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

RS745

Incident date

March 30, 2016

Location

المرج, Marj, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.4941662, 36.4698029 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported that two civilians died in alleged Russian raids on Marj, eastern Ghouta.

Baladi and All4Syria also said there had been “warplane raids” on Marj, but that there had been no reports of deaths or injuries. Neither said who had carried out the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ 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.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS842

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

الشيخ خضر, Sheikh Khudar (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2219801, 37.1749448 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died in an air or artillery strike on Sheikh Khudar, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia was repsonsible or the Syrian regime.

The Shaam News Network, reported on alleged Russian raids with warplanes and helicopters across Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. It said that this coincided with “violent artillery shelling“, killing one civilian in the Sheikh Khudar neighborhood.

SRG_Syria blamed Russia, putting the death toll at two with one other civilian wounded.

Alaraby reported:“According to local sources in Aleppo, a helicopter belonging to the Syrian regime threw two explosive barrel devices before noon on a street in the Sheikh Khader neighborhood, east of the city, resulting in material damage, and the occurrence of injuries among the civilian residents of the neighborhood.”

Zaman-Alwsl also said barrel bombs had been dropped, but didn’t identify the culprit.

According to Asmasy_1, “Warplanes and helicopters target Shikh Khudur, Qadi Askar, Bustan Al-Qasir in Aleppo by explosive barrels.”

Aawsat blamed Russian and regime warplanes and said that one civilian died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (9) [ 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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1313

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

مقلة, Muqla, banks of Euphrates, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.797703, 39.497702 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on boats on the Euphrates river near the village of Makla, according to local media – though it was unclear whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame for the casualties.

According to Sound and Picture, “Coalition aircraft targeted civilian boats along the banks of the Euphrates, causing civilian injuries from the village of Makla, east of Raqqa. Coalition aircraft had dropped leaflets calling upon civilians to leave areas under the control of Daesh.”

However, Baladi reported that raids had been conducted by both Coalition and Russian jets on the Euphrates River, killing and wounding an unspecified number of civilians in Makla.

The incident was first reported on August 1, 2017 at 1:30 pm by @Raqqa24.

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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted civilian boats on the Euphrates, near the village of Makla (مقلة), which is located on the river banks. The coordinates for the village of Makla (مقلة) are: 35.797703, 39.497702  

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 Makla, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV450611
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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
Official source

For August 1st-2nd: “Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two ISIS headquarters, an IED, an ammunition cache, and a fuel supply point.” It additionally added that “On Aug. 1, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two ammunition caches, and a VBIED factory; and damaged a fighting position.” And that “On Aug. 1, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units, destroyed two staging areas and an ISIS headquarters; and damaged a VBIED factory.”

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R3869b

Incident date

August 30, 2019

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6155094, 36.5471898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and others were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime shelling of Kafar Nabil, according to local media.

Macro Media Center (MMC) blamed Russian and Syrian regime forces for the shelling, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) attributed blame to the Syrian regime forces alone.

SN4HR identified one civilian, while Shaam News put the total death toll at two civilians. MMC added that others were injured.

A tweet from @mohanadalshekh named one of the civilians killed: Wagdy Ahmad Al-Musas Al-Hamid, a young man. The source also reported that surface-to-surface missiles were used.

According to @Josef40629350, “very large amounts of destruction and fires in the city of Kafranbel due to targeting the city with high explosive [Smerch] missiles” and @kefranbil reported on rocket launchers.

An image of a burning car was posted by @abuhuzaifa_ and a video was posted by @AyhamSteif, which identified “inside this car, a man is burning in the city of Kafr Nabl.”

A tweet from @IdlibPlus also identified residential neighborhoods as being struck by the missiles.

Sources were contested as to whether the regime or Russia were responsible, with @MasarPressNet identifying Russia and @HalabTodayTV attributing the strikes to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wajdi Ahmad al Hamido
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Wajdi Ahmad al Hamido was alleged killed by a Russian or Syrian airstrike on Kafar Nabil on August 31st (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Image of Wagdy Ahmed Al-Hamidou "Wajdi Al-Suwas", a civilian killed in airstrikes on Kafr Nabil on August 30, 2019. (Image posted by KafarNabil via Facebook)

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

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

Incident Code

RS1535

Incident date

November 6, 2016

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.958429, 36.711587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two children died and up to 14 more civilians were wounded in airstrikes launched against Binnish town in Idlib, according to multiple sources on the ground. However, one source, Step News, reported that there were no civilian casualties in this incident.

The airstrikes reportedly struck a neighborhood of civilian homes. Both cluster and phosphorous bombs were reportedly used. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the airstrikes but the majority of sources attributed blame to Russian forces.

Syrianpc and @ShahbaPress were among those to identify Russian warplanes as the source of the airstrikes. However, according to Local Coordination Committee Syria, Syrian, regime warplanes were to blame for the bombings.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–14
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Binnish (بنش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.958429, 36.711587. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–14
  • 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

RS1695

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

باب النيرب , Bab al Nairab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed in alleged Russia or Assad regime air or artillery strikes on the Bab al Nairab neighborhood in Aleppo, sources on the ground reported.

According to Smart News, both regime and Russian airplanes carried out airstrikes in the area. The source didn’t identify who was responsible for the strikes against the Bab al Nairab neighborhood.

However, other local sources gave conflicting reports of who to blame, with @AksalserNews and @AleppoAMC identifying regime planes while Halab News listed Russian planes as the culprit.

The names of the civilians killed in the airstrikes were not yet identified by Halab News.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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]

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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

RS1789

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

كفر يحمول, Kafr Yahmoul, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.058952, 36.697254 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as two civilians were killed, and three others were wounded, in an airstrike which struck Kafr Yahmoul, Idlib, local media reported. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged raid, with some others not attributing any blame for the airstrikes, and simply reporting on warplane bombing. 

According to some sources, the victim was a female child; she was also named and a graphic image of her was published.

Other sources, however, reported a woman was killed.

@AleppoAMC reported that rockets struck the vicinity. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Raghd Shahoud
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Raghd Shahoud, killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Yahmoul, 12th December 2016. (via @Mendeshor)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Yahmoul (كفر يحمول), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.058952, 36.697254. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1791a

Incident date

December 14, 2016

Location

الزبدية, Al Zibdiya, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.187222, 37.134167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were reported as killed and wounded following an alleged air and artillery strike in Al Zibdiya, Aleppo. Two sources blamed Russian warplanes, whereas all others remained impartial.

Step News Agency reported “Russian warplanes targeted with cluster bombs and missiles the Aleppo neighbourhoods of Al Zabadia, al Mashad, Salahudin, al Sukkari, Saif al Dawla, which led to the fall of dead and injured.”

All other sources reported a general “massacre” in Al Zibdiya.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (4) [ 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 December 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]