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

RS1050

Incident date

July 25, 2016

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians died in Al Mashad, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether they were killed by Russian airstrikes or Syrian regime barrel bombs.

Alaraby, blaming Russia, put the death toll at five non-combatants, with a dozen more wounded.

But Syria News Desk said that as many as 20 civilians died at the hands of Russia.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a “massacre by the regime’s helicopters”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also pointed towards the regime, putting the death toll at six civilians, who reportedly died as a result of barrel bombing.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 20
  • 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 (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 July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1042

Incident date

July 24, 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

Up to three civilians died and many more were wounded in an airstrike on Al Marja, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the death of one child – and published an image of the victim.

Step, however, put the death toll at two and blamed both “Russian and Syrian  warplanes”. Step later reported that two women were killed and “others injured, including children”.

According to Shahba, a child and a woman were killed in a Russian strike.

Zakaria Nassani, who blamed only “warplanes”, also said that two women died and put the number of wounded at three.

Syria Mubashar and Shahba, however, put the number injured as high as 10 and blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of the destruction caused by suspected Russian warplanes at Al Marja (Tweet via @ZakariaNassani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby held in an adults arms, killed in alleged warplanes shelling on Al Marja (Tweet via @SN4HR)
  • A man carries a child victim wrapped in blankets, the aftermath of alleged warplane shelling (via Step)
  • The White Helmets search through the rubble in Al Marja after alleged warplanes shelling (via Step)
  • A mixture of local people and The White Helmets survey material destruction in Al Marja (via Step)
  • The scene of a demolished building in Al Marja, the results of suspected warplane shelling (via Step)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A member of the White Helmets holds an infant in his arms, allegedly killed by warplane shelling in Al Marja (via Step)

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 July 16th – 27th 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 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1043

Incident date

July 24, 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

Up to 22 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on civilian homes and the main market in Al Atarib, according to local media – though it is unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Many sources alleged that both parties carried out tens of strikes. LCCSY, for example, said that Russian raids were carried out “with the participation of Assad warplanes”.

According to SRG, Al-Atareb hospital was put out of service following Russian strikes, while Mohalkahtieb reported that “more than 20 raids” on the main market killed more than 20 and wounded 40.

Amna_Ali_ was MONG numerous sources that also blamed Russia and published extremely graphic images of victims. Most of the victims were children, said Syrianfreeyouth.

According to Sourita, “Russian and Syrian warplanes struck the local market in Al-Atareb and civilian houses which killed 22 civilians, the  majority children, and injured tens of people.”

Akhbar Alan provided more detail, though it didn’t identify the culprits. According to the source, “Warplanes carried out many raids in Al-Atareb city in Aleppo yesterday [July 24th]. In less than half an hour warplanes carried out 16 raids, six of them with cluster bombs, 5 with missiles, and 9 with heavy machine guns. The shelling focused on the local market, a main road and also the hospital in the city which resulted in it being out of service. Activists said 24 civilians were killed due to the intensive raids with 65 others were wounded, some critically”.

While this report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Russia, there was some confusion in reporting, with an earlier report saying that regime missiles killed at least six civilians in Al Atarib.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mhammad Sayyed Hasan
53/54 years old male killed
Mahmood Othman Jalloul
Adult male killed
Mohammed Ahmad
Adult male killed
Ayyoub Mohammed
Adult male killed
Ramadan Al-Shilo
Adult male killed
Fayez Sabbagh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 22
  • (1 woman6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–65
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • 'Mohammad Sayed Hasan, born in 1962, media activist, from Al Atareb city in Aleppo governorate, died on August 1, due to alleged Russian warplanes missiles fired on Al Atareb city in July 25, 2016.' (via SN4HR)
  • The destruction at the market in Al Atarib following suspected Russian shelling (Youtube via Qasioun)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A correspondent reports on the civilian cost of alleged Russian strikes at the market in Al Atarib (Youtube via Syrianpc)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photograph of a civilian covered in blood, killed in alleged suspected warplane shelling on the market in Al Atarib (Tweet via Kmosto) [Page no longer available -accessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A severely wounded civilian is treated for injuries to the head, the consequence of alleged warplane shelling on Al Marja (Tweet via Kmosto) [Page no longer available -accessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in Al Marja, the result of suspected warplane shelling (Tweet via Kmosto) [Page no longer available -accessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic image of an adult male civilian either dead or severely wounded in Al Marja (Tweet via Kmosto) [Page no longer available -accessed via Airwars archive]
  • The market in Al Atarib, demolished after suspected warplane shelling (Tweet via @MohAlkhatieb)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of the dead in Al Atarib after alleged Russian shelling - the tweet states "we only have Allah" (Tweet via @AmnaAli_0)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children killed by suspected Russian shelling in Al Atarib market (Tweet via @Syrianfreeyouth)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Further graphic images of critically wounded and dead, the human cost of alleged raids on Al Atarib (Tweet via @almnsterbalaah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little boy killed in alleged Russian shelling on the market at Al Atarib (Tweet via @taha _alhlo)
  • The White Helmets conduct rescue mission in Al Atarib (via Akhbar Alan)
  • A building destroyed in suspected Russian shelling on Al Atarib (via RFS)
  • Local people at the site of destruction in Al Atarib following alleged Russian strikes (via Syria news)
  • Dust remains in the air on a street in Al Atarib following alleged Russian raids (via Rudaw)
  • SN4HR report entitled 'The Yearly report for 2016' - gives details of the death of Mohammed Sayyed Hassan - a media activist suspected killedin Russian shelling on Al Atarib (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • SN4HR report entitled 'The Yearly report for 2016' - gives details of the death of Mohammed Sayyed Hassan - a media activist suspected killedin Russian shelling on Al Atarib (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • Mohammad Sayyed Hasan - allegedy killed in Russian shelling (via SN4HR PDF)
  • The media activist Mohammad Sayyed Hasan - allegedy killed in Russian shelling (via SN4HR PDF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Sayyed Hasan - allegedy killed in Russian shelling (via SN4HR PDF)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 22
  • (1 woman6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–65
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1044

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

Yashnatra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2211157, 37.0027251 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that Russian warplanes carried out strikes on Yashnatra town, leading to civilian casualties – though sources didn’t specify numbers.

However, Arabstoday blamed the regime, reporting three civilians wounded.

Other sources referred only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ 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 July 16th – 27th 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
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1045

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

كرم الطحان, Karam Tahan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including children died and more were wounded in an airstrike on Karam Tahan, local sources reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the casualties.

According to Arabstoday, “four people were killed and three were injured due to three Russian warplanes raids in Karm Al-Tahhan”.

Zakaria Nassan reported “a bombardment in Karm Al-Tahhan in Aeppo with missiles, killing five people including children and injuring others including women and children”, but didn’t identify the culprit.

Qasioun blamed “explosive barrels”, while Buraq published graphic footage depicting “horrifying scenes after shelling by Assad warplanes”.

Other sources blamed both Russia and the regime or didn’t name the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Distressing footage of the makeshift clinic in Karam Tahan, Aleppo - where civilians were treated following alleged Regime attacks (Youtube via Buraq
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dead and wounded child civilians in Karam Tahan after suspected Russian or Regime attacks (Tweet via @ZakariaNassani)
  • Karam Tahan surveyed by The White Helmets following alleged Russian or Regime attacks - the destruction to buildings was significant in the neighbouhood (Youtube via Buraq)
  • Footage of local people, angered by the impact of suspected warplane shelling on their neighbourhood (Youtube via Qasioun)

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 July 16th – 27th 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 – 5
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1046

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

عربين, Irbin, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including three children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Irbin in eastern Ghouta, local media reported – though the culprit remained unclear.

According to Radio Al Kul, “Russian warplanes struck Douma, Harasta, Irbin and Hamoreya in Eastern Ghouta with missiles loaded with cluster bombs and killed four people and wounded tens more.”

Syrian Press Center also blamed Russia, though it later published a report on its website referring only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    According to the source this child died in Russian strikes on Irbin (Tweet via @emedadynznky)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 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
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1041

Incident date

July 24, 2016

Location

Hakim hospital, Al Shiaar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.220166, 37.120025 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died in an airstrike on Hakim hospital, a specialist children’s hospital in Aleppo – and reportedly the last remaining in the city. Sources alleged the hospital was targeted or struck twice in 12 hours. But it was not clear who was responsible, with sources pointing to both Russia and the Syrian regime. 

A video by Smart News network blamed Russia and the regime. It reported: “Al-Dakkak surgical hospital in Aleppo came out of work after being targeted three times by warplanes and helicopters belonging to  Russia and the regime, causing the death of one person and wounding a number of medical staff. Dr Abu Ismail said, ‘This is the  the most important hospital in liberated areas of Aleppo, and one of six hospitals that were targeted yesterday – in addition to the blood bank which was targeted almost three times.’ The Director of Health in Aleppo, Dr Abdul Basit Shyoukh, said that on Sunday, four hospitals were put out of service along with the Central Blood Bank, due to aerial bombing by regime and Russian aircraft on the Shia’ar neighborhood in the city”.

In a subsequent report by Smart, Dr Abdul Basit Shyoukh added that ” Al-Hakim Hospital is the only remaining hospital in the city”.

The report added that “a newborn child was killed in al-Hakim hospital due to the strike”. Alsouria – also blaming both Russia and the regime – said that the child was just two days old.

AMC named the victim and reported that he died “due to the dust and rubble when the hospital was targeted with aerial bombardment”.

According to Step, the victim died in a second strike on the hospital, saying that “he died while on the breathing assisting device he was put on after the first airstrike. He choked to death due to the dust and rubble.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Al-Shibli
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A video listing the alleged victims of airstrikes on July 24th 2016 - The two year old child, Ali Alshibi listed @0'14" (Youtube via Halab Today)
  • SN4HR report entitled ‘No less than 59 medical centers have been targeted by Russian forces since its intervention in Syria.” - on Page 10 the report states "Ali al Shibli suffocated to death in his incubator" following warplane strikes. (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • SN4HR report entitled ‘No less than 59 medical centers have been targeted by Russian forces since its intervention in Syria.” - on Page 10 the report states "Ali al Shibli suffocated to death in his incubator" following warplane strikes. (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1032

Incident date

July 23, 2016

Location

غوطة دمشق, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51388889, 36.49861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eastern Ghouta was bombarded with raids on July 23rd damaging many small residential towns within the district and killing between two and nine civilians, according to sources on the ground.

Both Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Smart News reported that the Assad regime struck the area with jets and warplanes. Shaam News Network, however, blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

The Smart News correspondent reported that “the military regime warplanes carried out two raids on the town Eastern Ghouta, targeting residential areas, killing civilians, and wounding others, including women and children.”

Many of the small towns within and around Ghouta were also reportedly affected by the targeted airstrikes. A cheese factory was said to have been targeted which led to the outbreak of huge fired, and according to Syria Reporter Net, killed several civilians.

In the small town Hammuriyyeh, two raids reportedly killed a woman and a child. The residential neighbourhoods Douma, Al-rehaneya, Sakba, Alrehan and Al-shifonyyah were also hit with four strikes and even came under close range artillery fire, according to Syrian Reporter Net.

The same new source reported the death of nine civilians with a number more wounded after six airstrikes in Ghouta.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights filed similar reports which claimed there were six raids on Eastern Ghouta and its smaller towns. SOHR also reported that a woman and a child were killed in Hammuriyyeh. It added that after midnight there were a further eight raids were carried out in the same area.

Shaam News Network summarised that “Russian warplanes carried out raids on Douma, al Shifoniya, al Rihan, Hosh Nasri, Hamouriya and Misrayia which coincided with very violent artillery shelling leaving martyrs and wounded among civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 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
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime