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

RS1020

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

What has been described as a ‘bombardment’ on Bab al Nairab reportedly killed six civilians, including an unborn child. – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Qasioun filmed as an explosive barrel was thrown on the neighbourhood, which is also located very close to an airport. A number of other sources attributed the events to explosive barrels.

Some news sources reported the warplanes responsible were Russian. News Ajell tweeted “Another massacre committed by Russian warplanes against children in Bab Al Nairab.”

Work Media Homs, however, reported that the Assad regime used artillery shelling in the neighbourhood. Shahba tweeted that there were “four martyrs including a fetus inside his mothers womb due to Assad artillery shelling in Bab Al Nairab.”

Halab News Network later reported that the Assad regime “used more than 25 shells in Bab al Nairab”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights published a report with the names of the civilians. Although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported only four were killed, these names confirm the total number was six.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Khaled Khuraki
2 years old male killed
Mohammed Deeb Khuraki
19 years old male killed

Family members (2)

Kalthom Ahmad Khudur
17 years old female pregnant killed
The fetus of Kalthoum Ahmad Khudur
0 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Mun’im Mohammed Dinno
12 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohammed Hamsho
23 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Qasioun News)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Halab News Network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother and her fetus were killed in contested airtsrikes targeting Bab Al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother and her fetus were killed in contested airtsrikes on Bab Al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via News-ajil tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother and her fetus were killed in contested airtsrikes on Bab Al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Abu_Mohammad_fa tweet)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Qasioun News)

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
    6
  • (3 children2 men)
  • 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

RS1019

Incident date

July 19, 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

In a major civilian casualty event, 23 named civilians died and up to 50 more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on an industrial area in Al Atareb, Aleppo. There were no allegations against the Assad regime.

Death counts rose as reports emerged. Jisrtv reported seven killed, while Enab Baladi put the figure at “more than 10”, adding that the shelling destroyed the neighbourhood.

According to Shahba Revolution, many of the bodies were burnt with some left unidentified due to burns. Sources published graphic images showing charred bodies.

Smart News placed the number of killed  as high as 22, a figure all published by Shaam and Alamawi News. This has been confirmed by Halab News Network who published a report of the named bodies. all listed below.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee has claimed that more than 20 people were injured. A local civilian placed the number of injured much higher at 50.

According to Ara News, “the raids struck an industrial area and destroyed the local hospital, forcing it out of service.”

Shaam News Network summarised the event: “Aleppo on Tuesday was bloody in every sense of the word… only the sounds of screams from the wounded… and the smell of death. In the countryside west of Aleppo, the number of civilian martyrs who have risen by the bombing of Russian criminality with warplanes on the industrial market in the city of Al Atareb is now 22 martyrsThe raids caused considerable material damage, destroying six shops and a mosque and caused the fall of the dozens of wounded, some note that the bodies of the martyrs were picking them charred, were among the martyrs of two children.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Obaida Kokash
16 years old male killed
Khalil Kokash
13 years old male killed

Family members (2)

Ghaith Ahmad Omar
13 years old male killed
Tharwa Ahmad Omar
18 years old female killed

Family members (2)

Bilal Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Osama Haj Darwish
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Rajab Mahmoud Ali
21 years old male killed
Abd al Karim al Mohammad
4 years old male killed
Yusuf Haj Mousa
55 years old male killed
Zakaria al Fakari
23 years old male killed
Maram Akkoush
12 years old female killed
Ahmad Khalek al Ali
50 years old male killed
Mohammad Mohammad
60 years old male killed
Abd al Qadr
20 years old male killed
Ismail al Shillo
35 years old male killed
Mohammad Jarad Ma’moun
Age unknown male killed
Joumana al Said
Age unknown female killed
Aref Mohammad Jibrail
Age unknown male killed
Osama Khalil
Age unknown male killed
Mustafa Ghorab
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Mahboul
Age unknown male killed
Mohamamd Samir al Ghawi
Age unknown male killed
Abdulkari Al-Mohammed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (5 children2 women16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Images showing the massive destruction following the alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Atarib, Aleppo (via Thiqa tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the massive alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Atarib, Aleppo (via Shabab Recolution tweet)
  • Images showing the massive destruction following the alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Atarib, Aleppo (via Shabab Revolution tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the massive alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Atarib, Aleppo (via 3maraal7arere tweet)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (5 children2 women16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1018

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Location

Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In multiple alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes which struck residential buildings, in Aleppo’s Al Maysar neighbourhood, a family of five and an elderly man were reportedly killed.

BBC reported that “according to opposition source, Russian warplanes launched extensive shelling in Kafr hamra and Al-Maysar.”

AMC News blamed the Assad regime for the strike, while Al Jazeera pointed to both the regime and Russia.

But reports by Smart New, Halab Today and Jisrtv attributed the event to solely Russia.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, there were “no less than six raids” on Al Maysar – though Halab Today pout the number as high as 12.

Alabary News reported  that “warplanes thought to be Russian struck a building and killed a family of a mother, a father, and three children who were living in the building.”

Halab News named identified five victims, seen below, including two children.

Qasioun said that seven other civilians were injured in the airstrike, adding that many were in a critical condition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Hussein Al-Zukhri
Age unknown male killed
Saleh Mohammed Al-Zukhri
5 years old male killed
Abdul-Kader Mohammed Al-Zukhri
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Badriya Lhamdeya
38 years old female killed
Saleh Mohammad Diyab
70 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man is rescued from the rubble caused by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which targeted a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body dragged from the rubble. Al Maysar., 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians being rescued from under the rubble following the airstrikes on Al Maysar neighbourhood, Aleppo (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian child victim of the alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which targeted a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which targeted a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians of the alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which hit a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via iphs _tr tweet)

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
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1017

Incident date

July 18, 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

Various sources reported that airstrikes on a residential area in Kafr Hama, Aleppo, killed up to three civilians, including one boy.

BBC Arabic filed a report which read, “according to opposition source, Russian warplanes launched extensive shelling in Kafr Hamra”. Meanwhile, al Jazeera reported that both Russian and Assad regime warplanes were launching missiles in the area.

Enab Baladi News and Qasioun both blamed Russia for the raids, whereas Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime for the attack.

Halab News Network named three civilian fatalities, listed below.

Multiple sources reported that others were wounded, with no specific numbers.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mohammed Khatib
40 years old male killed
Mohammed Haj Ali
17 years old male killed
Mahmood Mohammed Hayek
29 years old

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defence Forces carrying an injured civilian from the site of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Kakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Civil Defence Forces carrying an injured civilian from the site of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Kakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Civil Defence Forces carrying an injured civilian from the site of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Kakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Possibly iimage of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Halab Today tweet)

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
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1016

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1995518, 37.1815538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians including three children died and 15 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike which destroyed a four-story residential building in Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to BNN, earth missiles and cluster bombs were both used in the airstrike.

Smart News blamed Russian warplanes for the raid. Qasioun News also blamed Russia for the attack, as did as did Syrian Press Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

However, LCCSY and other local news sources reported the airstrike to have been carried out by Assad regime warplanes.

Al Jazeera blamed both Russian and Syrian regime warplanes.

Enab Baladi reported that four people were killed in the attack. Jisrtv put the numbers slightly higher at nine.

Shahba Press added that 15 more people were wounded.

Qasioun reported that “tens were wounded, including women and children and many were taken to makeshift clinics”.

On the 19th of July, the day after the attack, Smart News reported that as many as 11 civilians had been killed with others injured, including women and children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Omar Kassas
35 years old male killed
Nihad Omar Kassas
12 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmood Aswad
15 years old male killed
Mohammed Hamdo Makhzom
60 years old male killed
Mohammed Zakko
Child male killed
An unidentified body
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A local resident holds the body of a child following the airstrikes with earth missiles and cluster bombs which targeted a residential building. 18th July 206. (via, Shahba Revolution).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence forces remove injured civilians and the dead from the rubble. 18th July 2016. (via, Jisrtv)
  • Footage shows the destruction in Al Qaterji, Aleppo after alleged Russian shelling (Youtube by Baladi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child covered in rubble in Al Qaterji, Aleppo (via Syria-revolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets put the dead in body bags - killed in alleged Russian warplane shelling. (via Smart)

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
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1014

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Location

الخالدية, Khalidiya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2289518, 37.1178294 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, LCCSY, two civilians died in three alleged Russian strikes in Aleppo’s Al Khalidiya neighbourhood.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defence team rescuing civilians from the rubble. (via, White Helmets)
  • The White Helmet rescue team work through demolished buildings in Al Khalidaja (via LCCSY)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1015

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the villages of Hatla and al Salhiya in Deir Ezzor, according to sources on the ground.

Euphrates Post reported three were killed and five wounded – they blamed Russia, as did the Smart News Agency.

Ara News, however, said that the regime carried out shelling in Hatla, “resulting in a number of casualties” and destroying residential buildings.

Several other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Ibrahim Khalil al Nibr
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ 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
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1013

Incident date

July 16, 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

“People were torn apart”, reported Aletihad Press, in an airstrike which hit Al Atarib on 16th July 2016, the Western side of Aleppo. Local media put the death toll at between two and 20 civilians – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible for the civilian harm.

SMO News blamed Russia for the warplane shelling, as did Aletihad and some local residents.

Other local sources pointed to both Russian and regime warplanes. Thiqa News posted images of the destruction which ruined buildings and destroyed cars. Some accounts said that an industrial area was struck.

According to multiple sources such as, SMO News and Thiqa News, eight people were killed in the raid which used cluster bombs and missiles. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least two people had died. Only two victims, see below, were named by other sources.

Orient News interviewed two local civilians. The first man described how most of the people living in this industrial area were displaced from other parts of Aleppo. He added that it was around “lunchtime” that an alleged Russian missile killed 20 people. The second man claimed that the attack was at around 5pm. He also blamed Russian warplanes and noted that many children were also killed in the raid.

The number of injured is a minimum of 40, according to more than one source.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Hamid Za’zou’
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Ahmad Hassoun.
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 20
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The inside of a hospital after an airstrike which hit Al Atarib. (via Aletihad News).
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Al Atarib. (via SMO News).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Atarib (via Itihad press)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Alleged victim of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Atarib (via Itihad press)
  • Child in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Atarib (via Itihad press)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Atarib (via Thiqa News Agency tweet)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Atarib (via Shehab Agency tweet)

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 – 20
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]