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
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS1710

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

طريق الباب, Tareeq al Bab 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

Up to three civilians including a girl died in an alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Tareeq Al Bab neighbourhood, local sources reported.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “three civilians including a girl died due to suspected Russian warplanes missiles firing on Tareeq Al Bab neighborhood in Aleppo city, November 27.”

Halab News listed two civilians as killed and also blamed Russia.

However, there were numerous reports of explosive barrels dropped from helicopters – a weapon known to be used by the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

  • Translation: 'Life under bombing, life in Aleppo # A picture from the neighborhood of Bab al-Bab by Madasah Abdo Khader'

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 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 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

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

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

RS1711

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

حي الحميدية , Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor city, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty incident, up to 30 civilians – many of them named – died and as many as 40 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on a vegetable market in the Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor city. According to Deir Ezzor and Raqqa Legal Network, around five members of ISIS were also killed

The highest death count was given by Step News at 30 civilians – and multiple sources named victims.

The ISIS-media outlet Al Maq reported: “More than 15 dead and 40 injured most of them women and children following a Russian raid on a vegetable market in al Hamidiye neighbourhood in the city of Deir Ezzor.”

While most sources blamed Russia, there were also several allegations against the regime.

A report by Syria News Desk said: Salama Al Hussein, a member of the opposition media Euphrates post, told Syria News Desk that regime  warplanes launched six raids on the concentration of civilians in the vegetable coop in al Hamidiyah neighbourhood in the center of Deir al-Zour, killing 18 civilians, including six children and three unidentified civilians. More than 40 others were wounded, some critically”.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Maher Al-Zuhair
killed
Tariq Al-Zuhair
male killed

Family members (2)

Khulud Ismail Attawi
killed
Mariam Khaled Attawi
killed

Family members (3)

Adult male the photo is the same as Mahmoud Kajija killed

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Haj Omar
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Jdea
Age unknown male killed
Salah Mohammed Al-Mousa
Age unknown male killed
Malik al-Hussein
Age unknown male killed
Abu Zahra (from the family of Al-Kajijah)
Age unknown male killed
Majid Saad Al-Din
Child killed
Fahd Al-Hussein
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Diwani
Age unknown killed
Saher Ghayath, aka Saher Al-Basa
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Taj
Age unknown killed
Tariq Nuweiser
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed
Kathem al Razaj
Age unknown killed
Abdallah Khaled al Mohammad
Age unknown male killed
Mustapha Majid al Hakim
Age unknown male killed
Haifa Alaa al Nakishbandi
Age unknown killed
Mohammad Ghafra
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25 – 30
  • (3–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–40
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a child following a strike on the Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Nov 27th (via DE24)
  • A fire rages following a strike on the Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Nov 27th (via DE24)
  • 'The martyr Mohammad Taj Shihab one of the victims of al Hamidiye neighbourhood massacre following the raid that targeted the vegetable company.' (via Euphrates Post)
  • 'Hisham Khalaf al Ma’youf one of the victims of the massacre at al Hamidiye neighbourhood in the city of Deir Ezzor' (via Euphrates Post)
  • 'Amer Jamil al Saleh one of the victims of the massacre at al Hamidiye neighbourhood' (Euphrates Post)
  • 'Mahmoud Kajija one of the victims of the massacre at al Hamidiye neighbourhood' (Euphrates Post)
  • ' Mohammad al Ghafra died due to his wounds following the raid on al Hamidiya neighbourhood' (Euphrates Post)
  • Abd al Rahman Mohammad Said Al Alwan (Euphrates Post)
  • Mustapha Mohamamd Said al Alwan (Euphrates Post)
  • Mahmoud Ahmad al Alwan (Euphrates Post)

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 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.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25 – 30
  • (3–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–40
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1701

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

عينجارة, Anjara, Aleppo, western countryside of Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2203271, 36.952976 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 15 civilians died in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Anjara. according to local media. The majority of sources blamed Russia, though the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) also pointed to the regime.

According to SN4HR, who gave the lowest death count: “at least 10 victims died in government warplanes (allies) missiles fired on Einjara town in Aleppo governorate western suburbs, November 27, 2016.”

@Syriamubasher also said 10 civilians had died but blamed “a rocket-propelled grenade attack”.

Enabbaladi attributed the event to Russia and said: “on Sunday (November 27th), the Aleppo Media Center reported the targeting by warplanes and rocket-propelled grenades of the town of Anjara in the western Aleppo countryside, resulting in 15 casualties among civilians as a preliminary result.”

According to Mapnews, Russian “heavy shelling killed 17 civilians, including children and women, and wounded 30 others, while causing great destruction to buildings and property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • 'Cruel scenes from the massacre of Anjarah, which killed 15 martyrs and many wounded'
  • 'The effects of the destruction following the aerial bombardment of the town of Anjar in rural Aleppo 27-11-2016'
  • The aftermath of the strike on Anjara, Nov 27th (via Smart)
  • The aftermath of the strike on Anjara, Nov 27th (via Smart)
  • The aftermath of the strike on Anjara, Nov 27th (via Smart)
  • The aftermath of the strike on Anjara, Nov 27th (via Smart)
  • More scenes of the aftermath of the Anjara strike Nov 27th (via Aleppo24)
  • More scenes of the aftermath of the Anjara strike Nov 27th (via Aleppo24)
  • More scenes of the aftermath of the Anjara strike Nov 27th (via Aleppo24)
  • More scenes of the aftermath of the Anjara strike Nov 27th (via Aleppo24)

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 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
    10 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (18) [ 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

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

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

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

RS1712

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

الحميدية , Waterway leading to Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor city, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians died and up to another seven were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on a waterway leading to the Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor city, sources on the ground said

According to the Shaam News Network, “activists reported  that  Russian aircraft  targeted a water crossing leading to the city – which is under the control of IS – with an air raid, which led to the martyrdom of five civilians and a number of injured.”

Euphrates Post also blamed Russia and put the death toll at five. Syria News Desk added that seven further people were wounded.

A alter report by Euphrates Post (in English) put the death toll at seven.

However, Deir Ezzor24 pointed to the regime, reporting that “five civilians were martyred after a water crossing north of Deir Ezzor city was targeted by Assad warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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 (11) [ 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 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.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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 (11) [ 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:

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

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]