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

RS2093

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

اورم الجوز, Orm Al-Jouz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.790833, 36.565833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians were killed, including two women and seven children, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Orm Al-Jouz, according to multiple sources.

All of the known sources attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes or suspected Russian warplanes.

Qasioun News reported that “five raids with rockets and other cluster bombs” were carried out on Orm Al-Jouz. They stated that more than 19 civilians had died and dozens of others were in a critical condition.

Syrian Press Centre, who initially put the death toll at 14, reported that “the Russian warplanes launched several aerial bombardments of civilian houses in the town”

Up to 21 civilians were also wounded in the attack, according to Step News who added that a residential complex in which there was a number of shops was targeted.

Syrian Network for Human Rights detailed that a “RBK-500 cluster munitions incubator carrying ShOAB-0.5 munitions were fired by suspected Russian warplanes on Orm al Jouz town”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Seoud Ahmad Seoud
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Ahmad Seoud
Adult male killed
Nour Ibraheem Habo
Adult female killed
Obada Mohammad Zanklo
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Anees Kherbotly
Adult male killed
Fayez Thabet Kherbotly
Adult male killed
Fardous Fatima Habo
Child female killed
Hosain Salim Qrqanawi
Child male killed
Hasan Salim Qarqanawi
Child male killed
Mohammad Abdo al-Shati
Child male killed
Abdullah al-Gazawi
Child male killed
Mahmoud Sahloul
Adult male killed
Yousef Ahmad Qadi
Child male killed
Abd al-Rahman Gazawi
Adult male killed
Mostafa Khaled Zanklo
Child male killed
Mostafa Hosain al-Kheder
Adult male killed
Ali Mostafa al-Kheder
Adult male killed
Abd al-Wahab Nakouh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 20
  • (7 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    19–21
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Image of RBK-500 cluster munitions incubator carrying ShOAB-0.5 munitions fired by suspected Russian warplanes on Orm al Jouz town in Idlib governorate southern suburbs on April 8, 2017. (Via: SN4HR)
  • Translation: The bombing of the village of Orm al - Jawz
  • Translation: The massacre of the village of Orm Al-Jouz on 8/4/2017
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via:SyriaHR)
  • Rescue operations following an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: SHRC)
  • Damage from an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: Qasioun)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: Enab Baladi News)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: RFS Media Office)
  • Translation: The death toll of the massacre of Orm Al-Jouz in the countryside of Idlib to 19 martyrs
  • Translation: A picture showing a cluster munitions incubator shelled by the Russian forces on the town of Orm Al-Jouz in the village of Idlib on April 8.
  • Translation: Martyrs and wounded by Russian aviation targeting the town of Orm al-Joz in the countryside of Idlib
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Orm Al-Jouz, 8th April 2017. (Via: RozanaFM)

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 20
  • (7 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    19–21
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2092

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and the son of one of them injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media sources.

All of the known sources identified Russian warplanes as being responsible for the attack.

Most sources reported that one female civilian had been killed and her son injured, however, the Violations Documentation Centre in Syria had one other civilian listed as being killed from “warplane shelling” by “Russian troops” in Khan Sheikhoun on that day.

LCCSY added that the woman who died had been displaced from al Latamna in the Hama countryside. 

In total there were four raids on Khan Sheikhoun by Russian forces according to the source, Othman al-Khani.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Terkia Hasan al Dahrouj
Adult female killed
Mohammad Shaker Idrees
55 years old male Married killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 55 year old Mohammad Shaker Idrees was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Khan Sheikhoun. 8th April 2017. (Via: VDC)

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2091

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed and others injured in an airstrike in Darat Izza, Aleppo, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Whilst most sources attributed responsibility of the event to Russia, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards the “Syrian-Russian alliance”, leaving some ambiguity.

Qasioun, who put the death toll at three civilians killed, reported that Russia was responsible for the attack and struck residential areas in the city.

Among those killed were a woman and her child, according to Orient News.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three civilians died and others were wounded Saturday morning when Russian warplanes bombed the city of Dara Azza in western Aleppo. Russian planes struck residential areas in the city with more than three concussions.

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 April 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 – 3
  • (1 child1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2092a

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shoughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was reportedly killed and others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Jisr al Shoughour, according to local media sources.

Idlib Media Centre, who specified that it was a child that was killed, added that it was during three air raids by Russian forces on the city.

The raids struck the “Christian quarter” of the city, according to an Al Jazeera correspondent, who added that there was substantial damage to residential buildings in the area.

None of the sources indicated how many other civilians were injured in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

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

RS2086

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

الزكاة, Al Zakat village, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3406492, 36.5770697 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media named 22-year-old Ahmad Khaled al Daher al Kaisouha as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Zakat village.

According to Hama News Centre, the victim died “due to his wounds sustained in a Russian raid on the village of al Zakat in northern Hama.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Khaled al Daher al Kaisouha
22 years old male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Khaled al Daher al Kaisouha, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Zakat village, April 7th 2017 (via VDC)

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)
  • 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

RS2090

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and two others injured in airstrike in Douma, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

Freedomraise News, who attributed responsibility for the event to Assad’s regime, detailed that “two rocket attacks were carried out at 4:30 pm today, the first hit the building adjacent to the office and the second hit the street opposite the office from the other side.” 

They added that the child, Amira Skaf, who lived in the neighbouring building and was no older than two years, had died during the shelling.

Enab Baladi News reported that two others were also injured in the raid.

The Violations Documentation Centre in Syria and the Local Development and Small-Projects Support offices were struck, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. SNHR reported that it was “Syrian-Russian alliance warplanes” that carried out the attack. 

The incident occured at approximately 4:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Amira Skaf
Child female Reported to be no older than two. killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A child, Amira Skaf, thought to have been killed in a contested airstrike in Douma, 7th April 2017. (Via: Obada Alshami)
  • A child, Amira Skaf, thought to have been killed in a contested airstrike in Douma, 7th April 2017. (Via: Obada Alshami)
  • Amira Skaf, reported to be no older than 2 was killed in a contested airstrike in Douma. 7th April 2017 (Via: Freedomraise)
  • Translation: Syria - Damascus countryside: See the location of air raids on the residential neighborhoods of the city of Douma in the eastern Gouta.

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 April 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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2089

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

بداما, Bdama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured following an airstrike in Bdama, Idlib, according to local media sources. It is not clear who was responsible for the event, whilst the majority of the sources blamed Russia, one mentioned the Assad regime.

Step News reported that “Russian air force carried out a massive airstrike targeting the town of Bdama in the western countryside of Idlib”. This was corroborated by Idlib Media Centre who added that it was two civilians that were injured.

However, one source – @ahmad_haj_bakri, blamed the Assad regime for the event. In a tweet, he said: “In response to the American bombardment, the Air Force of the Assad gang is bombing three towns in the western town of Badama in the western suburb of Idlib.”

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
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 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

RS2088

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were named as being killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al Latamna, Hama. 

The Violations Documentation Centre in Syria listed their deaths as a result of “warplane shelling” from “Russian troops”. The death toll included one child and one woman.

The only other known source that reported on this event was the Syrian Human Rights Committee in their daily report of human rights violations. With no further information given, it seemed as though they had used the VDC as their source, meaning that this event must be categorised as weak in Airwars’ methodology.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mamoun Noureddine Kushima
Adult male killed
Nora Mohammed Ghaleb Al Rahmoun
Adult female killed
Daughter of Mamoun Nur al-Din Kushima
Child female killed
Mohammed Ali al-Mulhim
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]