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

RS1977

Incident date

March 16, 2017

Location

أبين سمعان , Abin Sama’an , Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.0925448, 36.7577219 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Abin Sama’an town, according to sources on the ground.

Omawi.news.agency reported: “Russian warplanes carried out several air strikes with rockets on the towns of Abyan Semaan and Sheikh Ali in the western countryside of Aleppo, wounding several people and causing extensive damage to civilian property.”

According to Baladi on March 16th, “The cities and towns of Al-Atareb, Sheikh Ali, Babis, Maarat al-Atareb, Abyan Samaan and Kfarkermin were heavily shelled by the Russian air force. Five civilians, mostly children and women, were killed in the areas of Sheikh Ali and Abyan Samaan.”

Smart News Agency reported that a woman died and pointed to Russia as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Abin Sama’an (أبين سمعان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.092544, 36.757721. 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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2150

Incident date

April 21, 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

A girl was killed and as many as six other civilians were wounded following a parachute missile attack on a residential neighbourhood in Lataminah, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some blaming the Syrian regime and others blaming Russian warplanes.

Halab Today reported that huge fire broke out in a residential building as a result of the attack.

Additionally, later reports claimed that  some of the injuries were serious.

According to Smart News “The Syrian civil defence also documented the killing of a civilian and the wounding of six others, following an air strike”.

Members of the civil defence worked to recover the wounded from the rubble and assist to their wounds.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasmin Ibrahim al Saleh
13 years old female killed

Summary

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

  • Huge fires which broke out following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Lataminah, 21st April 2017. (via Halabtoday)
  • The exact moment an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Lataminah, 21st April 2017. (via Qasioun)

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
    2–6
  • 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

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

RS2244a

Incident date

May 17, 2017

Location

الحويقة, Al Hwaighe, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.342102, 40.14576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, an adult male, was killed and others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the neighborhood of Al Hwaighe in Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

According to @AhrarDeirezzor, the civilian was killed after he left the mosque and other members of his family were also injured. The majority of local sources, including Violations Documentation Center, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes while the remaining sources did not identify who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul al-Hakim Al Alloush
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Abdul al-Hakim Al Alloush, killed in airstrikes against Al Hwaighe on May 17, 2017 (via AhrarDeirezzor Facebook)

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2260

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Location

عقيربات , Akeirbat, eastern Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Smart News Agency reported airstrikes on ‘civilian homes’ in Akeirbat which killed one civilian and wounded three others, including one woman.

This was believed to have been part of a larger series of airstrikes on one town and four village under the control of the Islamic State, Smart News said.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2499

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

كفرحلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and two to eight others were injured in four airstrikes against the village of Kafr Halab in southwest Aleppo, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing the blame to Russia while others, such as Aleppo24, blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The military information centre in Kafr Halab told Smart News Agency that the aircraft responsible for the attack were “likely to be Russian” and those that were injured sought medical attention nearby.

RFS Media Office reported that “Russian air raids targeted farmers during their work in agricultural land near the town of Kafr Aleppo, killing a farmer and wounding two others.” It was later added by another source that it was specifically a cattle farm.

A local media activist tweeted that vacuum missiles were used in the raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The moment an airstrike hit the farm in Kafr Halab, 24th September 2017. (via Marsad sarmada)
  • The moment an airstrike hit the farm in Kafr Halab, 24th September 2017. (via Shehab Press)

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2420

Incident date

September 9, 2017

Location

حطلة,, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Euphrates Post, reported that unidentified warplanes struck two cars carrying families the town of Hatla shortly before, killing one of them.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ 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]