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

RS1698

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

معارة الأرتيق, Maarat al Arteek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.247681, 37.053483

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were killed and seven others were injured, including a woman, in airstrikes against the town of Maarat al Arteek in Aleppo. The airstrikes reportedly struck the police station with bunker busting missiles and resulted in the death of a policeman.

The consensus among local sources, including @RFS_NORTH and @Syriamubasher, was that the airstrikes were carried out by Russian planes.

Images posted by @ShahbaPress and a video posted by the White Helmets showed the civil defense team removing the bodies of civilians from the rubble of collapsed buildings. The civil defense teams worked continuously for 25 days to recover the bodies of the civilians, including the body of the policeman.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Badr Abd al Hamid
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Our correspondent: 2 martyrs and 7 wounded civilians, including a woman in a new toll following the Russian raids on the town of Maarah Artek rural # Aleppo North.'
  • Translation: 'Two men died and two others were wounded this afternoon by aerial bombardment of the town of Ma'arat al-Artiq in northern Aleppo countryside.'
  • After continuous work for 25-days the civil defense team in Maarat al Arteek was able to recovered the body of the missing policeman.
  • Mohammed Badr Abdul Hamid, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Arteek, Nov 26th (via Mohammed Abo ishaq)

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 – 4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1697

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

كرم الذحان, Karam al Tahan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196287, 37.181253 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians were killed and dozens of others were wounded in airstrikes against the town of Karm Al Dhaham, Aleppo. In addition to the human cost, the airstrikes reportedly caused extensive physical damage to buildings and homes.

The majority of local sources, including Nabd News and @ShahbaPress, attributed the airstrikes to Russian airplanes. However, Smart News only identified that both Russian and regime planes carried out airstrikes in the area but did not distinguish which struck Karm Al Dhaham.

An image posted by Enab Baladi showed a woman mourning for the loss of her family members and images posted by @Ahmd_alfaran show the physical destruction to buildings caused by the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A woman weeps for her relatives in the Karam al-Tahan neighborhood of Aleppo.
  • 'Seven killed and dozens of wounded in addition to the great destruction in buildings and property.'

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
    5 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1696

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1995518, 37.1815538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and seven civilians were killed and more than 10 civilians were injured in airstrikes against the Al Qaterji neighborhood of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. At the time of reporting of five casualties, civil defense workers were still searching among the rubble for additional bodies or survivors.

According to Smart News, both regime and Russian airplanes carried out airstrikes in the area – though Smart didn’t identify who was responsible for the strikes against the Al Qaterji neighborhood.

Halab News listed seven unidentified civilians as killed in a Russian strike.

Most sources didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civil defense elements search among the rubble for survivors following an airstrike on the al-Qatraji district of Aleppo, Nov 26th (via Smart)

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 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1695

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

باب النيرب , Bab al Nairab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed in alleged Russia or Assad regime air or artillery strikes on the Bab al Nairab neighborhood in Aleppo, sources on the ground reported.

According to Smart News, both regime and Russian airplanes carried out airstrikes in the area. The source didn’t identify who was responsible for the strikes against the Bab al Nairab neighborhood.

However, other local sources gave conflicting reports of who to blame, with @AksalserNews and @AleppoAMC identifying regime planes while Halab News listed Russian planes as the culprit.

The names of the civilians killed in the airstrikes were not yet identified by Halab News.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    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

RS1700

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة , Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

HNN listed two unidentified civilians as killed “following Russian enemy raids on Kafr Hamra”.

@ShahbaPress also put the death toll at two and blamed Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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]

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
  • 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

RS1699

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

كفر بسين , Kafr Bisin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2709462, 36.9960522 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians died including a woman in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Bisin, Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

@ShahbaPress reported that there were”four martyrs and several wounded civilians following raids by the Russian occupation aircraft on the village of Kafr Bassin countryside”.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zeinab Khassa
Adult female killed
Mahmoud Misto
50 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 woman1–3 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    '+18 Russian & Syrian Regimes crimes in Aleppo 26-11-2016'
  • 'Aleppo countryside - the remains of a reconnaissance aircraft that targeted 4 civilians in Kafarbesin'
  • Mahmoud Mustafa Ismail, 50-years-old, killed in a strike on Kafr Bisin, Nov 26th (via Kafar hamra1 )

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 – 4
  • (1 woman1–3 men)
  • 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

RS1694

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

مساكن هنانو , Masaken Hanano residences neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.228558, 37.2000933 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four civilians were killed and nine others were wounded in air or artillery strikes on the Masaken Hanano residences neighbourhood in Aleppo.

Local sources gave conflicting reports of who was responsible for the airstrikes against Masaken Hanano. Both Halab News and @ShahbaPress identified Russian planes as being responsible for the airstrikes.

However, according to Syrian Press Center, regime forces and pro-government militias struck the civilian housing area with airstrikes.

Smart News listed both regime and Russian planes as carrying out airstrikes in the area but did not identify which had struck Masaken Hanano.

The use of cluster bombs and chlorine was noted by Syrian Press Center

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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]

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
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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

RS1693

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

منطقة الكسارة , Al Kassara area in the Sakhour neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.566356, 39.917257 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and 14 civilians were killed and dozens of others were wounded in alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrikes against the Al Kassara area in the Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the low estimate of three deaths while Halab News listed that 14 civilians were killed but their identities were not known. The conflicting reports may have been due to the time of reporting as many sources said that civilians remained trapped under the rubble at the time of the reporting.

The majority of local sources, including @ShahbaPress, attributed the airstrikes to Russian airplanes.

However, Ara News reported that the regime forces were responsible for the casualties after dropping explosive barrels on the town of Al Kassara. In addition, Smart News stated that both Russian and regime forces were responsible for airstrikes in the area without specifying which carried out the airstrikes on Al Kassara.

A graphic video posted by @Joudyalhalaby included the bodies of at least three of the victims of the airstrikes, which had suffered violent injuries.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 14
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'Al-Sakhour neighborhood in Aleppo After heavy shelling +18'

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
    3 – 14
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]