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
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS1099

Incident date

August 5, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died and dozens more were wounded in an aerial bombardment of a school and neighbourhood in Al Atareb, according to sources on the ground – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

Sources reported that Russian warplanes and government helicopters were sighted in the vicinity – and that there were two raids with vacuum missiles.

There is photo evidence to show the partial damage of Al Atereb School for Boys. Many civilians were reportedly wounded – were wounded but no students were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour
Adult male named by SN4HR killed
Wife of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour
Adult female named by SN4HR killed
Daughter of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour 1
Child female named by SN4HR killed
Daughter of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour 2
Child female named by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • The daughters of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour, both killed in the airstrike. 5th August 2016. (via Facebook)
    The daughters of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour, both killed in the airstrike. 5th August 2016. (via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The daughter of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour. 5th August 2016. (via Facebook)
    The daughter of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour. 5th August 2016. (via Facebook)
  • The daughter of Abdel Moneim Ahmed Mansour, killed in the airstrike. 5th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via, Smart News)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids on Al Atarib. (via, Alburak)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via, SN4HR)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via, baladinetwork)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via, baladinetwork)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via, baladinetwork)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via ShahbaPress)
  • Al Aterib School for Boys, destroyed in the alleged raids. (via ShahbaPress)

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 August 1st – 10th 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
    4
  • (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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1098

Incident date

August 5, 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

In what has been described by reporters as a “massacre”, no less than 11 civilians, including seven children and one woman, died following an aerial bombardment on the residential neighbourhood al Marja. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights however, noted that the numbers were most likely to rise due to the nature of the injures. Sources blame both Syrian regime helicopters and Russian warplanes carried out strikes on the area on this date.

According to LCCSY, the neighbourhood was targeted with rockets containing spatial cluster bombs. The source later said that the Russian air force carried out at least four raids, with the use of rocket spatial cluster bombs on Al Marjah neighbourhood.

LCCSY also reported that a minimum of 18 other civilians were injured.

Reports of material damage were confirmed by the Shaam News Network, which said that hundreds of civilian homes were hit with “violently explosive barrel bombs”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Reda son of Ahmed Qarfaa
4 years old male named by LCCSY killed
Reda son of Abdu Qarfaa
6 years old male named by LCCSY killed
Obaid son of Hassan Qarfaa
7 years old male named by LCCSY killed
Omar Ibnson of Hassan Qarfaa
5 years old male named by LCCSY killed
Reem Hassan Qarfaa
8 years old female named by LCCSY killed
Mona Radwan Qarfaa
35 years old female named by LCCSY killed
Mohamed son of Radwan Qarfaa,
23 years old male named by LCCSY killed

Family members (2)

Child from the Jadou family 1
Age unknown under the age of 10, named by LCCSY killed
Child from the Jadou family 2
Age unknown under the age of 10, named by LCCSY killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Abboud Khurmah
45 years old male killed
Nabil Habashia
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (7 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–24
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An entire family killed following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on Al Marja, 5th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
    Family of the deceased following an airstrike on Al Marja, 5th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath. 5th August 2015, (via Arabs Todays)
    The aftermath. 5th August 2015, (via Arabs Todays)
  • Civilians carry civilian casualties from the wreckage following an alleged raid. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An entire family killed following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on Al Marja, 5th August 2016. (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • An image showing a rocket spatial cluster bomb, in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Syrianpc)
  • An image showing the extent of the destruction following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Radioalkul)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child awaits medical treatment following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid which claimed the lives of up to 11 civilians. (via, @salqin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child awaits medical treatment following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid which claimed the lives of up to 11 civilians. (via, @salqin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured baby revives medical treatment following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid which claimed the lives of up to 11 civilians. (via, @salqin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in the aftermath of the incident in Marjah. (via, Alkabar_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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (7 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–24
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1097

Incident date

August 4, 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

One adult male died in an airstrike on Heesh, Idlib, according to local media. According to Amagharib Today, he died on August 5th from injures he sustained in the attack.

Only one source, the Violations Documentation Center, blamed Russia for his death.

Other sources didn’t apportion blame and there are no other details present at this time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Abduallh al Mohammad, also known as “al Abdal Lateef”
52 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khaled Abduallh al mohammad, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1095

Incident date

August 4, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians died, including a woman and two children, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha. According to Ara News, the warplanes launched strikes on the neighbourhood, “in an attempt to prevent the arrival of a new military Maazrat Army conquest of the region”.

LCCSY reported that rockets were fired over the Western suburbs, killing four civilians and “wounding several others”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that “in addition to the death of two children and about 30 more were wounded, including children. Additionally, the Observatory learned that at least 11 fighters from the band fighters were killed when their headquarters in the area Kafr Naha countryside west of Aleppo was struck, during the 48 hours the past.” Despite this, other sources reported there were up to four civilian casualties.

Multiple sources including Smart News, Lebanese News and Qasioun said that there were up for six vacuum missile strikes and other heavy shelling.

Halab Today tweeted that both women and children were injured in the attack. Smart News claimed that six civilians were injured, however Orient News claimed that “more than dozens were injured” in the town of Kafr Naha.

Orient News reported that “Warplanes launched several air raids on villages and towns in the vicinity of Khan Tuman, with more than 30 air raids, which resulted in the death of 13 civilians and injury of dozens in the town of Kafr Naha”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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 (17) [ 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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1096

Incident date

August 4, 2016

Location

معرة الأتارب, Maarat al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1597476, 36.8192717 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and six civilians including two children died and as many as 30 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime airstrike on the two camps for displaced person near the town of Maarat al Atareb.

Halab News Network reported there were no less than eight raids, with the use of cluster bombs in the vicinity.

The camps which made up approximately 50 tents, were reportedly left shattered. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “one of the camps is located in the area between Ma’aarat al-Atareb and road al-Sahara and has more than 30 tents, while the other is located between Ma’aarat al-Atareb and the road to al-Atareb town and has about 20 tents. The airstrikes on both camps damaged and burned about 10 tents”. The Observatory said that 30 people were injured in the raid, though Syria News Desk put the number injured much lower at 10.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights added that the missiles also struck an ambulance at the Civil Defence Centre in Maarat al Atareb.

HNN claimed that the bombardment was so intense that ambulances were unable to reach the area for some time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime raids. Maarat al Atareb, 4th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
    A child killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime raids. Maarat al Atareb, 4th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (SN4HR).
    Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (SN4HR).
  • An ambulance caught in the riads. (via, SN4HR)
  • Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (SyrianPC)
  • Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (Syria-news)
  • An image showing an ambulance caught in the raids and the extent of the destruction on the displaced persons tents. (via, Smo-sy)
  • Inside of the ambulance which was caught inthe alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, shahbaPress)

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 August 1st – 10th 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 – 6
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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

RS1093

Incident date

August 3, 2016

Location

شغور, Shaghuor, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8504774, 36.2822629 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, as killed by a Russian cluster bomb. While the source reports that the victim was from Shahour village, it’s unclear whether he was killed there.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Ahmad Abd al Raheem Abd al Monem
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1094

Incident date

August 3, 2016

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1996458, 37.0546765 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six named civilians died in an air or artillery strike on Al Mansoura in the western suburbs of Aleppo, local sources said.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, on “Wednesday evening 3 August 2016, alleged Russian warplanes carried out two airstrikes on the residential homes located in the northwestern areas of Al Mansoura town, located in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate – an under the control of armed opposition factions – resulting in the killing of six individuals (four children and two women) most of whom were from the same family.”

SN4HR, however, was the only source directly blaming Russia; others didn’t apportion blame, meaning that the regime can’t be ruled out. Furthermore, some sources stated that there had also been artillery shelling on Al Mansoura on this day.

No one else was reported injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Shahed Saleh Yusuf
4 years old named by Halab News killed
Fatima Saleh Yusuf
2 years old female named by Halab News killed
Mohammed Dib Saleh Yusuf
10 months years old male named by Halab News killed
Hala Yusuf Yusuf
5 years old named by Halab News killed

Family members (2)

Fatima Mohammed Al-Ahmad
23 years old female named by Halab News killed
Walla Juma Al-Ahmad
22 years old female named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1092

Incident date

August 3, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian shelling killed two civilians in Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

According to Baladi News, a rocket was reportedly seen in the vicinity. Further to this, Smart News said that it was specifically a missile strike which killed two civilians and wounded six others.

A number of sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Hamdo Ramadan
49 years old male named by Halab News killed
Subhi Ahmed Ramadan
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Hamdo Ramadan, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • Subhi Ahmed Ramadan, killed in an alleged Russia raid. (via, VDC)

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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]