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

CS470 RS1876

Incident date

February 1, 2017

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition, or possibly Russian, airstrike which hit a Syrian Red Crescent hospital in Idlib injured up to a dozen civilians. The Coalition later denied involvement, though a unilateral US action remained possible.

The intended target of the dawn strike appeared to be the militant gropup Fatah al Sham at a base at the former Carlton Hotel. But numerous sources reported extensive damage to a Red Crescent hospital in the city. According to Shaam News “The bombing also caused the injury of nine members of the Red Crescent who were at the center during the raids, where the bombardment caused the interruption of the Centre’s work fully with the service.”

In a video it issued of the event, Step News interviewed a rescue worker at the scene: “At 3am we woke up to the noise of an air raid. We at the civil defence and the fire brigade headed to the target location and saw the Red Crescent centre/carlton hit with a missile that went through from the roof to the first floor. God was merciful as it didn’t reach at the way to the bottom where there were 30 members of the Red Crescent. They would’ve been hit. There are a few injured… we put the fires out and we took the injured to the hospitals.”

Four members of the local civil defence were also reportedly injured while attending the scene.

Multiple sources named Mamoun Kharbout, the head of the Syrian Red Crescent branch in Idlib, as one of the injured.

Most sources blamed the Coalition, although the Syrian Network said Russia may also have been responsible. In April the Coalition stated: “Feb. 1, 2017, near Idlib, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

 

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Mamoun Kharbout
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Members of the SARC Idlib branch pose with four ambulances in front of the Carlton Hotel. The picture was uploaded by their Facebook page on Jan. 17, 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Tweet by ICRC Syria (via Bellingcat)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Translation: Warplanes target the Red Crescent building with airstrikes.
  • Translation: Injured members of the Red Crescent in aerial bombardment on the Carlton Hotel, Idlib.
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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 1, 2017

  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 31st-February 1st and February 1st-2nd the Coalition noted no strikes in the vicinity. However unilateral US strikes against Fatah al Sham are no longer reported by CJTFOIR.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS468 RS1875

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Location

صبيخان, Sbeikhan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.85305, 40.59987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian guard was killed in an air raid on an asphalt plant or nearby oil facility by unidentified aircraft. The Coalition has confirmed striking oil installations in the area that day, although some sources blamed Russia.

According to multiple reports at least two civilians were also injured in the incident. Asharqiya reported, Mr al Khairi was a civilian guard.

In comments attached to a report by Boukamalna, locals said the civilian died when an asphalt plant attached to the facility was struck. Most reports specified only unspecified aircraft. Boukamalna said the Coalition was responsible – while according to Baladi News, “warplanes believed to be Russian and regime” took part.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salam al Khairi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (22) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Sbeikhan (Al Mayadin), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU4625757914
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • 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 January 30th-31st the Coalition stated: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 10 oil drums, two oil storage tanks and an oil wellhead.“

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 January 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
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1873

Incident date

January 30, 2017

Location

الأول ريف المهندسينكفرجوم, Kafr Joum, Al Muhandissin Al wwal countryside, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.11127, 36.95655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and her six children were killed in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike “massacre” in the countryside of western Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

The noon raid struck three houses in the region controlled by opposition forces. It is currently home to displaced residents from the southern area of the city. The Center for Civil Defense said it was a breach of an agreed cease fire between the sides.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights claimed Syrian regime warplanes were in fact responsible.The wounded included children ranging in age from one to nine years one, according to the Syrian News Desk. Some were transferred to a hospital on the Turkish border for treatment.

Teams including the White Helmets worked for nearly five hours to remove the bodies from the rubble, a civil defense official said.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The shelling of the village of Kafarjoum today 30-1-2017'
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Joum, Al Muhandissin Al wwal countryside, (via Shehab)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of six children reportedly killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Joum, Al Muhandissin Al wwal countryside, (via Shehab)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: ': Martyrdom of a mother and her six children in the bombing of the Russian occupation aircraft on the rural countryside of the countryside # Aleppo West'
  • 'e raids targeting Kafr Joum Today 30/1/2017'
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeted al Muhanidssin al Awwal countryside KafrJoum in western Aleppo countryside with three raids leading to the martyrdom of 7 people - a woman and 6 children in addition to the injury of one child and widespread destruction in the area.' (via White Helmets)
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeted al Muhanidssin al Awwal countryside KafrJoum in western Aleppo countryside with three raids leading to the martyrdom of 7 people - a woman and 6 children in addition to the injury of one child and widespread destruction in the area.' (via White Helmets)

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
    4 – 7
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1874

Incident date

January 30, 2017

Location

قصر البريج , Qasr al Bureij village, south east al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.31798, 37.70512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians from one family died and three more were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Qasr al Bureij village, south east al Bab, according to multiple local sources.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “four civilians, including two children and a woman, died in suspected Russian warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Qasr al Bureij village, south east al Bab, Jan 30th 2017 (via Alaraby)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS069 RS1872

Incident date

January 30, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab.

Hara FM accused Russia of the attack: “Four people dead and three wounded from one family from Russian bombing of the village Qasr al-Bureij southeast of the city of Al Bab.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Russia and added that two children and a woman were among the victims.

Halab Today TV published two reports, saying the death toll was either five or seven, including four children wounded. It did not clearly blame any belligerent for the incident. As Turkey repeatedly shelled Al Bab during this period of time, Turkish involvement does not seem unlikely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "5 civilians were killed and 6 others wounded by air and artillery bombardment of Bab and Tadef in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo yesterday" (via Halab Today TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1871

Incident date

January 29, 2017

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.569294, 38.291216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed by Russian airstrikes carried out in Palmyra on the 29th of January 2017.

Sources said several air raids struck its western and  northern neighbourhoods that resulted in the civilian casualties and damage to property

Those wounded in the strikes were moved to a field hospital for treatment in rural Hama, local sources said.

Halab Today gave the figure of three civilian fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

RS1869

Incident date

January 29, 2017

Location

جبال البلعاس , Al Bila’as mountains, eastern Hama governorate, Syria

Geolocation

34.8964056, 37.5909674 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what several sources called a “massacre”, between five and eight civilians including two children and three women died and as many as 10 more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a camp for displaced people that is located in ISIS territory in the Al Bila’as mountains in eastern Hama governorate.

The number of wounded remains unclear, with some sources claiming 10 people were injured, while others noted “at least 10 children” were wounded.

Step News Agency reported that those with serious injuries were moved to the National Hospital in Raqqa, while the others were moved to field hospitals in the vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1868

Incident date

January 28, 2017

Location

حماده عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and up to seven more were wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Hamada Omar, Hama, local media reported.

Smart News reported that: “a number of civilians were killed and wounded, earlier in the day [Jan 28th], in raids by aircrafts likely to be Russian (…)”.

7al News, who did not report any fatalities, reported that seven civilians were left injured.

All the sources – who identified a culprit – pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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

Russia has not reported any strikes for January 28th, 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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]