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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Russian Military
Country
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Incident Code

RS1708

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

باب النيرب , Bab al Nairab neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Bab al Nairab neighbourhood, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

@shahed_alep reported the use of a barrel bomb, while @zozan46 said that bombs had been dropped by parachutes.

HNN listed two unidentified civilians as killed in a Russia strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Civil Defense extinguishes a fire in the Bab al-Neirab district of "Hamad Square" after being bombarded with paratroopers. There was extensive destruction and burning of houses.' (Via HNN Aleppo)

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 November 5th – 30th 2016

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1707

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

الحلوانية , Al Hilwaniya neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Russian air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s Al Hilwaniya neighbourhood, according to local media.

Step said that “Russian warplanes and helicopters” had carried out strikes on neighbourhoods in Aleppo including Al Hilwaniya, “resulting in civilian casualties”.

@shahed-alep reported “a heavy artillery and rocket attack on Al-Sakhour and Al-Halawani neighborhoods and the sound of large explosions” – but made no mention of civilian harm.

However, HNN listed three civilians as killed in an alleged Russia strike on Al Hilwaniya.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (4) [ 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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1706

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

الميسر , Al Mayssar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.212011, 37.171227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@RFS_NORTH tweeted that “the forces of the regime bombardedthe Al-Maysar and Karam Tarab neighborhoods in Aleppo with heavy artillery shells” – but made no mention of civilian harm.

But according to HNN, one unidentified civilian died from a Russian strike on the Al Mayssar neighbourhood.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1705

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

المرجة, Al Marja neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians died and more were injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime air or artillery strikes on Aleppo’s Marja neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground.

But Alsharq pointed to the regime, reporting: “The Syrian Air Force continued to launch intensive air strikes accompanied by heavy artillery shelling on the neighborhoods of Aleppo. The first two massacres took place in Al-Sakhour district, in which seven martyrs were killed and the second in Karam al-Tahan where S\seven martyrs were also killed. There were many wounded from the neighborhoods of Marja and Qatraji”.

@abo_ga3fr_sy put the death toll at four but didn’t name the culprit.

HNN listed three unidentified civilians as killed in Russian raids on Marja

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 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 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

RS1704

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

الزهراء , Al Zahra village, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.361481, 37.015815 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Shaam News Network, “several successive explosions rocked the pro-Assad town of Zahra, located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and media sources said it was the result of aerial bombing of a warplane targeting the area by mistake, causing strong explosions and fires in several places of the town.”

@ali_alabras93 said that two civilians died and “dozens” more were wounded in four Russian raids on Zahra.

Umyyapress provided the most detail, reporting: “a warplane – believed to be Russian – targeted the northern towns of Nabel and Zahra loyal to the Assad regime in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Sunday, which led to the deaths of a number of dead and wounded, according to sources loyal to the Assad regime.

“There were conflicting reports about the source of air raids that hit areas in the two towns, sources said that Russian airliner targeted at nine thirty in the night with a number of air raids, while other sources said that the flight is unidentified.

“According to pro pages, the two towns were targeted with four air and cluster air strikes, resulting in civilian casualties. According to these pages, Zahra Hospital announced the need for blood units from all factions, calling for the need to donate blood.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that “Al-Zahra town is home to thousands of pro-regime militants who were trained by field commanders in the Lebanese Hezbollah”. The Observatory also pointed to Russian strikes on the town – reporting that Russia had struck it “by mistake”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Two martyrs and a number of wounded by the fall of shells on residential neighborhoods in the town of Zahra in the countryside of Aleppo'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Remains of munitions and a badly disfigured corpse following an alleged Russian strike on Zahra, Nov 27th.

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1703

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

نبل , Nabil, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.376549, 36.991322 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what may have been a friendly fire incident, committed by the regime, or by Russia, an unspecified number of people were killed and wounded in Nabil, according to sources on the ground.

HNN reported “four air raids [three using vacuum missiles and one cluster bombs] by Russian planes on the pro regime villages of Nabil and Al Zahra. News indicates that there are a number of killed.”

Umyyapress provide the most detail, reporting: “a warplane – believed to be Russian – targeted the northern towns of Nabel and Zahra loyal to the Assad regime in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Sunday [Nov 27th], which led to the deaths of a number of dead and wounded, according to sources loyal to the Assad regime.”

There were conflicting reports about the source of air raids that hit areas in the two towns, sources said that Russian airliner struck at nine thirty in the night with a number of air raids, while other sources said that the flight is unidentified.

“According to pro pages, the two towns were targeted with four air and cluster air strikes, resulting in civilian casualties. According to these pages, Zahra Hospital announced the need for blood units from all factions, calling for the need to donate blood.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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]

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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

RS1702

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

الليرمون, Al Lleiramoun, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2423248, 37.1057626 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that a woman and her child died and another civilian was wounded in an airstrike on Al Lleiramoun. While most sources blamed Russia, there was also an allegation against the Assad regime.

According to @SN4HR, “the girl Suhad Hasan Kurdiyeh, from Al Layramoun town in Aleppo governorate, died in government warplanes (allies) missiles fired on Al Layramoun town, November 27”.

But both Smart and HNN blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suhad Hasan Kurdiyeh
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The girl Suhad Hasan Kurdiyeh, from Al Layramoun town in Aleppo governorate, died in government warplanes (allies) missiles fired on Al Layramoun town, November 27'

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

RS1692

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.83869, 38.7462902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and 10 others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Mansoura in the western countryside of Aleppo, local media reported.

According to a civil defense official of Hussein al-Masri, “an aerial bombardment by Russian aircraft targeted the Shifa pharmaceutical factory in the town of Al Mansoura in Aleppo, causing the death of victims as well as large destruction in the factory.”

The majority of other local sources, including Smart News, also attributed the airstrikes to Russian airplanes or did not identify who was responsible.

Reports stated that the civilians that were killed in the airstrikes were employees, including the director of the factory, and the damage to the factory rendered it inoperable.

Videos posted by Baladi Network and Smart News show the destruction to the Shifa pharmaceutical factory caused by the airstrikes, including blood stains from the injured workers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Aerial bombardment of the town of Mansoura and Shifa pharmaceutical factory in the western Aleppo countryside.'

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 November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]