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
Country
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Incident Code

RS2205

Incident date

May 1, 2017

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

Three civilians, a baby girl, her mother and a boy, were killed and dozens more civilians were wounded as Hamuriya, Damascus, was hit by airstrikes, local media reported. Though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Most sources reported the death of three civilians, namely a four-year-old baby girl, her mother and a 14-year old boy. Photos of the baby girls were published along with the reports.

The number of wounded spanned among the reports from two to “dozens”, while many reported around ten, including children.  Images were shared on social media of a little girl who was rescued from under the rubble.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights and Al Jazeera blamed the “Syrian-Russian Alliance” while several other sources only blamed the Syrian regime. Others merely referred to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Jumana Al-Assassi
Adult female killed
Sawsan al-Assassi
4 months years old female killed

The victims were named as:

Omar Bakr
14 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sawsan al-Assassi, four months old, was reportedly killed by the airstrikes in Hamouriya, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on May 1st, 2017 (via SN4HR)
  • A child was rescued alive from under the rubble following the airstrikes in Hamouriya, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on May 1st, 2017 (via Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The civil defence rescued a child from under the rubble following the airstrikes in Hamouriya, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on May 1st, 2017 (via Enab Baladi)
  • The civil defence rescued a child from under the rubble following the airstrikes in Hamouriya, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on May 1st, 2017 (via al-Jazeera)
  • Destruction caused by the contested attack in Hamouriya, Damascus, May 1st 2017 (via @msallam19)
  • A baby was killed by the airstrikes in Hamouriya, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on May 1st, 2017 (via @nabeelAljamaey)
  • Sawsan al-Assassi, four months old, was reportedly killed as Assad or Russian-waged airstrikes struck the city of Hamouriya, Damascus, May 1st, 2017 (via Barzeh94)

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2204

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were killed and up to 15 more were wounded as airstrikes, allegedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, struck Saqba, Damascus, local media reported.

While LCCSY said that two civilians were killed in the attack, the majority of sources reported  four victims and SaqbaCoordinating1234 identified all four civilian victims by name.

One of the victims, Munir Bashir Abdel-Ala’l, was furthermore identified by his cousin Abou Hamza Abd Al Aa’l who published a photo of him on Facebook.

The number of wounded spanned from two to 15, the highest reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Many sources said that children and women were among the wounded.

While most sources attributed blame to Russia – such as LCCSY who also said that cluster munitions were used in the targeting – the incident remains contested.

AleppoAMC and Al Jazeera  identified the Syrian regime as the culprit while the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed blame to both parties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Suleiman Abu Haitham
Age unknown male killed
Munir Bashir Abdel-Ala’l
Adult male killed
Abu Ghassan
Age unknown male from Haran Al-Awamid killed
Asmu Anwar Abu Alaa
Age unknown male from the town of Ghashula killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The moment Saqba, Damascus is hit by alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on May 1st, 2017 (via DMC)
  • Photos showing the destruction caused by alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Sagba, Damascus, May 1st, 2017 (via @SiegeWatch)
  • Mounir Bashir Abd Al A’al was reportedly killed by the airstrikes on Sagba, Damascus, May 1st 2017 (via Abou Hamza Abd Al Aa’l)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2209D

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

اوتايا, Otaya, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.524241, 36.455908 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were left wounded following air or artillery strikes  in Otaya, Eastern Ghouta, allegedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, local media reported.

@damv011 reported that there had been “a number of wounded” in the strike(s), while several sources said that the raid injured a civilian defence officer.

According to @ameraldmashqi,  “an artillery shell targeted the town of Otaya in the area of Al-Marj, causing a minor injury to a civilian defence officer while they [the civilian defence] was searching the area”

While one source, @damv011, attributed blame to the Syrian regime, Al Jazeera pointed to both Russia and the Syrian regime as the responsible. The remaining sources did not identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The moment the contested air raid hits Otaya, Eastern Ghouta, May 1st, 2017 (via Syrian civil defense center in Al Ghouta)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2209C

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

مسراب, Masraba, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Al Jazeera reported that joint Russian and Assad regime forces carried out aerial shelling in Masraba, Eastern Ghouta, possibly wounding several civilians.

According to Al Jazeera, there were several casualties and “dozens” of wounded across several incidents around Eastern Ghouta on May 1st, but it gave no specific casualty figures for Masraba.

Currently, no further information is available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2209B

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shelling allegedly carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in Harasta, Eastern Ghouta, wounded several civilians, local media reported.

Without identifying the responsible party, @mohamad_alshaar reported that the use of mortars injured civilians

Al-Jazeera reported that joint Russian and regime-shelling had been carried out in several areas in Eastern Ghouta, killing several civilians, mostly women and children, and wounding “dozens” more. However, there were no specific reports of casualties in Harasta.

While @RevoZamalka and Smart News attributed blame to the Syrian regime, al-Jazeera identified both the Syrian regime and Russia as the responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (4) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2209A

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

كفربطنا , Kafar Batna, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russia or Syria warplanes carried out air raids in Kafar Batna, Eastern Ghouta, wounding several civilians, local media reported.

Enab Baladi reported through the civil defence that “three guided missile strikes and a cluster missile targeted the towns of Kafar Batna and Saqba in conjunction with the bombing of the town of Hamuriya, which led to the injury of dozens of civilians”.

Specifically reporting from Kafar Batna, sources reported “a number” of wounded civilians.

While most sources did not identify the culprit, several blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia; among these were al-Jazeera and @MHDYASEEN4.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A child rescued from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Kafar Batna, Eastern Ghouta, May 1st, 2017 (via @Um_Zed_homs)
  • A child rescued from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Kafar Batna, Eastern Ghouta, May 1st, 2017 (via Jobar)
  • Destruction of Kafar Batna, Eastern Ghouta, following the contested airstrikes on May 1st, 2017 (via Jabar)
  • Rescuing team is recusing civilians from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Kafar Batna, Eastern Ghouta, May 1st, 2017 (via Jobar)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2208

Incident date

May 1, 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, Smart News Agency reported that warplanes, likely to be Russian, carried out air raids “on the vicinity of the village of Taybeh (…), killing two civilians, wounding three others, in addition to the death of livestock.”

Currently, no further information is 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

RS2207A

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

جبل ابو الظهور , Abo Al Zohour mountain, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738569, 37.048087 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Smart News Agency reported that airstrikes, likely to be Russian, hit the mountain of Abu al Dhouhour in Idlib, wounding six civilians, including children and women.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]