russian”, carried out airstrikes in the vicinity of al-Taybeh village, Homs, killing two civilians and wounded another three, Smart News Agency reported.

There are currently no further details available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2214

Incident date

May 5, 2017

Location

شنداخيان جنوبي, Shandakhiyat Janoubi, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.770278, 37.392397 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, an alleged Russian airstrike killed four civilians, including one woman, and seriously wounded another three in Shandakhiyat Janoubi, Homs, Smart News Agency reported.

Smart News added that the wounded were taken to hospitals in Deir Ezzor, which at the time was controlled by ISIS.

There are currently no further details available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2213

Incident date

May 3, 2017

Location

زرزور, Zarzour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.95475, 36.340756 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were left wounded following an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Wafa’a Camp, near Zarzur, Idlib, local media reported.

RFS Media Office reported that “three civilians were seriously wounded today [May 3rd], following an air strike carried out by a Russian UAV, targeting “Al-Wafa’a Camp” near the village of Zarzur in the countryside of Idlib, northern Syria.”

An eye witness in the camp told the Syria News Agency that “a drone dropped bombs on the camp near the Turkish border, “causing two injuries.”

Most sources reported that an unmanned aircraft carried out the strike, just as sources did after the event in Darkous (RS2072) on the same day, where an unmanned aircraft reportedly struck the ‘Aleppo 1 Camp’, in the same area.

Only two sources, RFS Media and MasarPressNet, identified the responsible party – and both pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian strike in al-Wafaa Camp in Zarzour, May 3rd, 2017 (via Baladi News)
  • Images associated with the alleged Russian airstrikes in al-Wafaa Camp in Idlib, May 3rd, 2017. However, the source is not clear as to whether the image depicts the aftermath in al-Wafa'a or Aleppo 1 Camp (via @tarikabdaluhak)

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 May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

RS2212

Incident date

May 3, 2017

Location

دركوش, Darkoush, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9916361, 36.3938856 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One girl was killed and up to 24 other civilians were wounded following an incident in a camp for displaced people in Darkoush, Idlib, that was possibly caused by a Russian drone, local media reported.

Several sources reported the death of a nine-year-old girl while the number of wounded varied between five and 24. Moreover, hundreds of tents were set on fire and many were left homeless, local media said.

The incident took place in the so-called ‘Aleppo 1 Camp’, west of Darkoush, Idlib, near the Turkish border.

While most sources pointed to an unidentified unmanned aircraft, one source, Orient News, reported that a fire broke out in the camp, causing a plane to crash, which only increased the fire.

Syria News Desk likewise reported that the head of the Al-Bunyan camp, Abdul Jabbar Khalil, told the media that “a gas jar exploded in one of the camps for displaced persons near the city of Drakoush on the border with Turkey known as ‘Aleppo 1 Camp’ – and a huge fire broke out”.

However, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “cross-sources confirmed that the fire broke out due to bombing by planes believed to be unmanned, which targeted the mosque located in the village within a series of camps known as Camps of Osman Ibn Affan’.”

A witness on the ground told Umayyapress that “a remote reconnaissance plane bombed the Jamiliya camp at the beginning, and then the camp (Aleppo 1) was shelled with a gas canister in one of the tents.”

The Shaam News Network was the only source that blamed Russia, reporting: “A Russian reconnaissance plane fired small-scale missiles on the Al-Wafa and Halab 1 camps in Jisr al-Shughur, causing large fires in the camps, burning dozens of tents, Dozens of civilians were wounded and a child was killed”.

It is unclear whether the incident was even caused by a drone or merely a fire on the ground.

The incident occured around dusk.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The contested air raid set many of the camp's tents on fire in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Umayyapress)
  • The contested air raid set many of the camp's tents on fire in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Umayyapress)
  • The contested air raid set many of the camp's tents on fire in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Umayyapress)
  • The contested air raid set many of the camp's tents on fire in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Umayyapress)
  • The contested air raid set many of the camp's tents on fire in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Umayyapress)
  • The contested air raid set many of the camp's tents on fire in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Umayyapress)
  • Aftermath of the destructive air raid in Aleppo 1 camp in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • Immediate aftermath of the destructive air raid in Aleppo 1 camp in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Coordination of Jisr Al Shughur)
  • Aftermath of the destructive air raid in Aleppo 1 camp in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • White Helmets members trying extinguish the fire in the wake of the contested UAV hitting a camp in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Idlib Syria White Helmets)
  • White Helmets members trying extinguish the fire in the wake of the contested UAV hitting a camp in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via Idlib Syria White Helmets)
  • White Helmets members trying extinguish the fire in the wake of the contested UAV hitting a camp in Darkoush, Idlib, May 3rd, 2017 (via SN4HR)

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 May 1st - 31st 2017.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2211

Incident date

May 3, 2017

Location

سوحا, Doha, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.000015, 37.401581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, an alleged Russian air raid killed one woman and wounded another three civilians as it struck the village of Soha, eastern Hama, the Smart News Agency reported.

A local source told Smart News that “the warplanes launched missile attacks on the outskirts of the village of Suha in the peaceful area (30 km east of the city of Hama), which led to the death of women and injury to  other civilians – moderate and critical injuries. The wounded were transferred to a hospital in the areas under  control of the Organization [ISIS] in Deir al-Zour.”

There is no further information currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2210

Incident date

May 2, 2017

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'arat Al-Nu'man, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A remnant from a cluster bomb, allegedly Russian, killed one man and wounded another civilian when it exploded in Maarat al-Nu’man, Idlib, local media reported.

All known sources agreed that the incident was triggered by a cluster bomb remnant from a previous Russian bombardment. Step News reported that the civilian harm was caused “after the explosion of a cluster bomb remnant from a previous Russian raid on Maarat al-Nu’man in Idlib.”

It is, however, unclear whether the male victim, identified by name, was a civilian or a fighter. Step News referred to him as a civilian while a photo of him carrying a weapon was published on Facebook by Salim Mohammad Sheafi.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Sadeer
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]

  • Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Sadeer was reportedly killed when remnants from a cluster munition exploded in Ma'arat Al-Nu'man, Idlib, May 2nd, 2017. It remains unclear whether he was a fighter or a non-combatant (via Salim Mohammad Sheafi Facebook)

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 May 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]