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
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS1313

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local and international media reported six civilians, including three or four children and one man named Mohammad Alloush, were killed in an air raid on the neighbourhood of Bab al Nayrab, which according to CNN and Sky News Arabia struck a water pumping station which supplied 250 thousand people in eastern Aleppo. Geroun News said phosphorus bombs were used, leading to a fire in the station. It was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

According to HNN, “three children, a man, an unidentified woman, and Mohammad Alloush” were killed in the raids.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that deaths were caused by Russian warplanes and the regime’s helicopters, listing “two children, a girl and a young man from one family, in addition to a woman and her child” as killed.

Most sources put the death toll at six: @shahed_alep suggested that all six were from the same family. Islammemo and @Mamoun_sy both published roundups of death tolls in Aleppo neighbourhoods which claimed six dead in Bab al Nayrab.

Sources did not agree on the identity of those responsible. Alsouria attributed the damage to “heavy shelling,” @RFS_mediaoffice and @ALAMAWI both accused Russian warplanes, while Syrian Press Center and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights both stated that the attackers were the joined forces of the regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Alloush
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A little girl is dug out from the under rubble following the airstrikes in Bab al Nayrab, reportedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime (via al-Rai newspaper)
  • Images showing the destruction caused by the contested airstrikes in Bab al-Nayrab (via Christian Triebert)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    6 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1312

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that five or six civilians from the same family were killed by Russian warplanes in al Marja, Aleppo.

Halab News reported identified four fatalities by name and added that an unidentified baby also was among the casualties.

Multiple sources claimed that the dead were from the same family, including @ShahbaPress, @shbabRevolution, @ALAMAWI, @HNMNEWS, and @news_shabab.

Enabbaladi News posted a graphic photograph of a dead child being pulled from the ruins. @ShehabAgency also tweeted a photograph of a very young child, as did @HNMNEWS and @shbabRevolution. AleppoAMC posted a video of the same moment on YouTube.

@SyrianEvent1 was among the majority of sources in putting the death toll at six.

Almasdar, Step News, and al-Buraq media noted that the strikes were part of a larger Russian operation which struck multiple Aleppo neighbourhoods.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mohammad Jumaa al Alloush
Adult male killed
Kafaa Fa’our
Adult female killed
Amina Mohammad al Alloush
Child female killed
Rawan Mohammad al Alloush
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Civil defence digging a killed man up from under the rubble, who reportedly was a victim of the alleged Russian airstrikes on Marjah, Aleppo (via AMC)
  • A dead body is being digged up from under the rubble following the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Marjah, Aleppo (via HMNNEWS)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Marjah, Aleppo (via HMNNEWS)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Marjah, Aleppo (via HMNNEWS)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Marjah, Aleppo (via HMNNEWS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A three-week old baby was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Marjah, Aleppo (Shehab Agency)
  • A child victim of the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Marjah, Aleppo, is being rigged up from under the rubble (via Enab baladi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1311

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, a man named Mohammad Houri and an unidentified woman were killed, along with as many as 11 others, with dozens more wounded, by cluster bombs striking the al Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo. Some reports said the regime struck the neighbourhood, while others implicated Russian forces.

Syrians News claimed the most casualties, stating “in addition to dropping barrel bombs, Assad’s helicopters fired artillery and rocket launchers, killing 13 civilians, mostly women and children, and wounding dozens of others.”

Smo-sy News said Russian aviation accounted for 11 civilian deaths, also noting that the dead were mostly women and children.

Smart News reported that Russian bombings of three neighbourhoods, including al Sukkari, killed 30 civilians in total.

@TRTAlarabiya, @mediacenterfr, @ALAMAWI, @RFS_NORTH all corroborated reports of cluster and barrel bombs being used on the neighbourhood.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Houri
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 13
  • (1 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civilians standing in the rubble in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes on al-Sukkari (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes on al-Sukkari, leaving parts of the area complete destroyed (via Baladi News Network)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 13
  • (1 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1310

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

المواصلات, Al Mowasalat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2188989, 37.2510338 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and a man were killed by airstrikes in the al Mowasalat neighbourhood, local media reported. The strikes were reportedly part of a larger set of attacks with cluster bombs and phosphorus on multiple Aleppo neighbourhoods and were attributed both to the Syrian regime and to Russian aircraft. Up to five civilians were wounded in the strikes, which destroyed several residential buildings.

Photographs from @shaamnews and @AleppoAMC showed the extent of the devastation, with at least two large buildings torn apart. Photographs from Erem News showed two dead young children being carried out of the rubble, and Alqabas News released a photograph of one dead body covered in dust being pulled out.

Multiple sources corroborated the number of dead. For example, @SRG_Syria tweeted about “the death of two children and a young man,” and @SN4HR tweeted about “three victims, at least two of them children.”

Cluster bombs were reportedly used in the strikes, according to Smo-sy News.

However, some other sources, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Alqabas News accused the regime of striking the buildings.

But most reports, including ShahbaPress, @Shaamnews, @aleppoAMC, and @SRG_Syria, fingered Russian aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the civilians who was killed by the contested airstrikes targeting Al Mowasalat, Aleppo (via Al-Qabas News)
  • The contested airstrikes left major parts of al-Mowasalat completely destroyed (via AleppoAMC)
  • The contested airstrikes left major parts of al-Mowasalat completely destroyed (via Sham News)
  • A child victim of the contested airstrikes in Aleppo today, reportedly from the strikes in al-Ferdous, Sept 23rd (via TRTalarabiye News)
  • A child victim of the contested airstrikes in al-Mowasalat is being carried away (via Erem News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Mowasalat, Aleppo (via Erem News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1309

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported between two and nine civilians were killed and several others injured by a bombing on residential buildings in the Tareeq al Bab neighbourhood in Aleppo – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

Some outlets reported napalm was used in the bombings, which were attributed both to the regime and to Russian warplanes.

Multiple photographs and videos captured the destruction of several homes, and according to an LCCSY Facebook post on September 23rd, civilians were still trapped under the rubble.

The Step News Agency tweeted that four people had been pulled alive from the building, while Alwatan reported on September 24th that a search was ongoing for four people still trapped.

@RadioAlKul said that four casualties in Tareeq al Bab were the result of Russian strikes. Ara News also reported four deaths, as did the Shaam News Network.

However, Qasioun and Syrians News reported nine casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Badr Mi’rawi
Child male killed
Ahmad Sheikh Dibo
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • (1 child1 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Rescuing team trying to extinguish the fire caused by the contested airstrikes on Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via AMC)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • The contested airstrikes left parts of Tareeq al-Bab complete destroyed (via ShahbaPress)
  • Remnants of the weaponry targeting of Tareeq al-Bab, Aleppo (via Thiqa News Agency)
  • Tareeq al-Bab after being hit by the contested airstrikes (Aleppo AMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 9
  • (1 child1 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

RS1308

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

الحوطة, Al Houta, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.43222222, 37.74444444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and a woman died in strikes on the village of Al Houta, outside Aleppo, local sources reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

@thiqanewsagency identified the names of three victims, two children and one woman.  Other sources, including @SyriaPulse  @SyrianFNN and @DaretezzaMedia, also reported that three civilians were killed.

Baladi News posted a YouTube video of Al Houta showing a building reduced to rubble, which it attributed to Russian bombardment. The Syrian Network for Human referred to “Russian shelling,” and @RadioAlKul also attributed the strikes to the Russians, but most sources did not refer to a culprit.

However, Qasioun News said the raids were carried out by the Assad regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Marwa Talha
3 years old female killed
Tayba Talha
5 years old female killed
Jamila Yusuf Talha
Adult female killed

Summary

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

  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Houta, Aleppo (via Baladi News Network)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Houta, Aleppo (via Thiqa News Agency)
  • Civilians standing in the rubble caused by the contested strikes on al-Houta, Aleppo (via Jaafr M Deen Youtube)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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

RS1306

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

المشهد, Al Mashad neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1834027, 37.1369648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Jazeera reported that seven civilians died in alleged Assad regime airstrikes on the Aleppo neighbourhoods of “Sukkari, ِMashhad, Marjeh, and Salhin”.

@alhammamnetwork made no mention of civilian harm but said that “Omar Orabi, from the Istaqim Kma Umirt terrorist organisation, died when Syrian helicopters targeted a gathering in the Al Mashad neighbourhood”.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Syrian Regime

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1307

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

حي خان العسل, Khan Al Assal (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.169667, 37.040255 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 44-year-old woman, was killed by warplanes striking the town of Khan al Assal, west of Aleppo, local reports claimed – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

@ShahbaPress tweeted that “Russian occupation aircraft bombed the town of Kafr Dael phosphorus, rockets and Khan Al Assal town of Khan in the countryside west of Aleppo.” ArabsToday said two children were wounded as well.

However, other sources claimed the aircraft was the regime’s. @LCCSY tweeted that Assad’s helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the site. Baladi and Step both confirmed that barrel bombs were used, but did not say what aircraft were involved.

@SyrianArwad suggested the site bombed was a power plant.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fatima Taha Za’rur
44 years old female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The contested airstrikes on Khan Al Assal, Aleppo reportedly also included cluster bombs (via Baladi News Network)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
  • (1 woman)
  • 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]