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

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

RS1419

Incident date

October 9, 2016

Location

الظاهرية, Al Zhahiria, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.878124, 36.52047 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three children died in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on al-Zhahiria village, according to local media.

According to LCCSY, “three children were martyred as Russian warplanes carried out thermobaric missile attacks on #Zhahiria village in the western suburb”. This claim was repeated by many other sources.

There was no information available on the identity of the victims.

Majority of the sources pointed to Russia as the culprit – these were the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Spm_Syria, SyriaLive54, EMC and LCCSY.

However, one report by the Step News Agency attributed the strikes to both the Assad regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (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 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 children)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1420

Incident date

October 9, 2016

Location

الغسانية, Al Ghassania, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8142663, 36.2616084 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that aerial shelling in al-Ghassania, outside Idlib, killed one woman and injured 15 more civilians. While most sources attributed this civilian casualty event to Russia, there were also allegations against the Syrian regime.

According to The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “warplanes shelled  Al-Ghassania village in Idlib and killed a woman and wounded 15 others – six of them women. The number of martyrs is likely to rise due to critical injuries”.

The victim’s name and origin was identified by sources such as LCCSY who reported that “young lady Sarah Mgharbil was martyred due to the Russian airstrike on Ghasania village. The martyr is from Jablah city”.

Syria News Desk added that four children were among the injured.

The twitter account @Syrian191124 reported about the culprit’s use of cluster bombs as it tweeted “extensive Russian warplanes shelling with cluster bombs and missiles Ghasania (…)”

While most sources pointed to Russia as the culprit, UrgentLive blamed the Assad regime, while the Step News Agency said that both Assad and Russia were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sarah Mgharbil
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (15) [ 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 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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1418

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

حيش, Heesh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.549065, 36.644537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, an airstrike on Heesh village near Idlib killed a family of four: a father, mother and two children – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. One report claimed that there were five deaths.

According to the Shaam News Network, the strikes hit a home for displaced people which led to the death of the family.

Ara News said that five people from the same family had died – and blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Ghani Al-Kadro
Adult male named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Malak Al-Bakoor
Adult female named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Maher Abdul-Ghani Al-Kadro
Child male named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed
Abdullah ABdul-ghani Al-Kadro
Child male named by Syrian Human Rights Committee killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Rescue by the White Helmets of civilians who were killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Jisirtv )
  • The exact moments the raids hit. (via Baladi)
  • The exact moments the raids hit. (via Baladi)
  • Car damaged in the raid on Heesh. (via Islammemo_cc)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Town of Heesh (حيش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.549065, 36.644537. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    4 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1417

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

Al Masra'a al Thania, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963836, 38.040848 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two children and up to three women died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town Al-Mazra’a Al-Thania near Maskana in Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

According to the Syrian Press Center, “two children were killed and others wounded due to warplanes shelling in Al-Mazra’a Al-Thania and the sugar factory near Maskana in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.”.

Many other sources however reported that up to five civilians died – and Halab News listing five unidentified victims. Syriahadath tweeted that some of those killed were displaced people.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (23) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1415

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

البلاط, al Balat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.197343, 37.171533 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, the neighbourhood al-Balat in Aleppo was hit by air and/or artillery strikes which led to the death of one child and the injury of several more people, including the child’s father. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime, although the majority of reports pointed to the regime.

Syrian Press Center reported that “the regime targeted Al-Balat neighbourhood with surface to surface missiles and killed a child and wounded his father after midnight – Friday and early Saturday”.

Most of the sources pointed to the Assad regime as the responsible – these were Syriamubasher, jsirtv, Syrian Press Center, Sky News Arabic, Smart News and Palestine today.

However, two sources – Orient News and LCCSY – attributed the strike to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (11) [ 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 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1416

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

Rasim al Eis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.994645, 36.999917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on  Rasum al Eis village in Aleppo, according local media. The strikes also reportedly wounded a number of people, including children.

Most sources put the death toll at one. For example Halab Today said that “one person was martyred and three children were wounded and their houses burned as a result of warplanes shelling with cluster bombs in Rasim Al-Eis”.

But Syrian Press Center – who also blamed Russia – said that two people perished.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1412

Incident date

October 6, 2016

Location

بستان الباشا, Bustan al Basha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.226481, 37.168787 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and eight civilians including a woman died and dozens more were injured in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Bustan Al-Basha, Aleppo, according to local media.

The Syrian Organization for the Defense of Human Rights reported that “eight martyrs so far and dozens wounded in Bustan Al-Basha  due to warplanes shelling. The civil defense are still looking for survivors”.

Meanwhile, SNN reported that the strikes only led to one victim

Syria2011 listed one unidentified woman as killed by “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casulty still trapped in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Syrian Organization for the Defense of Human rights)
  • The White Helmets attempting to dig civilians from the rubble. (via Syrian Organization for the Defense of Human rights)
  • The White Helmets attempting to dig civilians from the rubble. (via Syrian Organization for the Defense of Human rights)
  • The White Helmets attempting to dig civilians from the rubble. (via Syrian Organization for the Defense of Human rights)

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
    1 – 8
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]