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

RS626

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.252649, 37.079115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One 40-year-old male civilian, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Hamra.

The victim was named by the VDC, Syria Martrys and Mediakafrhamra – all of whom attributed the incident to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoyd Mohammad Abdul Wahhab
40 years old male Listed by VDC 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3839

Incident date

June 22, 2019

Location

تل ملح, Tel Melh, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed in artillery shelling in Tal Melh, Hama, on June 22nd.

Syrian Network for Human Rights named the civilian killed as Ahmad Ibrahim al Hmoud.

Although Step News alleged the death of one civilian in one tweet, naming the Syrian regime as the responsible belligerent, another report by Step News regarding the incident did not document civilian harm, attributing the attack to Russian forces. Syrian Network for Human Rights and Halab Today TV named the Syrian regime as the belligerent responsible for the shelling.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Ibrahim al Hmoud
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS658

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in an airstrike on Ltamenah according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

A citizen journalist, Mohammad Hamaoui, posted a video showing a missile reportedly dropped by a Russian warplane. And according to Zaman Masdar, “Russian warplanes launched an attack on Latamna with explosive missiles which destroyed seven houses, but there were no reports about casualties because civilians were in an underground shelter.”

All4Syria reported that Russia had carried out “tens of raids”.

The Violations Documentation Centre named one victim as killed in a Russian strike. Syrian Human Rights Center also named Musa Abdullah Shaheen and said that he was killed in a Russian strike.

Some other sources, however, did not say who was responsible for his death, referring only to “warplanes”. A tweet by LCCSY blamed the regime, reporting that it had conducted “several raids” on Ltamenah that day.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mosa al Shaheen
44 years old 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mosa al Shaheen, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid, (via VDC)
  • The exact moment the raid hit. (via Mohammad Hamaoui)
  • The exact moment the raid hit. (via Mohammad Hamaoui)

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 from February 17th – February 29th.

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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS915

Incident date

June 18, 2016

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1320519, 38.9661026 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died at midday on June 18th, after incurring injuries from alleged Russian airstrikes on Hazima village, northern Ar Raqqah, local media reported.

Baladi News said that the man died, “as a result of military aviation targeting al Hazima  village” in the midst of “great destruction in the region”.

Though Baladi did not specify that the planes were Russian other sources such  as LCCSY and Nabd News attributed the event to Russia.

This is the only information we have on this civilian casualty incident at present.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Nour Ahmad al Hamidi
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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohammad Mour Ahmad al Hamidi killed following alleged Russian strikes (via RBSS)
  • "Warplanes row bundle al Hazima of the village in the countryside of northern Ar Raqqahh" (via Ar-Raqqahh-post Youtube)

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.

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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS948

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

خان الشيح‬, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.373059, 36.112682 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of one civilian and injury of four more people in alleged Russian airstrikes on Khan al Sheikh.

According to Syrian Press Center “Russian planes carried out 24 air strikes, including the use of eight cluster strikes, on targeting Khan al Sheikh, resulting in civilian casualties, according to activists”.

Smart News reported that “one civilian was killed and four were wounded. The bombing was carried out by Russian warplanes”.

Also, it is worth noting that four sources reported the use of cluster bombs which are illegal under international law.

Qasioun, Syrian Press Center, Syriahadath, Radio al-Kul and Al-AMAWI all attributed the event to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (12) [ 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.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS3086

Incident date

February 24, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalaka, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and others were left injured, local media reported following aerial shelling of Zamalaka, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, carried out by either Russia, the Syrian regime, or both.

al-Jazeera’s correspondent in eastern Ghouta reported how “raids of the regime and Russia targeted residential buildings with internationally banned cluster bombs, explosive barrels and napalm bombs in Zamaleka”.  Other reports merely mentioned that warplanes had struck the town.

According to Step News Agency and Smart News Agency, one civilian was killed by the shelling and “others” were left wounded.

Smart News Agency reported that the warplanes were “likely to be Russian”. However, the incident remains contested as others, such as al-Jazeera, pointed to shared culpability between the two belligerents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (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 not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1044

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

Yashnatra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2211157, 37.0027251 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that Russian warplanes carried out strikes on Yashnatra town, leading to civilian casualties – though sources didn’t specify numbers.

However, Arabstoday blamed the regime, reporting three civilians wounded.

Other sources referred only to “warplanes”.

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
    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 July 16th – 27th 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS1093

Incident date

August 3, 2016

Location

شغور, Shaghuor, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8504774, 36.2822629 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, as killed by a Russian cluster bomb. While the source reports that the victim was from Shahour village, it’s unclear whether he was killed there.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Ahmad Abd al Raheem Abd al Monem
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Russia has not reported any strikes between August 1st – 10th 2016.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]