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

R2475

Incident date

October 12, 2017

Location

صبيخان, Sabikhan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.85305, 40.59987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between nine and 16 civilians, possibly including a child and women, were killed and as many as “dozens” more were left wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes striking in Sabikhan, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

@olay6663 reported that the village had been subject to “intensive raids since early morning,” and most sources reported that the raids had caused the death of nine civilians, while several put the death toll as high as 12 or 16.

Also, Jsirtv described how “16 civilians, including a whole family, were killed by two air raids by the Russian occupation forces in the town of Sabikhan and the river crossing in the village of Abbas.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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]

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 October 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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

RS2632

Incident date

October 12, 2017

Location

ذيبان, Dhiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0108763, 40.5045318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including one woman, were killed and several more were wounded, following an airstrike and/or artillery attack on Dhiban, Deir Ezzor, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were to blame.

While some sources reported the death of two civilians, several sources reported a total death of four fatalities – one woman and three men – all identified by name.

Reports were, however, conflicted in terms of what caused the civilian harm, reporting about both airstrikes and artillery shelling.

Like most sources, Amjad Al Sari, for example, reported that “Russian aviation targeted the town of Dhiban with several air raids focused on the municipality building and a bakery, which led to the rise of civilian martyrs and the fall of a number of wounded.”

Meanwhile, sources like The Syrian Network for Human Rights apportioned blame to “Syrian regime artillery.”

Finally, others attributed blame to warplanes belonging to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aziz al-Kashmeh
Adult male killed
Ali Ibraheem al-Sayed
Adult male killed
Nour Abd al-Rahman
Adult female killed
Ahmad al-Aeraj
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ 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 October 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 woman3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2633

Incident date

October 12, 2017

Location

الحجر الاسود, Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.464114, 36.302391 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were killed and as many as 12, including women and children, were wounded, following airstrikes in al-Hajr al-Aswad neighbourhood south of Damascus, local sources reported. While most sources blamed the Assad regime there were also allegations against Russia.

Zaman al-Wasl’s correspondent said that the airstrikes killed a whole family, in addition to wounding a number of civilians and causing extensive destruction of property, buildings and shops.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that there had been “at least five civilian victims”, while others reported  “several” civilian fatalities. Reportedly, the victims belonged to the same family.

Additionally, up to 12 civilians were reportedly left wounded, the highest number given by the Smart News Agency. The director of the Media Office of the Civil defence in Damascus, Adam Khatib, told Smart News that four children and five women were among these.

The neighbourhood, which was reportedly controlled by ISIS at the time, was hit by up to 16 airstrikes, local media said, who also added that it was the first time in more than a year that the area was subject to airstrikes.

For example, the activist Mohammed Kassem told 7al that “the regime’s forces suddenly stepped on the area that was in a truce-like situation (…) and that they carried out more than 12 air strikes without distinguishing between military points of ISIS or residential areas.”

The large majority of the reports attributed blame to the Syrian regime.
However, @BassamJaara identified Russia as the culprit while the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that both the Assad regime and Russia were to blame.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the contested air raids striking in the al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood south of Damascus, October 13th, 2017 (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Footage of the contested air raids striking in the al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood south of Damascus, October 13th, 2017 (via Orient News)

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 October 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 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2634

Incident date

October 14, 2017

Location

البوليل, al-Bouleil, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian brothers were reportedly killed and several other civilians wounded as alleged Russian warplanes struck al-Bouleil village east of Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

The two victims were identified by name and photos by multiple sources, who all agreed that Russia was responsible.

Abu Ayman al-Ali, an activist from the eastern village of Deir al-Zour, told 7al that Russian warplanes “carried out more than ten raids on civilian houses in the village of al-Bouleil, killing civilians and injuring two others.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Thiab Saadi al-Bashir
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Saadi al-Bashir.
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Thiab Saadi al-Bashir was along with his brother killed by alleged Russian airstrikes in al-Bouleil, Deir Ezzor, October 13th, 2017 (via Abo Ali Al Direfi)
  • Ibrahim Saadi al-Bashir was along with his brother killed by alleged Russian airstrikes in al-Bouleil, Deir Ezzor, October 13th, 2017 (via Abo Ali Al Direfi)
  • Thiab Saadi al-Bashir was along with his brother killed by alleged Russian airstrikes in al-Bouleil, Deir Ezzor, October 13th, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)
  • Ibrahim Saadi al-Bashir was along with his brother killed by alleged Russian airstrikes in al-Bouleil, Deir Ezzor, October 13th, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)

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 October 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS2635

Incident date

October 14, 2017

Location

بقرص, Baqras, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.090833, 40.398056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes and/or artillery shelling killed one civilian man, local media reported, as the town of Baqras, Deir Ezzor, was subject to attack, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

While several sources reported the death of one man identified by name, reports were conflicted in terms of who and what caused his death.

While Sharqiya Voice blamed “warplanes”, Zaman al-Wasl pointed to “Russian warplanes.”

Meanwhile, two sources, Aldarpost and Marsad al Hassaka, attributed blame to “artillery shelling of the regime.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Hassan al-Hanif
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 October 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
    1
  • 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

RS2636

Incident date

October 14, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Idlib Media Center reported that several civilians were left wounded after alleged Russian warplanes had struck the city of Khan Sheikhoun with C8 missiles in the afternoon of October 14th, 2017.

Currently, there are no further details.

 

The incident occured in the afternoon.

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 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 October 1st - 31st 2017.

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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2637

Incident date

October 14, 2017

Location

كفرومة, Kafrouma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6347489, 36.6258001 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As alleged Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes against a rebel-held headquarters in Kafrouma, Idlib, several civilians were left wounded, local media reported.

Aawsat news cited Syrian activists who said that a Russian aircraft hit the headquarters of the “Faylaq Al Sham” of the Free Syrian Army, killing and wounding dozens in their ranks. This reporting was echoed by several media.

Few sources added that the incident also had caused civilian harm. Al-Latamna Youth, for instance, reported that “civilians were wounded by Russian air strikes on the town of Kafroma in the southern suburb of Idlib.”

All sources agreed that Russia was 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
    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 (1) [ collapse]

  • The moment the alleged Russian airstrikes hit Kafrouma, Idlib, on October 14th, 2017 (via @SyrianCoalition)

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 October 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2639

Incident date

October 15, 2017

Location

السعلو, Sa'lo, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.141173, 40.363297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a missile strike which allegedly hit a school in Sa’lo, between five and 11 civilians were killed, and ten civilians were injured, local media reported. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged strikes, with only one source, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), blaming unspecified airstrikes. 

Despite sources giving nine as the highest number of civilian deaths reported, there were 11 named civilian casualties from various sources, suggesting highs of 11 civilian deaths. Four of these were men, two women and two children.

Only one source specified how many people were injured, with most saying “some” or “others” were wounded. However, UNOCHA  reported that ten civilians were thought to have been injured. 

According to local media, the school was housing internally displaced people, most of them women and children. However, one source alleged that a school teacher was also killed in the raid, suggesting therefore that the building was possibly still used as a school.  

Euphrates Post announced that the town was “completely free of Daesh” when the vicinity was struck. 

Two sources reported that a “phosphorous bombardment” occurred.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mr Mohammed Al-Jassim
60 years old male killed
The wife of Mohammed al-Jassem
Adult female killed
Mohamed El Ghannam El Mulla
Age unknown male killed
Haidar al-Razzaq
40 years old killed
Mr. Farah Al-Saeed
Adult male killed
Farhoud Al Musleh Al-Jasim
40 years old male killed
Sulaiman Al-Houran
Adult male a pharmacist killed
Daughter of Obeid al Daif 1
Child female killed
Daughter of Obeid al Daif 2
Age unknown female killed
The wife of Saleh Al Obeid
Adult female killed
Nasra al-Bakhit
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • (1–2 children2–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Ghannam Al Mulla, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sa'lo, 15th October 2017. (via Euphrates post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • (1–2 children2–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]