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

RS1321

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 19 civilians were killed in an aerial bombardment on the Aleppo neighbourhood of al Ferdos, multiple sources reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

Photographs from various sources appeared to show five casualties.

Sources were unclear on the number of casualties, though reports tended to agree that among the casualties were one or two children, one woman, and one man. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at three, including one female child and one woman.

Erem News posted photographs of White Helmets digging bodies out of rubble. The photographs showed adult bodies covered in dust, making it difficult to distinguish the number of dead.

A photograph tweeted by @salqin showed an older man holding a young man’s dead body. This photograph was also tweeted by @TRtalarabiya, with a caption that said, “The number of victims today in Aleppo rose to 93 after a baby and an old man were killed in the neighbourhood of Al Fardous raid by a Russian cluster bomb.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights posted a photograph of Mostafa Hamdan’s dead body. Two other Twitter accounts, @aboalhodaalhoms and @AleppoAMC, tweeted a second photograph of Mostafa, which appeared to have been taken shortly after the first.

An account called @IranArabSpring tweeted more photographs of the neighbourhood shortly after the attacks. In the photos, at least three civilian deaths can be seen: there is a mangled body, a small child (not Mostafa Hamdan), the body of an adult man, and a body wrapped in a rug.

Other sources mentioned higher numbers: AleppoAMC said nine were killed and “dozens” wounded in the attack, while Qasioun News claimed at least 19 deaths.

A YouTube video posted by AleppoAMC showed one body, which appeared to be an adult male, being pulled out of the rubble. Elmwatin News claimed three deaths and “scores” wounded, but noted the casualty numbers could rise as more bodies were pulled out of the rubble.

All4Syria and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that helicopters (belonging to the regime) were involved in the Aleppo strikes for that day, meaning that Assad’s involvement in this event can’t be ruled out.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mostapha Hamdan
8 months years old male killed
Omar Moussali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 19
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Locals trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes on Al Fardous, Sept 23rd (via AleppoAMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Eight months old Mostapha Hamdan was reportedly killed during the airstrikes in Fardous, Sept 23rd, carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Eight months old Mostapha Hamdan was reportedly killed during the airstrikes in Fardous, Sept 23rd, carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia (via aboalhodaalhoms twitter)
  • A child victim of the contested airstrikes in Aleppo today, reportedly from the strikes in al-Ferdous, Sept 23rd (via TRTalarabiye News)
  • The contested strikes in al-ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Arab Spring)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The contested strikes in al-Ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Erem News)
  • The contested strikes in al-Ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Erem News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The contested strikes in al-Ferdous wounded and killed several civilians, Sept 23rd (via Iran Erem News)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 19
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1320

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

الشيخ خضر, al Sheikh Kudar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2219801, 37.1749448 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in bombings on the neighbourhood of al-Sheikh Khudar in Aleppo on September 23rd, local sources reported.

Most outlets reported on the death in similar language to @true_tube, as one of many in “a raid on nearly 30 neighbourhoods.”

Halab News’ list of martyrs included one entry for an unidentified civilian in al-Sheikh Khudar.

According to al Souria News and Zamanalwasl News, the strikes were carried out by Russian warplanes in conjunction with regime helicopters.

@Sy_Reporter tweeted about “Russian raids on the city of Aleppo.”

A tweet from @Mojahed_syr showed a young man facing the camera, standing in a huge crater in the side of a building.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Boy standing in the rubble caused by the contested airstrikes in al Sheikh Kudar, Aleppo, Sept 23rd (via Mojahed_Syr)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1319

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

كرم حومد, Karam Homad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed by airstrikes in the Karam Homad neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to multiple local reports. Several civilians were also wounded, according to @ameeralhalabi and @essamtakly.

Halab News referred to one unidentified civilian killed in the raid, as did the Shaam News Network.

Some sources referred to the strikes as Russian. For instance, @Sy_Reporter placed the blame squarely on “Russian raids.”

Alsouria News, however, said that the raid was a joint effort between the Russians and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (16) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1318

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

المعادي, Al Ma'adi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1914827, 37.1630799 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians were killed in the al Ma’adi neighbourhood of Aleppo on September 23rd by a bombing raid, local sources reported. Reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame. Halab News Network said three civilians died and named two of them.

Extremely graphic photographs from @AleppoAMC showed at least two different dead bodies being removed, and another body wrapped in a rug. The report also mentioned “several wounded.”

@syriapost1 stated that barrel bombs were dropped. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, two of the fatalities were children.

Although some sources, such as @Lccsy and @Sy_Reporter, said Russian aircraft were responsible, according to @SyrianArwad, the aircraft involved included four planes and three helicopters, a report which All4Syria and Almjhar corroborated.

The strikes were reportedly part of a larger campaign against Aleppo, which All4Syria said included over 100 strikes within a couple hours.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amjad Bilal
Age unknown male killed
Abdallah Khawja
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of wounded and dead caused by the airstrikes carried out by either Russian or Syrian warplanes in al-Ma'adi, Sept 23rd (via Aleppo 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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1317

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Air raids on the al Sakhour neighbourhood of Aleppo killed up to two civilians, local media reported. It was unclear whether the attacks were carried out by the regime or by Russia.

Islammemo reported, “two martyrs in al Sakhour.” So did @Sy_Reporter and HNN.

Alaraby News stated that Russian fighters carried out the strike, along with multiple others over Aleppo.

Almjhar News claimed that four warplanes and three helicopters (used by the regime) were involved in actions, though the phrasing made unclear whether all seven aircraft were involved in the Al Sakhour strike.

@Lccsy said that the strikes caused destruction to residential buildings, as did @AleppoAMC (although @AleppoAMC said no civilians were hurt or killed).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes, Sept 23rd, in al-Sakhour that left parts of the area in complete ruins (via Aleppo 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1316

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

الأنصاري, Al Ansari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1529125, 37.075864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Russian aircraft struck a White Helmets building in Aleppo’s al Ansari neighbourhood, killing eight people, according to local sources. The strike reportedly occurred in conjunction with other strikes on White Helmets buildings in Alhaidariya and Hanano, Alsouria News said.

The White Helmets posted a YouTube video showing the extent of the destruction. A large building was demolished, and at least two ambulances were rendered unusable. A tweet from @shaamnews also included photographs of the destroyed vehicles.

Most other sources gave little additional information, but also reported eight deaths. HNN’s list of martyrs had eight unidentified casualties listed for the incident, and the Shaam News Network’s update included the same.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The neighbourhood of Al Ansari was left in ruins following the alleged Russian airstrikes, Sept 23rd (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The alleged Russian airstrikes in Al Ansari neighbourhood, Sept 23rd, reportedly destroyed main parts of the White Helmets building, including vital equipment (via Shaam News)
  • The alleged Russian airstrikes destroyed large parts of Al Ansari neighbourhood, Sept 23rd (via Thiqa News Agency)

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
    8
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1315

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, one woman was killed in Russian raids on the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood of Aleppo.

HNN’s list of martyrs included, “an unidentified woman, following Russian aggression raids on Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, civilian.”

@RadioAlKul tweeted, “an apartment building in the neighbourhood of Bustan al Qasr was destroyed by Russian air raids today [Sept 23rd].”

Most other sources also attributed the strikes to Russia, e.g. “Russian warplanes launched raids on Bustan al Qasr,” according to @SmartNewsAgency. Almjhar News used similar language.

According to the BBC, the strikes lit wildfires in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1314

Incident date

September 23, 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

Local sources reported that five civilians were killed, and four injured, in an airstrike on the al Salheen neighbourhood of Aleppo. While most sources blamed Russia some reports said that the regime also carried out strikes in al Salheen on this day.

A tweet from @AleppoAMC included graphic photographs of three wounded children and a wounded man, with the caption “wounded in aerial bombing, which targeted al Salheen in Aleppo on Friday [Sept 23rd].”

@Sy_Reporter said five martyrs were killed in al Salheen. Islammemo, Almustaqbal, the Shaam News Network and HNN also corroborated that number. @Sy_Reporter blamed Russia, as did Orient News, and HNN. HNN identified the name of one of the victims.

Zamanalwasl did not distinguish between regime and Russian forces, saying both struck neighbourhoods across Aleppo on Friday.

One source alleged that the planes used machine guns in the neighbourhood, as well as bombs. @RFS_NORTH said civilian homes were on fire after the neighbourhood was hit by bombs and strafed with “heavy machine guns.”

According to @shahed_alep, the munitions used were cluster bombs.

A video posted by Qasioun News to YouTube showed a father grieving over his dead son.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Fakhouri
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A father is grieving over his dead son who reportedly was killed in airstrikes on Salheen, Aleppo (via Qasioun News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Several civilians were heavily injured by the airstrikes reportedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on Salheen, Aleppo (via AleppoAMC)
  • Destruction following the airstrikes in Salheen (via Eldorar News)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]