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

RS176 CS148

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources reported that an adult woman from Soran in Hama governorate was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah.

Violations Documentation has published the name & photo of the victim which as said he was killed due to the coalition air force’s shelling. 

In their January 2020 civilian casualty assessment, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasin Khaled al Nour
Adult female named by VDC killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Yasin Khaled al-Nouri (Picture courtesy of VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.949949, 39.007363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV007784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 20, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2881/CS148 37SEV007784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition airstrikes were reported for Syria on November 19th-20th 2015.

CJTF-OIR confirmed that for November 20th-21st 2015, “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.“

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)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2859

Incident date

January 6, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed and more than 25 civilians were injured in air and artillery strikes which struck the residential neighbourhood of Harasta. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids, with some sources also reporting that there had been fighting on the ground between factions.

One source mentioned that there were “dozens of civilian casualties” but did not specify if these were dead or wounded.

Another source stated that ten civilians were injured missiles – not attributing blame.

Allegedly, as many as 47 members of the Al Nusra front were killed in these raids, many of them the  leaders of vehicle management.

According to Alsourya News the “Russian air force intensified its strikes on residential neighborhoods targeting the towns of Hamuriya and the director and the Arabs and Harsta and Masara several raids, causing extensive destruction and a number of victims.”

AMC tweeted that regime forces struck the vicinity with “land-to-land” missiles. There were allegedly as many as 20 raids, with 60 missile attacks and 300 shells fired onto the vicinity.

Souryiati News reported that “Some 25,000 people live under the ground in Harasta because of the bombing campaign targeting the city against the backdrop of clashes”. The head of the council in Harasta, Hossam Beruti, told Souryiati News that “the situation of the population is very bad because of the intensification of shelling, and people can not secure their daily lives.” He described that the situation of the population in the area as “miserable” because of the overcrowding of shelters and the difficulty of movement in the neighborhoods of the city. He added that the local council was unable to provide shelters today with drinking water because of the high frequency of bombing since the morning. They confirmed that one woman was killed and dozens of others were injured.

Souryante Press reported on the “Deterioration of the humanitarian situation” in Harasta. He describes how heavy shelling has over a period of time caused many civilian deaths and wounded. Families are unable to leave their basements for security needs. One man described the city of Harasta to be “devastated.”

“Several institutions have provided emergency relief to the inhabitants of Harasta, Irbid and Balda Madira. However, the head of Harasta province stressed that “the needs are much greater than what has been provided.” Several activists also launched several donation campaigns for the three areas.”

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an air and artillery strike on Harasta, 6th January 2018. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • The aftermath of an air and artillery strike on Harasta, 6th January 2018. (via Harsta Memories)

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 type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS273

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult males (one named as Othman al-Shayta aka Abu Omar possibly a civilian), were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Harasta.

The same dead were listed by the White Helmets who said that six air raids and artillery bombing on civilian neighbourhoods in Harasta had led to the deaths of three people, the injuring of several others, and the destruction of civilian property. They did not confirm the dead’s combatant status.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Othman al-Shayta aka Abu Omar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of airstrike on Harasta, Dec 13th (via White Helmets)
  • Moments after the airstrike hit Harasta. (via, Syrian Documentation Centre)
  • The aftermath of a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Harasta City Facebook)
  • Cars and infrastructure destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Another video of the streets in the aftermath of a contested airstrike. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Footage of the skies, moments after the airstrike fell. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Smoke fills the sky in Eastern Ghouta. (via, Syria Rebels Gathering Posts)
  • Another video of smoke filling the sky. (via, Anas al Khloe)
  • More footage of the immediate moments after an airstrike fell. (via, Baladi News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS337

Incident date

December 31, 2015

Location

الهداج, Hedaj, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.09813, 37.68171 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, Shayesh Hamdo al-Ahmad, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hedaj, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shayesh Hamdo al-Ahmad
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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hedaj (الهداج), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.09813, 37.68171. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia does not appear to have published a strike summary for December 30th-31st 2015.

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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS369

Incident date

January 11, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One female child named as Aamne Hsain al Waw (pictured) was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar Raqqah, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aamne Hsain al Waw
Child female killed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Aamne Hsain al-Waw, killed on 11th January 2016. (via, VDC)

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 11-15 January.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2936

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

كفرزيتا, al Sayyad street. Kafr Zeita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed and several others were injured in airstrikes on Kafr Zeita, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian for the raids.

Step reported that “A woman was killed and a number of people were injured as a result of Russian air strikes targeting the town of Kafr Zeita”.

Smart reported there were no injuries.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Batoul Hasan al-Haji
35 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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]

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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

RS465

Incident date

January 26, 2016

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Deir-ez Zor, according to the Violations Documentation Centre and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasser al Ali,
42 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Yasser Al Ali, age 42, from Deir Ez-Zour city, died in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Deir Ez-Zour city, January 26 2016.' (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory...Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

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

RS529

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

غرناطة, Garnata, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8937633, 36.6794443 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes allegedly carried out raids “on the town of Al Rastan and the villages of Um Sharshouh and Ghirnata as well as the village of Burj Kai“. It said one civilian was killed and “several” others wounded in Garnata.

Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes launched two raids on the village of Granada,” which “led to the death of a woman” and left four civilians injured.

Al Jisr posted a video the following day that references the death of a woman in in Garnata due to “Russian airstrikes” on February 2nd. The narrator films as another airstrike hits what he says is Garnata in the distance.

 

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 (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 published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd.

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 (3) [ collapse]