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

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

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

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

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

RS1300

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes in the neighborhood of al Kalassa, Aleppo, killed at least seven members of one family, local sources reported. The death toll may have been as high as 27, with sources reporting at least three children and three women dead, and photographs circulating of a father holding his dead son. LCCSY reported that phosphorus was used, and several reports mentioned barrel bombs.

It was unclear who was to blame for the strikes. Some reported that “Russian warplanes” were responsible: Smart News, Sawaleif News, Almadinah, @ALAMAWI, LCCSY, and SN4HR all used the language. However, Arab48 mentioned helicopters at the scene, suggesting regime involvement.

Reports on the number of casualties varied, but most sources referred to seven dead from a single family. Qasioun News stated, “14 civilians were killed in the neighbourhood of al Kalassa,” while Arab48 and Sawaleif referred to 27 dead in total across three neighbourhoods. @step_agency tweeted that nine were killed.

According to SN4HR, the strikes were carried out in the vicinity of “Ghajar’s Chicken” shop.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 27
  • (3 children3 women1 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aleppo White Helmets trying to extinguish the fire in the chaotic aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Kalassa (via White Helmets)
  • The neighborhood of al-Kalassa was targeting by airstrikes carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime (via LCCSY)
  • The contested airstrikes targeting al-Kalassa left parts of the city completely destroyed (via White Helmets)

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
    7 – 27
  • (3 children3 women1 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1301

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Assad regime warplanes killed one civilian, a young man, and wounded two others on the road outside the Maskana souk, Aleppo, local reports alleged.

“Airstrikes also targeted the main highway near Bado neighbourhood and the entrance to the souq of Maskana city in the eastern suburbs where a young man was martyred and others were injured,” said an LCCSY Facebook post. Other sources corroborated this report: @HalabTodayTV, @RadioAlKul, @ALAMAWI, and Step News all ran reports using similar language.

Most reports did not state the identity of the warplanes, but LCCSY and the Smart News Agency said the planes were Russian.

However, Radio Alkul said that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1302

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

الميسر, Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.212011, 37.171227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Maysar neighbourhood, according to local media.

Al Jazeera reported that seven civilians were killed in regime strikes “in the neighborhoods of Sukkari Mashhad Marjeh and Salhin.”

But LCCSY said that Russia also carried out strikes resulting in an unspecified number of dead and wounded.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

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
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1303

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

جزمتي, Jazmati neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196287, 37.199106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, LCCSY, reported an unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Jazmati neighbourhood.

@naifaleidi and @HalabTodayTV also reported Russian strike on Jazmati but made no mention of civilian harm.

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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1304

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

مارجا, Marja neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians died in an alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Marja neighbourhood, according to local media.

LCCSY said Russia carried out strikes, though Al Jazeera reported that seven civilians were killed in regime strikes “in the neighborhoods of Sukkari Mashhad Marjeh and Salhin.”

 

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

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
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]