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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
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Incident Code

RS2033

Incident date

March 26, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamneh, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The town of al-Latamneh, Hama, was reportedly exposed to chlorine gas attacks which killed two civilians. There were also claims that dozens more civilian were wounded through suffocation. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Orient News reported that helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime had carried out chlorine gas attacks on al-Latamneh for the third time in less than two days, and that the attack suffocated dozens, both civilians and opposition members. It is unknown r if any of the cases of suffocation led to deaths among those affected.

Syrian Mirror, who did not identify the culprit, mentioned that cluster bombs had been used in the attacks, which reportedly struck civilian houses.

Two civilians were reportedly killed in the attack. Smart News Agency, said that the chlorine attack that had targeted “Latamna Surgical Hospital”, killed two civilians, including a doctor. However, Orient News said that the doctor was killed the previous day, March 25th, in a similar attack.

The number of wounded varied among the sources. Smart News Agency said that four people were seriously wounded while al-Modon News said the number ran into “dozens”.

While most sources pointed blame to the Syrian regime, Smarts News Agency and al-Hadath identified Russia as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the destruction of the local hospital caused by contested airstrikes in Al Latamneh, Hama, March 26th, 2017 (via al-Hadath Center)
  • Footage of the moment Latamneh, Hama was struck by either Russia or Assad-waged airstrikes on March 26th, 2917 (via al-Hadath Center)

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 March 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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2032

Incident date

March 26, 2017

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that an air raid killed up to two civilians, including a child, and wounded several others, as it struck the city of Kafr Zita in Hama, though it was unclear if Russia or the Syrian regime were behind the attack.

Two civilians were additionally wounded, and MonKiz Al Khabour reported that one of the wounded was the brother of the named victim.

Even though most sources attributed blame to Russia, the incident remains contested as Smart News Agency’s reporting talks about airstrikes carried out by both the Syrian regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahim Mohammed Abdo al-Laban
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Images of the moment Russian or Syrian regime warplanes struck Kafr Zeita city in the northern Hama countryside on March 26th, 2017 (via @AleppoAMC)
  • The child Abdul Rahim Mohammed Abdo al-Laban was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Kafr Zeita, Hama, March 26th, 2017 (via MonKiz Al Khabour)

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 March 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 – 2
  • (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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS615 RS2025a

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

منطقة الادخار, Al-ldikhar, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

34.69415, 36.704721 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died including a child and two women in a reported airstrike on Al-ldikhar, according to local media. Reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the Coalition or Russia.

Smart news agency said that three civilians died in a strike “likely” carried out by the Coalition However RFS blamed Russia, putting the death toll at at least five including “two women, a girl and many wounded, in addition to the destruction of buildings”.

Q_Alenzy reported that one Coalition raid targeted “the roundabout area” in Al-Idikhar.

The Syrian Observatory said that there had been raids but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al-Idikhar, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 25th-26th: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed a fighting position, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system; and damaged a supply route.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2019a

Incident date

March 25, 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

Up to eight civilians, including two children and two women, were killed and as many as 20 more were wounded in strikes allegedly carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in Khan Shakhoun, Idlib, local media reported.

Two airstrikes reportedly struck al-Shamali neighbourhood in Khan Shakhoun, killing up to eight civilians, including a family of five. Among the victims were two named children and women.

A civilian defence source told Zaman al-Wasl that “five civilians from one family were killed and others were wounded by air strikes with rocket-propelled grenades on the northern neighbourhood of Khan Shikhun.”

The strikes wounded at least two and as many as 20, local media said.

It is unclear who carried out the strikes, as sources pointed to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

It should be noted that this incident might have taken place on March 24th, as one single source, Smart News Agency, already on 24th reported about airstrikes killing nine civilians.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Abdul Razzaq Maarati
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Sadiq al-Maarati,
Age unknown male killed
Jamal bin Abdul Razzaq Ma'arati
Age unknown male killed
Dalal bint Abdul Razzaq al-Maarati
Child female killed
Ahmad bin Walid al-Maarati
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Ietidal al-Awad
Adult female From Hama killed
Fatima Mohammad Abd al-Samad al-Satouf
Adult female From Hama killed
Ihab Atouk
Adult male From Hama killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children2 women3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–20
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ehab Ahmed Atok was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes targeting Khan Shakhoun on March 25, 2017 (via Firas Al Sharoudi)
  • Ehab Ahmed Atok, who reportedly was killed by the contested airstrikes targeting Khan Shakhoun on March 25, 2017 (via Firas Al Sharoudi)

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 March 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
    8
  • (2 children2 women3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–20
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2031

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

ريف ادلب الجنوبي, Southern Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two sources reported that alleged Russian warplanes struck a camp for displaced people in the southern countryside of Idlib with a phosphorous missile on the night of March 25th, possibly causing civilian harm.

Only one source, Smart News Agency, reported that the strike had caused civilian harm, saying that it had resulted in “several” wounded.

@amrsyria1 said that the strike had caused material damage. 

The incident occured during the night.

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 (2) [ 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 March 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2030

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

الحانوتة, Al-Hanoute, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.051667, 37.548333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, the Smart News Agency reported that an alleged Russian airstrike killed four civilians, including a woman and her child, and wounded another six in village of al-Hanoute in eastern Hama.

According to Smart, who cited a activist on the ground, Russian warplanes had launched “a rocket-propelled grenade attack” on the village, which at the time was under the control of ISIS.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 March 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2029

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

ادلب, Idlib City, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, reportedly women, were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Idlib city, local media reported.

All the sources pointed to Russia as the culprit and reported that the incident had wounded two civilians. UAR added that the wounded were women.

According to Smart News Agency’s correspondent, Russia carried out the strike using vacuum missiles.

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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The moment Idlib city was struck by the alleged Russian airstrikes on March 25th, 2017 (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes that caused great destruction in Idlib city on March 25th, 2017 (via UAR)

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 March 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2028

Incident date

March 25, 2017

Location

معر شورين, Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6675976, 36.7290564 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on village of Ma’ar Shureen in Idlib, local media reported.

According to the Smart News Agency, four civilian were wounded. Other sources put the figure at two.

Zamanalwasl said that the strike hit a popular market in the village.

While several sources did not identify the culprit, most sources attributed blame to Russia. However, al-Jazeera indicated that both Russia and the Syrian regime were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage from Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, after being struck by either Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes on March 25th, 2017 (via Qasioun News)
  • Footage from the moment Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib was struck either Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes on March 25th, 2017 (via Omawi News Agency)

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 March 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
    2–4
  • 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]