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

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

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

Incident Code

RS1033

Incident date

July 23, 2016

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Cluster bombs dropped by alleged Russian or Assad regime warplanes bombarded and destroyed residential housing killing 12 civilians and wounding up to 40 more in Jisr al-Shughur, local media reported.

Baladi News and Jisrtv blamed Russian warplanes for the airstrikes. LCCSY, however, blamed the Assad regime for the raids. Zaman al-Wasl News reported sighting both Assad regime and Russian warplanes.

Shaam News Network confirmed the event occurred at dawn, with two raids which included rockets loaded cluster bombs. It reported that “Russian warplanes targeted al Sawma’a Square with cluster bomb the city centre, causing the fall of seven martyrs of the primary outcome and more than 30 injured.”

According to Jisrtv, “Russian warplanes targeted Al-Soama’a square in Jisr Al-Shoughour with cluster bombs which killed seven in the initial death toll and wounded tens.”

At the time this was reported Jisrtv claimed the Civil Defence team were still rescuing bodies from the rubble. A correspondent from Al Jazeera said that “The raids caused a huge destruction in the buildings which made the rescuing much harder.”

Syrian Human Rights Network put the number killed slightly higher at 12. It also confirmed that 10 of those people were women and children.

Other reports claimed that 40 were injured and many of them were critical therefore the death toll was likely to rise. Syrian Press Center confirmed that 12 civilians had been killed, naming ten which is seen below. The same media also reported that only 30 people had been injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hana’a Omar Al-Sheik
Age unknown female killed
Saleha Al-Sheik
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Nawar Farran
Age unknown male killed
Layla Mohammed Mobayed
Age unknown female killed
Nidal Fido
Age unknown male killed
Othman
Age unknown male killed
Sham Ahmad Kaser Ghalyoun
Age unknown male killed
Hana’a Haj Hassan
Age unknown female killed
Fatima Shehada
Age unknown female killed
Kaltoum Amer
Age unknown female killed
A child from the Bakora family.
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 child7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–40
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Hospital scenes depicting injured civilians following the contested airstrikes in Jisr Al-Shoghour (via Jisr Al-Shoghour Media Center)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of injured children following the strikes in Jisr Al-Shoghour (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 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
    12
  • (1 child7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–40
  • 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

RS1031

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

بني زيد, Bani Zeid, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.235135, 37.130699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman named Hasna’a Ali Danon, aged 55, was killed on July 22nd by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes in Bani Zeid, sources on the ground reported.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime for “artillery shelling” and “warplane shelling” on the neighbourhood. The reports claimed it caused destruction to buildings with no civilian casualties.

Halab News reported the named victim. Moreover, a local news source tweeted: “Russian warplanes shelled the Bani Zeid neighbourhood and Al-Atarib in the countryside of Aleppo with cluster bombs.”

Two pro-regime twitter feeds blamed both Assad regime and Russia for the raids, which reportedly included cluster bombs.

Multiple sources confirmed that attacks also took place in Al-Atareb, Bustan Al-Qaser, Castello and Handarat.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasna’a Ali Danon
55 years old female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Halab Today lists martyrs on June 22nd and says at 0’20” that Hasna Ali Danoun, 55 years old, died from Russian raids in Bani Zeid (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 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
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

RS1028

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 10 year-old child named Jamil Mustafa was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Ferdos neighbourhood, according to LCCSY.

Despite this claim, a pro-regime Twitter page reported that “Syrian warplanes targeted armed groups in Ferdos and Kallaseh neighbourhoods and injured some armed members.”

Step News reported sighting helicopters which threw explosive barrels on the neighbourhood.

BNN_2016 added that not only Ferdos but Sukkari and Sheikh Sa’id were also hit in the raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jamil Mustafa
10 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

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
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1029

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, LCCSY, said that there were: “‪#‎Hama‬ martyrs and wounded reported due to targeting the township of ‪#‎Aqrabiyat‬ and the village of ‪#‎Soha‬ in the eastern suburbs with 5 Russian airstrikes.”

However, further research indicated that there were no civilian casualties in Akeirbat, but up to seven in Soha on July 22nd (see casualty event RS1030).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 July 16th – 27th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1030

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

سوحا, Soha, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.000015, 37.401581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Syrian Press Center claimed that five airstrikes were carried out in Soha village killing and injuring civilians. Multiple sources including Alamawi and SMO News reported that it was Russian warplanes which attacked Soha village. However, both Radio AlKul and LCCSY blamed the Assad regime for the raids.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Smart News both placed the number of civillians killed at seven. The latter confirmed they were all from the same family and included 4 children.

Syrian Press Center put the numbers slightly lower at three and also confirmed the names of those three victims, listed below.

A pro-regime Twitter page reported that “Syrian air forces targeted the movement of ISIS fighters in Soha and Salameya, East Hama, which killed an armed member and wounded 5 others at least.” Syrian PC, however, claimed that Soha was a “neutral village” meaning it is neither pro or against Assad.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Omar Khaled Al-Hammoud
Age unknown male killed
Shayma’a Khaled Al-Hammoud
Age unknown female killed
Afra’a Waleed Al-Hammoud
Two months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (2 women1 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 (10) [ 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 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
    3 – 7
  • (2 women1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1027

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and nine more were injured in an airstrike by alleged Russian warplanes on Jisr al Shoughour, according to local media. Jisrtv reported that the attack occurred between 1.00 and 1.06. All reports claimed to sight Russian warplanes, who reportedly carried out cluster missile attacks on Jisr al Shoughour.

According to Smart News Agency, women and children were included in those who were injured.

In the evening LCCSY wrote a report which stated: “Russian aviation raids on the countryside of Idlib, struck the towns of Jericho and Bridge Vacancy, which resulted in the fall of martyrs and wounded civilians. Coordinating committees in Idlib, said that Russian warplanes carried out morning raids with cluster bombs on Bridge Vacancy western countryside, resulting in the fall of martyrs and wounded nine civilians were wounded.”

The incident occured at 13:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Reporter says that one civilian died and several were injured in alleged Russian shelling of Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib Aljazeera
  • Reporter says that one civilian died in alleged Russian shelling of Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib (via Jsir TV)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1026

Incident date

July 21, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian and Assad regime warplanes continued to attack Idlib on July 21st, killing up to another six civilians, according to sources on the ground. The Smart News called the bombardment a massacre and also commented that the raids began in the night continuing on from the 20th of July.

Images published by the Shaam News Network showed destruction of Al Hijaz mosque, which SNN said had killed six civilians. Later reports by the source said  that there were more than 30 injured civilians as the result of over 14 raids by Russian warplanes.

However, Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime for the raids. It also placed the number killed slightly lower at four.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction in Al Hijaz mosque, Idlib on 21st July 2016. (via SNN).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes. Idlib City, 21st July 2016. (via SNN).
  • Destruction in Al Hijaz mosque, Idlib on 21st July 2016. (via SNN).
  • Destruction in Al Hijaz mosque, Idlib on 21st July 2016. (via SNN).

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 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 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ collapse]