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

RS1226

Incident date

September 5, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as ten others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on al Rastan, according to local media.

Syria1news1 tweeted an image of a man crying over his sister’s body following a strike. Like a number of sources, the report didn’t identify the warplane responsible. But other reports attributed the event to Russia.

According to LCCSY, “a civilian was killed and ten others were wounded, including four children when Russian warplanes bombed Rastan town”.

Shahbla added that a child was also killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hasson
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A young man weeps over the body of his sister - allegedly killed in Russian airstrikes on al Rastan (Tweet via @syria1news1)
  • An elderly man in Al Rastan prays - he was injured in suspected Russian shelling (Youtube via Alrstn alrstn)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the body of Mohammed Hasson, a displaced person from Ghernata village, killed in alleged Russian shelling (Youtube via Homs Alrastan)
  • Bombing in Al Rastan - clouds of smoke rise after alleged strikes (Youtube via Qasioun)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1258

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

Umm Jeene, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.763229, 37.247772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Qasioun, “three civilians were killed and others wounded due to Russian warplanes shelling in both Um Jeene and Al-Hootah villages in the western countryside of Aleppo.”

The Step News Agency also put the death toll at three and blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (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 strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1421

Incident date

October 9, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three men died in an airstrike on the al-Salheen neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. The majority of sources attributed the event to the Assad regime, though there was one allegation against Russia.

LCCSY reported that “three civilians were martyred and others were seriously injured due to Russian airstrikes with cluster bombs on the Salihin neighbourhood”.

The use of cluster bombs was noted.

Most sources – Syria HR, All4Syria, Enab Baladi, Micro Syria, Halab Today and VDC – blamed the regime. However, LCCSY pointed to Russia as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Juneid
Age unknown reported that they were “activists”, identified by All4Syria killed
Ahmad Abu Alnoor
Age unknown male reported that they were “activists”, identified by All4Syria killed
Mosa Almohammed
Age unknown named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Salheen, 9th October 2016. (via Thiqa)
  • Damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Salheen, 9th October 2016. (via Thiqa)
  • Damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Salheen, 9th October 2016. (via Thiqa)
  • Damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Salheen, 9th October 2016. (via Thiqa)

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 October 1st – 19th 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
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2289

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

فجر, Fajir, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.074543, 37.547321 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and two children were killed, and five others were wounded, in an airstrike on Fajir, local media reported. Sources all blamed Russian military aircraft for the raids. 

According to Radio.Fresh, the wounded were transferred to hospital in the aftermath. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (2) [ 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 June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2695

Incident date

November 6, 2017

Location

البقعان, Al-Baq'an, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.62772, 40.861717 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that three civilians were killed, and seven others were wounded, in airstrikes which struck the river crossing in Al-Baq’an. Sources either named Russia as culpable, or reported “unknown warplanes” were to blame.

According to Al Hall, Russian shelling “targeted the river crossing in the village of Baqan, killing three civilians and wounding seven others, most of them in critical condition.”

Yunes Gamos reported that “They were helping  people cross the Euphrates River from Shamiya to the island near Al-baqa`an Bridge”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hikim al Dibis
Age unknown killed
Turki Hussein al Mulla Abboud
Age unknown killed
Khalil al Hammoud al Hamad al Khattab
Age unknown killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al-Baq'an, 6th November 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al-Baq'an, 6th November 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2522

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

بداما, Bdama, Jisr al Shoughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians, including a child, were killed and up to 11 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes against the town of Bdama in the western village of Jisr al-Shoughour, according to local sources.

The initial estimate was that only one civilian, a child, had died but another civilian died the following day, September 26th, from his wounds sustained during the airstrike.

Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes against Bdama. The Syrian Network for Human Rights offered contradictory information, blaming Russian forces in one report while blaming regime forces in another report. However, the other source that reported on the incident, Idlib Media Centre, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

Orient News published an interview with the civil defence. Here is a rough transcript:

At 0’30” in the interview: I don’t know what to tell you. This is a civilian area, and it got hit at ten in the morning. Go and target military areas, we don’t mind.  One man died while he was fixing his tractor. He has six kids

At 1’15” in the interview with a doctor. “The regime is targeting the liberated coast and west of Jisr al Shoughour. All the injured and dead are civilians. There were about twenty of them including three martyrs of whom two were kids. Those injured were women, kids, old people, and a few young civilian men.”

“At 2’20” a reporter says: “Regime planes and helicopters are targeting al Badama alongside Russian planes and regime artillery.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ammar Ahmed Hamoudi
Child injured
Fadwa Hamoudi
Child female injured

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Nasser Hassoun
4 years old male killed
Sister of Hamza Sadiq
Age unknown female injured
Hamza Sadiq
20 years old male " a college student at faculty of Pharmacy from Jisr al Shoghour city" Other sources said he was a pharmacist killed
Fadwa Hamoudi
Age unknown female injured
Mohamed A'raj
Age unknown male injured
Juma Khalilu
Adult killed
Bashir Stouf
Adult injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–11
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • Image of Mohammad Nasser Hassoun, a child killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Bdama on September 25, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Image of Hamza Sadiq, a college student that died from wounds sustained during alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Bdama on September 25, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Mohammad Nasser Hassoun, a child killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Bdama on September 25, 2017 (via Marsad Sarmada)
  • The exact moment the airstrike hit Bdama, 25th Sept 2017. (via Qasioun News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–11
  • 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

RS020 CS133

Incident date

October 6, 2015

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and a 46 year old male were reported killed during four alleged Russian strikes in the evening on Anadan. Another man was also named as a victim by VDC. Eyewitnesses described at least one secondary, or ‘double tap’ strike.

A local medic told Qassioun: “Between the afternoon and evening Russian planes carried out intensive raids on areas in the northern Aleppo countryside which led to dozens of injured and three deaths. One of the martyrs is a ten year old boy, a young man of 17 years old and a 40 year old man. The injuries are very serious.”

Smart TV showed footage of Russian aircraft which it said was filmed near Aleppo: “Spotted at 17:30 in the evening, for the first time, one of the Russian planes in the sky of the city of Aleppo on their way to carry out raids on the villages and towns of the countryside.”

And Ibrahim Kharfan, a rebel in the town, insisted only civilian areas were being targeted: “The Russians are claiming, along with the regime and all those supporting this rotten regime they are claiming they are targeting [military] bases. We are here in Anadan and everything you see here is civilian houses. All the bombing now is being directed at civilians’ houses.”

While there was near consensus that Russia was responsible, VDC continues to list both boys as having been killed in a US-led Coalition strike.

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

The incident occured at 17:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Amin al-Sageer
Adult male He was 46 years old and VDC says he was killed due to Russian strikes killed
Amin al-Sageer
Adult male killed
Abd al-Rahman al-Sageer
Child male He was 10 years old and VDC says he was killed due to coalition shelling killed
Ahmad Othman Hamidi
Child male He was 17 years old and VDC says he was killed due to coalition shelling killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A video reporting four alleged Russian raids on the town of Anadan on, 6th October 2015. (via, The Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Footage reporting that Russian planes targeted Anadan in Aleppo for the first time, 6th October 2015. (via Arabs in Turkey)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of one of the children, Abed Al Rahman al Sageer, killed in the raid on Anadan, 6th October 2015. (via, VDC)
  • News bulletin reporting that 4 Russian raids on Anadan had caused deaths and injuries. One eyewitness reports that two brothers were killed in the raid. [Via: Al Aan news]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Although Russia reported 20 combat sorties for October 6th 2015, no reference was made to strikes in Aleppo governorate. The Russian MoD also intimated that opposition forces were faking reports of civilian casualties: “It cannot be ruled out that now terrorists are intentionally preparing acts of provocation such as detonation of mosques in order to demonstrate fake photos and videos to indict the Russian aviation.”

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
    37SCA244183
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 6, 2015, in Anadan, 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. 2851/CS133 37SCA244183

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3194

Incident date

March 7, 2018

Location

كفر يدين, Kafa Yadin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

34.524167, 36.562222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to three civilians were killed, and dozens more were injured in airstrikes on Kafa Yadin, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Three raids directly struck the town, with media reporting that both Russian RPG’s and explosive barrel bombs were used on the vicinity.

Jisr Media Centre reported “four civilian casualties after two strikes on # Kafar Yadinand # Ghassaniya and throwing explosive barrels at the  Al Najiya and Al Kinda  in the western village of Jisr al-Shughour.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Mahmoud Abdel Rahman
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al Ghassaniya, 7th March 2018. (via Jisr.Media.Center)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al Ghassaniya, 7th March 2018. (via Jisr.Media.Center)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al Ghassaniya, 7th March 2018. (via Jisr.Media.Center)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al Ghassaniya, 7th March 2018. (via Jisr.Media.Center)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Al Ghassaniya, 7th March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]