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

RS2657

Incident date

October 24, 2017

Location

بياعية الدناش, Baya'eyat Al-Danash, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.699826, 37.117739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed, and between one and five other civilians were injured, following airstrikes on Baya’eyat Al-Danash, Aleppo, local media reported. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes, however one local source did not attribute blame to any belligerent.

Initial reporting suggested that two women were injured and a child was killed. But other sources were unspecific on numbers, reporting there were “several casualties among the civilians”, suggesting both dead and wounded.

SDF Aleppo published images reporting that “The Civil Defence team went to the scene and recovered the wounded from the rubble and brought them to the medical points.”

Step News specified that the Russian warplanes “targeted” the vicinity “after midnight with rocket rockets”.

The following day on the 25th, the Smart News Agency said that there were as many as five wounded civilians from this casualty event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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]

  • Members of the Civil Defence pulling a family of wounded civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on their home, Baya'eyat Al-Danash, 24th October 2017/ (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Members of the Civil Defence pulling a family of wounded civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on their home, Baya'eyat Al-Danash, 24th October 2017/ (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Members of the Civil Defence pulling a family of wounded civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on their home, Baya'eyat Al-Danash, 24th October 2017/ (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Members of the Civil Defence pulling a family of wounded civilians from the rubble following an airstrike on their home, Baya'eyat Al-Danash, 24th October 2017/ (via SCD Aleppo)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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

RS2658

Incident date

October 25, 2017

Location

مخيم الفكة, Al-Fakka camp, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.700000, 36.700000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were wounded following alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Fakka camp, local media said. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes.

There were no reports of civilians deaths.

Images showed material damage to tents and property.

One local source, Syrian Reporter, said that the strikes were “intensive and continuous” – and blamed Russian occupation aircraft, which it said had “targeted all the towns and villages of the eastern Hama and southern Aleppo” as well as the camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Al-Fakka camp, 25th October 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

RS2659

Incident date

October 27, 2017

Location

الصبحة, Sabha, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2970537, 40.2363968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A brother and sister were killed, alongside two others, in an airstrike on Sabha, according to sources on the ground. Only one source placed the blame on Russia (Syrian Network for Human Rights), while the other sources blamed “shelling”, without attributing blame.

DeirEzzor24 reported that the victims were struck and killed “during their displacement to the dessert”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the highest death toll to be four, despite only three named victims. It added that the “Russian warplanes fired missiles on al Sabha village in Deir Ez-Zour”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Bader Khalaf Terekhim
Age unknown male killed
Sister of Bader Khalaf Terekhim
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Kassar Al Hasshas
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2660

Incident date

October 28, 2017

Location

سنجار, Sanjar, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.590091, 37.004896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and son were both killed in a raid which struck their home in Sanjar, completely destroying it, according to local media. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes, which allegedly occurred between midnight and 5am.

Images published show a dead girl as well as a dead boy. Additionally, one source reported that a daughter was killed, alongside her father, whereas others reported a son was killed. It is possible therefore that three civilians were killed in this strike.

According to Jisrtv, “The raids targeted a residential house in the centre of the town.” Edlib-emc added that the shelling included the use of Russian rocket-propelled grenades.

Images published show the flattened structure which was once the family home. Other members of the family were also reportedly injured in the strike, including a child. That child was rushed to a nearby medical point, according to local media reports.

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Awad Al-Eid
Adult male killed
Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Eid
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via Edlib-emc )
  • The aftermath of the airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via Edlib-emc )
  • The aftermath of the airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via Ebaa News Agency)
  • The aftermath of the airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via Ebaa News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child's body being pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of an airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammed Awad Al-Eid, killed in an an airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via Jabe Owayed)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Eid, killed in an an airstrike on a family home in Sanjar, 28th October 2017. (via Jabe Owayed)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2661

Incident date

October 28, 2017

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.466049, 40.907593 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly man was reportedly killed following an airstrike on Abu Kamal at noon on October 28th. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Most blamed Russian warplanes, however some did not attribute blame, while Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the Syrian regime was responsible.

The strike reportedly “targeted the perimeter of the mosque Abdul Rahman in the city of Albuqmal.”

There were no reports of any injured civilians.

Although there was some initial confusion as to the date of the strike, Syrian Network for Human Rights confirmed it was on the 28th rather than the 29th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haj Mhaidi al Zgheir (Abu Mohammed)
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Haj Mhaidi al Zgheir (Abu Mohammed), killed in an airstrike on Abu Kamal, 28th October 2017. (via @EuphatesPost)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2662

Incident date

October 29, 2017

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and ten civilians were killed – including two children, a woman and two men, and “dozens” more were injured, following airstrikes on Hamidiya. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Most blamed Russian warplanes, however one blamed the Syrian regime, and another reported that Russian and “other planes” bombed the vicinity.

The bombing was described by local media as resulting in a “massacre”, which allegedly occurred after midnight on the early hours of the 30th, however Airwars cannot be sure on the precise date of the strike.

DeirEzzor24 reported that “Russia and other planes committed a horrific massacre on Sunday in the city of Deir Ezzor, in which seven martyrs were killed and dozens were wounded.” Additionally, it reported that “the warplane launched two missile attacks on the neighbourhood” and that “the number of martyrs is expected to increase, because of the presence of civilians under the rubble, after the collapse of a building in the neighbourhood”.

According to sources, there was a severe shortage in medical supplies in the vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Khalid Al-Dahim
Adult male Nicknamed (Saddam Al Dahim) killed
Yousef Al-Hadid
Age unknown male (Abu Mamdouh) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (2 children1 woman1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Saddam Khalid al-Dahim, killed in an airstrike on Hamidiya, 29th October 2017. (via @EuphratesPost)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Hamidiya, 29th October 2017. (via DeirEzzor24)
  • Hussein Khaled al Daheim, killed in an airstrike on Hamidiya, 29th October 2017. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (2 children1 woman1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2664

Incident date

October 30, 2017

Location

الطيانة, Tayaneh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.993798, 40.548059 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the village of Al Tayana with more than 6 raids, resulting in the death of a man and several civilian casualties and damage to property.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

CS1652 RS2663

Incident date

October 30, 2017

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa town, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.516166, 40.951635 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of up to six civilians died in airstrikes on Al Soussa town, according to local media. While most sources said that Russia was to blame, two alleged that the Coalition was responsible. One other source pointed towards the Syrian regime.

The majority of sources (Al Latamna Youth Gathering, Al Jisr, Baladi, Eldorar, Step News Agency, the Shaam News Network, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Rozana) attributed the event to Russia.

According to Marsad al Sharqiya, “the bombing focused on Al Soussa police station, the home of Ibrahim Al Mohsen and the farm of Jassim al-Fares, and the raids led to the martyrdom of a displaced family who lived in the police station.”

However, Zaki al Houkan, who appears to be an activist living in Germany, claimed that the warplane “likely belonged to the International Coalition”, alleging that it struck at “01:30 today”.

Al Hall also blamed the Coalition, reporting that “‘Coalition raids targeted several areas of the towns of (Al Sukkariya, Al Bagouz and Al Suwayyah), with most of the raids focusing on the village of al Soussa, killing a whole family of six people and injuring others,’ said Faisal al-Sayed, a resident of Albu Kamal city”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it could not tell whether the planes responsible belonged to Russia or the Coalition.

SMO was alone in alleging that the regime carried out several strikes, killing a displaced family.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilian housing which was allegedly targeted by either Coalition or Russian warplanes. 30th October 2017. (via Euphrates)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Soussa (السوسة), for which the coordinates are: 34.528889, 40.9675. Satellite imagery available to Airwars from Oct. 13,  2017, shows structural damage to a building in the area, for which the coordinates are: 34.516166, 40.951635.

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 al-Soussa, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 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 October 30th-31st: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroying a vehicle and an ISIS headquarters. Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units.“

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]