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

RS1089

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

بداما, Bdama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bdama, according to local media.

Photographic evidence from the Syrian Civil Defence showed the examination of what appears to be a Russian ballistic missile, containing cluster bombs.The director of the Civil Defence in Bdama reported that “the Russian barges struck Alchgrh village with a ballistic missile, the bombing is he first of its kind”.

Halab Today put the death toll at one with eight more wounded – and blamed Russia. There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The examination by the Civil Defence of what appears to be a Russian ballistic missile containing cluster bombs. Bdama, 2nd August 2016. (via Halab Today).
    The examination by the Civil Defence of what appears to be a Russian ballistic missile containing cluster bombs. Bdama, 2nd August 2016. (via Halab Today).
  • The examination by the Civil Defence of what appears to be a Russian ballistic missile containing cluster bombs. Bdama, 2nd August 2016. (via Halab Today).

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1088

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On August 2nd, the raids continued in Idlib, with alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes shelling a residential neighbourhood in Sermin, killing a further four civilians, sources on the ground reported.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, both warplanes and helicopters carried out the strikes.

The Shaam News Network (SNN) reported that this raid left four civilians dead, with many others wounded; Syrian Press Center reported the number injured to be “more than 15”.  A local twitter feed also reported that a girl was pulled from the rubble. According to SNN, the Civil Defence worked tirelessly to transfer wounded civilians out of Sermin to field hospitals. Photographic evidence by the Syrian Network for Human Rights and other locals showed injured children.

According to Al Jazeera, “Syria raids targeted the towns of Kafr Takharim Sarmin and countryside Idlib, Russian raids also targeted the Idlib, Jericho, Ramallah and Hamdan Saraqib City.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aisha Mohammed Saud
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Noor Yasser Al-Halabi
Child female named by VDC killed
Abdul Nasser Mohammed Tajuddin
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Hussein Abdul-Karim Rashid
Age unknown named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured in the mass raids over Idlib, including the residential neighbourhood Sermin, on 2nd August 2016. (via Halab Today).
    A child injured by the mass raids over Idlib, including the residential neighbourhood Sermin, on 2nd August 2016. (via Halab Today).
  • Abdul Nasser Mohammed Tajuddin, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Sarmin. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hussein Abdul-Karim Rashid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Sarmin. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian revives medical treatment in a facility following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Smart 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 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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1087

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

تل سلطان, Tall Sultan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.821376, 36.952131 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Following on from the deadly chloride attack on Saraqeb on August 2nd, Tal al Sultan village was also reportedly hit on the same day by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes. According to Syria Direct, these raids were part of the same wave of attacks which blanketed Idlib as part of a revenge attack.

Al Jazeera reported that the attacks were Russian and were part of a series of raids which overall killed 15 civilians. According to the Shaam News Network, a woman and a child were killed by the shelling. However, it is possible these could be the same civilian casualties from the attack on Saraqeb (see previous incident). Syrian News also reported that there were some wounded. Numbers given were not specific to this event. Edlib Emc, however, specified that 10 people were injured in the raids.

A local resident tweeted “Russian aviation…more than five raids on the village of Tal al-Sultan. O Allah, peace, O Lord.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Al Hasan
Age unknown killed

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 (12) [ 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.

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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1086

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian and Assad regime helicopters allegedly dropped what were reportedly exploding chloride barrels on a residential neighbourhood in Saraqeb in Idlib at 23.20 on Tuesday August 2nd. The Shaam News Network reported that this attack was a “revenge for the killing of a number of Russian officers after their helicopter crashed in the vicinity of Abu al Duhour yesterday [Aug 1st].”

According to Shaam and other sources, a woman, her unborn child and daughter were killed in the airstrike. Multiple sources including Shaam said that 10 other people were seriously injured due to suffering from suffocation.

According to a member of the Civil Defence in Idlib, the raid was “promptly at 23:20 [whereby they] threw a small cylinders loaded with gas smell of chlorine on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Saraqib. [This resulted in] gas suffocation and fatigue for 30 people, including 10 children and 18 women and two men.” He further went on to state that many had to be evacuated from the city. 

France24 and Smart News put the number much higher, stating that around 33 people suffered from “asphyxia”, or suffocation, due to the nature of the airstrike and the supposed chloride which was dropped. Although at the time there was no proof that chloride was dropped, evidence includes patients suffering of shortness of breath, coughing fits and sweating. Activists also claimed to recognise the smell as one similar to a previous confirmed gas attack.

Smart News further reported that one of the Syrian civil defence stated that “12 cases [of suffocation] were children and 18 cases were women” and that they were transferred to field hospitals.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported the following day, according to Enabbaladi, that “the aviation targeted residential neighbourhoods in the city of Saraqib, with explosive devices, each containing five cylinders holding chlorine with different copper iron balls”.

BBC News added that “The helicopter dropped two Bermalin contain poisonous chlorine gas Tuesday night, in the city of Saraqib northwest Syria.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the city had been evacuated and the contents of the explosives investigated and determined. The Syrian Civil Defence in Idlib helped to carry out this evacuation.

According to Syria Direct, “Saraqeb, a suburb of Idlib city, had a population of 53,000 before the intense bombings began on August 1. Today, only 10,000 people remain”. These statistics came from Osama Bareesh, the director of the Saraqeb Civil Defence.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Sahar, Nidal Mansour
Age unknown female killed
Nagham Mansour
Age unknown female killed
Unborn child of the mother
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–33
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child suffering due to the "Chloride" gas attack on Saraqeb, 2nd August 2016. (via, Ara News)
    A child suffering due to the "Chloride" gas attack on Saraqeb, 2nd August 2016. Via, Ara News.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of seriously injured civilians stripped naked following an alleged "chemical gas attack". (via, France24)
  • Image of he exact moment the airstrike hit. (via, BBC)
  • A damaged vehicle in the aftermath of the raid. (via, France24)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child suffering due to the "Chloride" gas attack on Saraqeb, 2nd August 2016. (via, Smart News)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Qasioun News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby suffering due to the "Chloride" gas attack on Saraqeb, 2nd August 2016. (via, Enab Baladi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby suffering due to the "Chloride" gas attack on Saraqeb, 2nd August 2016. (via, Alghadasouri)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, SyrianPC)

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
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–33
  • 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

RS1085

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

كفرتخاريم, Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.1169382, 36.5147781 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died in an airstrike on Kafr Tkharim and the surrounding countryside on the August 2nd, according to sources on the ground. Most sources attributed the event to Russia, though one said that barrel bombs had been dropped on the area, meaning that regime involvement can’t be ruled out.

LCCSY and Baladi Network both declared it was Russian aviation which destroyed the neighbourhood. Syrian PC reported “heavy bombardment” of the area. Photographic evidence showed heavy material damage of the area.

LCCSY and other sources said that only one woman died in the raid, but her name was not given.

Ara News stated that multiple sources believed that several more civilians were wounded. The White Helmets released a Youtube video showing material damage including fire. It also stated that barrel bombs were used – a weapon used by the regime – and highlighted that the incident occurred in the late hours of the evening. Other photographic evidence showed injured children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the Russian airstrike on Kafr Tkharmi, 2nd August 2016. (via Baladi Network)
    Aftermath of the Russian airstrike on Kafr Tkharmi, 2nd August 2016.
  • An interview showing the extent of the devastation to the infrastructure. (via, Baladi News)
  • A White Helmet rescue operation. (via, The white Helmets)
  • A damaged vehicle. (via Baladi Network)
  • An injured man in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, Baladi Network)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, Baladi Network)

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
    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]

Incident Code

RS1084

Incident date

August 2, 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 sources, both Russian and Assad regime aircraft carried out missile attacks on Al Sukkari at noon on August 2nd 2016. Sources stated that not only artillery, but rocket launchers, missiles and a vacuum missile were used in the raid on the neighbourhood. Only one source reported that the aircraft was Russian.

Multiple sources including LCCSY and Halab News said that one woman was killed in the raid. Another singular source, Enabbaladi News, does however state that three people were killed. No names were given.

Shahba Press claimed that more than two people were wounded in the attack; however, a Youtube video posted by the White Helmets showed many more people being taken to field hospitals in the aftermath of the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    White Helmets rescue civilians from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, White Helmets(
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syrian PC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Enabbaladi)

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
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

RS1082

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.197971, 37.1656697 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Syria News Desk, “three media opposition activists were killed yesterday while covering the fighting south of Aleppo, one of them a reporter for Step News agency. They were killed as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the building they were inside.”

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1083

Incident date

August 2, 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

Between 11 and 42 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in an airstrike on a popular market in Al Atarib, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russia, though there was some confusion in the reporting with the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointing to both Moscow and then the regime. Some other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

LCCSY reported that “Russian warplanes committed a massacre in Atareb city and claimed the lives of 11 civilians and injured others, some of whom were still stuck under the rubble, as they carried out a vacuum missile attack on the residential neighbourhoods.” In a later post the LCCSY spoke of 42 deadly victims, most of them “killed by Russian airstrikes on al-Atareb”.

The Shaam News Network was among many other sources attributing the event to Russia.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially blamed the regime, putting the death toll at ten including four children. However, in subsequent reports, it appeared to change its position and attribute the event to Russian warplanes.

There was some ambiguity in reporting by others sources, too: @syriahadath and @shahed_alep referred to a “bombardment with heavy machine guns from warplanes”, but didn’t say who the jets belonged to.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kamel Ali Hayed
45 years old named by Halab News killed
Ahmed Hassan Sadiq
35 years old named by Halab News killed
Abdul Razzaq Said
Age unknown named by Halab News killed
Hussain Ahmed Yousef
45 years old named by Halab News killed
Mustafa Said,
10 years old male named by Halab News killed
Abdul Rahman Abram
10 years old male named by Halab News killed
Abdu Saleh Qasim
45 years old named by Halab News killed
Bassam Abras
40 years old named by Halab News killed
Mayada Akthar
28 years old named by Halab News killed
Shahed Akthar
8 years old female named by Halab News killed
Mustafa Hayek
10 years old named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 42
  • (4–5 children1 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • An interview wit a local child and footage showing the devastation in the aftermath of the incident. (via, AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians being treated in a medical facility. (via, SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured girl on the floor in a medical facility as there are no beds to accommodate her due to the high numbers of injured civilians. (via, SN4HR)
  • Damage to the infrastructure in the aftermath of the incident. (via SOHR)
  • Damage to the infrastructure in the aftermath of the incident. (via SOHR)
  • Damage to the infrastructure in the aftermath of the incident. (via SOHR)
  • Damage to the infrastructure in the aftermath of the incident. (via SOHR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood left on the floor in the market town following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SOHR)
  • Damage to the infrastructure in the aftermath of the incident. (via SOHR)
  • A damaged vehicle. (via SOHR)
  • The inside of a market shop. (via, SOHR)
  • Civilians are rescued from burning buildings. (via, Syriahr)
  • Attempting to clear the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, SyrianPC)
  • The market, destroyed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, SLN)
  • The market, destroyed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, Revolution Syria)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Step)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood splattered in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Syrian Mirror)
  • Attempting to clear the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • More images in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Baladi News)
  • More images in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Baladi News)
  • More images in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Baladi 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 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 – 42
  • (4–5 children1 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 (28) [ collapse]