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

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

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

RS2206

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

عربين, Arbin, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and up to seven were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Arbin, Damascus, according to sources on the ground.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “a warplane targeted areas in Arbin city in the Eastern Ghouta consecutively with four missiles. This was followed by with 20 rocket shells by the regime forces on areas in the same city, which caused the injury of seven people, some of whom were seriously wounded”.

Additionally, several sources reported that the strikes inflicted great damage on the hospital in Arbin. Accompanying images depicted significant destruction.

Two sources, @HalabTodayTV and @arbeenfreedoom, reported the death of one named civilian man.

The number of wounded spanned from a couple to “dozens”. The Syrian Civil Defence added that women and children were among the wounded.

Sources were unclear as to whether to attribute the incident to Russia, the Syrian regime, or both.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman al-Khadrawi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via Erbenhospital)
  • Aerial shelling of Arbin, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on May 1st, 2017 (via Zamanalwasl)
  • Footage of the immediate, chaotic aftermath in Arbin, Damascus, after residential areas were hit by the contested airstrikes on May 1st, 2017 (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the wounded of the contested airstrikes in Arbin, Damascus, May 1st, 2017 (via @msallam19)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes that struck the local hospital in Arbin, Damascus, on May 1st, 2017 (via @Mamoun_sy)
  • A little girl was among the wounded caused by the contested airstrikes targeting Arbin, Damascus, May 1st, 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ 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

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

RS2207

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

جبل شاعر, Jabal Sha'er, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.924271, 37.954167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian warplanes carried out air raids in Jabal Shaer, a mountain area near Homs, and wounded several civilians, local media reported.

According to @fawaaaa4, Russian airstrikes allegedly hit “the mountains of Shaer and Jazel”. This source who also added that the strikes had hit Beduin communities.

Both sources mentioned that the raids had caused several wounded.

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
    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

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
  • 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

CS759 RS2209

Incident date

April 30, 2017

Location

عويجل, Oweijal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.179537, 36.952987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 16 civilians died and four were injured in an “unexplained” explosion in the village of Oweijal, local media said – though it was unclear whether the Coalition, the Syrian regime or Russia were to blame. Most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the strikes.

An unspecific numbers of civilians were wounded, however it was reported that the number of civilians were likely to rise due to the types of injuries.

According to the Smart News Agency, “the head of the Civil Defence in the western Aleppo countryside, Mohamed Halaq, said that the blast caused the collapse of a three-storey building on Sunday evening, killing 16 civilians, including nine children and four women, in addition to wounding for more, who rushed to a nearby field hospital.

“Halaq pointed out that they could not determine the cause of the explosion, but that it was likely the result of an international coalition raid or a missile explosion from a previous bombardment of the village.”

However, a subsequent report by Smart pointed towards the Assad regime and Russia, saying that “the Civil Defence thinks the explosion could have resulted from the remnants of previous raids by the regime and Russia.”

Radio Allkul blamed a regime surface to surface missile citing Abu al-Leith, the director of the local Civil Defence. Shaam News Network and Baladi also attributed the event to the regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that “information about the reasons of the explosion was conflicted as to whether it was caused by the explosion of an ammunition dump, or by shelling by regime forces using what was believed to be a ground-to-ground missile.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 16
  • (4–9 children4–5 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a victim is pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of an airstrike on Oweijel, 30th April 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Oweijel, 30th April 2017. (via Shaam)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Oweijel, 30th April 2017. (via Halabtoday)
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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has not publicly reported any strikes in Aleppo governorate for April 30th-May 2nd.

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 16
  • (4–9 children4–5 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2202

Incident date

April 30, 2017

Location

السخنة, Al-Sokhna , Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A shepherd died and several other civilians were wounded in the an alleged Russian bombardment on Al-Sokhna in eastern Homs, Step News reported.

It was among several airstrikes that hit the surrounded area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]