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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
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Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
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Incident Code

RS805

Incident date

May 22, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that nine female farmers died when remains of cluster bombs allegedly fired by Russia exploded.

Al Jisr TV also reported this information, but said this occurred in Kafr Hamra – which is possibly a mistake.

Because of near-identical copy by all media, this is presently classed as a weakly reported incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (9 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ 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 May 1st – 31st

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (9 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS838

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

الهلك, Huluk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.237367, 37.171512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians died in an incident in Huluk, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The Shaam News Network reported on alleged Russian raids with warplanes and helicopters across Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. It said that this coincided with “violent artillery shelling“, killing two civilians in the Huluk neighborhood.

Baladi also blamed Russia, putting the death toll at two with four injured.

Alsouria reported eight civilians killed.

However, other sources blamed the regime.

Sky News was among other news outlets who said the regime had shelled “Al-Hulluk, Al-Sakhour, Shikh Khoudur and Hanano”, killing 14 non-combatants.

Smart News did not report any deaths, but said that an unspecified number of civilians were killed by “regime artillery”.

According to a tweet by LCCSY, “regime helicopters threw explosive barrels on Al-Hulluk neighbourhood in Aleppo.”

In a video, a White Helmets worker said that “an explosive barrel was thrown and caused the death of over 15 civilians and wounded tens of people.” They did not say who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Al-Hulluk massacre which caused by two explosive barrels and killed more than 10 civilians" (Youtube via AMC)

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 June 1st – 31st 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 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS870

Incident date

June 7, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that two civilians died in an airstrike on Hraytan – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The White Helmets published a video and image of them extinguishing a fire in a “civilian car” which they said had been caused by “helicopters firing barrel bombs” – suggesting that this was an attack by the regime.

However, subsequent posts by the White Helmets spoke of “raids using vacuum missiles” and “Russian raids“, indicating that this may have been the work of the regime and Russia.

Other sources pointed towards Russia, with Syria_24s saying that Moscow launched 13 raids with cluster bombs.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, and said that two non-combatants were killed. According to Damas_time: “the Syrian Air Force targeted armed groups in Handarat and Haritan and the perimeter of the military school.”

Two victims were named – as killed by Russian cluster bombs – by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdelgani Hasan al-Bayaa
Adult male killed
Abdelaziz Jaklan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • A team of rescuers at the aftermath of an alleged barrel bomb attack on Hrayatan (Youtube by Madinet Haritan)
  • "Baghdad street was hit by missiles in Haritan on the second day of Ramadan" (Youtube by Anadan Media Center)
  • "Destruction of stores and residential buildings in Baghdad street in Haritan" (Youtube by Qasioun News Agency)
  • "More than a 1000 Russian raids targeted Kafr Hamra, Anadan, Haritan, Hayan, Ma’aret Al-Arteeq, Qabir Al-ingleezi in an hour" (Tweet by @ZakariaNassani)
  • A car burns on Baghdad Street in Hrayatan after alleged barrel bomb attack (Tweet via Thiqa News Agency)
  • "Martyrdom of Abdul-Aziz Jaqlan and many others were wounded in cluster bomb shellings in Haritan" (Tweet by HalabTodayTV)
  • "civil defence putting out a fire in a civilian car following helicopters firing barrel bombs on the town of Hraitan in the northern Aleppo countryside" (via White Helmets Facebook)
  • "civil defence team move a martyr killed following the air raids using vacuum missiles on the town of Hraitan in the northern Aleppo countryside" (via White Helmets Facebook)
  • "removing the rubble and opening the roads following the russian raids on Hraitan" (via The White Helmets Facebook)

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS902

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven civilians died in an airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local sources. The majority of reports attributed the incident to Russia, however, two said that this was the work of the Syrian regime.

Accordng to @ShahbaPress – who pointed towards Russia – two children were included in the dead.

However, @syriahadath and @QasiounNewsAR blamed the regime.

Al Jazeera reported that as many as six children died in ”Syrian and Russian raids”.

Some other sources did not identify the culprit, but said that civilians were still trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "The civil defence team managed to pull three people alive from under the rubble" (via Aleppo White Helmets Facebook) [Page unavailble accessed via Airwars archive)
  • The destruction in Kafr Halab (Youtube by AMC)

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 June 1st – 31st 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 – 7
  • (1–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS936

Incident date

June 25, 2016

Location

خربة العمقية, Kharbat al A'mika, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.5724474, 36.3857108 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, an alleged Russian airstrike on Kharbat al-A’mika killed between three and 11 civilians and wounded a number others.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the airstrike killed one entire family: “The bombing on the village (…) resulted in the killing of five individuals from the same family [four children and one woman]”. It should also be noted that the Syrian News Network claimed that cluster bombs were used in the attacks.

@ALAMAWI put the death toll at 11, but like a number of other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A photograph from SN4HR report - image also used on Il Ibzimo 19th June incident - therefore unsure of legitimacy. (via SN4HR

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS968

Incident date

July 2, 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

Heavy and “barbaric” shelling killed six named civilians including two children and injured between 10 and 25 civilians in Ar-Rastan, Homs, according to local media. The majority of the injured were – according to Baladi News and Sna Agency – mostly women and children. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Several sources claimed that two other bodies were so badly burnt they were unidentifiable, including Qasioun News Agency, Sna News Agency and other local sources.

All sources blamed either Russian or Syrian regime warplanes. Shaam Network reported that “The skies of the northern Homs countryside and western Hama countryside were full of planes. Assad and his allies have carried out air raids on liberated points on the civilian houses, which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded a number of civilians.”

Homscommittee reported five children died and blamed the regime. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Yehya Al-Ashtar
Age unknown male killed
Ahlam Bakkor, (wife of yehya Al Ashtar)
Age unknown female killed
Mohammed Bakkor
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Khaled Mohammed Farzat
47 years old male killed
Youssef Al-Qassem
3 years old male killed
Murad Al-Qasem
4 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian children treated for wounds following alleged air raids on Ar-Rastan, Homs (Youtube via Qasioun)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An unidentifed body covered in sheets following alleged warplane shelling (Youtube via Alrastm Alrastm)

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 July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1000

Incident date

July 13, 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 21 civilians died and as many as 55 more were wounded in a major civilian casualty event in Al Rastan, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Syrian Press Center reported a Russian warplane carried out the raid, using missiles.

However, Qasioun News blamed the regime for the airstrike, calling it a “massacre” in which least 43 people were wounded, “the majority were women and children”.

Al Jazeera also blamed the regime, citing air and artillery strikes. A Civil Defence member who was filming as he rescued blamed the regime as did several other local news sources.

All4Syrian News blamed both Russian warplanes and the Assad regime. They also put the number of civilians killed at 21.

LCCSY reported at the end of the day that “27 martyrs were reported in #Homs most of them were killed during Russian airstrikes on #Rastan.”

The report also claims there were 4 unidentified bodies.

Orient news and SMO Syria placed the number of wounded as high as 50. All4Syria put the numbers slightly lower at over 30. Qasioun reported that the hospitals were full of wounded, creating a chaotic environment. There is video evidence showing a makeshift hospital formed to hold wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Adnan Karman
Age unknown male killed
Hussam Adnan Karman
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Ziad Al-Takes
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Ayyub
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Mahmood Abbas
Age unknown male killed
Abdul-Mun’im Al-Shimali
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Taktak
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Fayez Al-Youssef
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Al-Fares
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Khatib
Age unknown male killed
Hamza Masharqa
Age unknown killed
Nada Mohammed Ali Ayoub
Age unknown killed
Farhan Shah’houd
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 21
  • (3 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–55
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused to a local market and residential buildings following and believed to be, joint Russian and Assad regime raid in Al Rastan. 13th July 2016. (via, Syrian Newsdesk).
  • Locals carry a wounded man to safety following a raid on Al Rastan by Russian and the Assad regime. (via, Syrian Newsdesk).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rows of dead bodies in Ar Rastan, victims of alleged warplane shelling on the market (Youtube by Arastan Arastan)
  • A cloud of dark smoke rises in Ar Rastan following suspected warplane shelling (via SMO Syria)

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 July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 21
  • (3 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–55
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1032

Incident date

July 23, 2016

Location

غوطة دمشق, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51388889, 36.49861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eastern Ghouta was bombarded with raids on July 23rd damaging many small residential towns within the district and killing between two and nine civilians, according to sources on the ground.

Both Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Smart News reported that the Assad regime struck the area with jets and warplanes. Shaam News Network, however, blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

The Smart News correspondent reported that “the military regime warplanes carried out two raids on the town Eastern Ghouta, targeting residential areas, killing civilians, and wounding others, including women and children.”

Many of the small towns within and around Ghouta were also reportedly affected by the targeted airstrikes. A cheese factory was said to have been targeted which led to the outbreak of huge fired, and according to Syria Reporter Net, killed several civilians.

In the small town Hammuriyyeh, two raids reportedly killed a woman and a child. The residential neighbourhoods Douma, Al-rehaneya, Sakba, Alrehan and Al-shifonyyah were also hit with four strikes and even came under close range artillery fire, according to Syrian Reporter Net.

The same new source reported the death of nine civilians with a number more wounded after six airstrikes in Ghouta.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights filed similar reports which claimed there were six raids on Eastern Ghouta and its smaller towns. SOHR also reported that a woman and a child were killed in Hammuriyyeh. It added that after midnight there were a further eight raids were carried out in the same area.

Shaam News Network summarised that “Russian warplanes carried out raids on Douma, al Shifoniya, al Rihan, Hosh Nasri, Hamouriya and Misrayia which coincided with very violent artillery shelling leaving martyrs and wounded among civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 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 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime