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

RS1021

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died in an airstrike on Deir Ezzor, according to local reports. There was, however, only one source (LCCSY) that pointed to possible Russian involvement.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee published the names of four victims killed by “warplanes” in Deir Ezzor on July 19th, these are listed below.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Haj Said Mohammed Al-Ali
Adult male killed
Saleh Al-Ajin
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Al-Ajin
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Omar Hassan Al-Khalaf
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1022 CS273a

Incident date

July 19, 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

In what has been described as a massacre, committed by both Russian and Assad regime and coalition warplanes, between 10 and 23 civilians were killed and as many as 35 more wounded on July 19th in Idlib city. Other sources claimed that the Coalition was involved in the incident. According to Shaam News Network the raids took place just before midnight.

A local journalist tweeted that three locations in the city were targeted. “Russian warplanes shelling targets three areas in Idlib; Al-Nakhla roundabout, Al-Saha parking lot near Omar Bin Al-Khattab mosque and young offenders jail”. He also reported that 10 were killed and 35 civilians were injured.

Smart News reported that 10 civilians were killed, and a local added that an entire family including a woman and her unborn baby were included in those killed. Smart News called the incident a massacre and also blamed Russia for the airstrikes.

Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “allied warplane shelling” for the airstrike.

A local news channel tweeted that “At least 12 martyrs and and many injured due to Russian warplanes shelling in neighbours of Idlib tonight.” However, another local news channel – Alsouria News – claimed that “23 were martyred including children and no less than 30 wounded in Russian and coalition warplanes shelling in Idlib.” This was the highest reported death toll.

Most of the civilians killed were already displaced from Aleppo, according to Shaam News Network.

Activist Ghayth Al-Sayed told Alsouria “a Russian warplane and another one from the coalition took turns in shelling Idlib with more than 15 raids in the morning which killed 15 in initial toll and wounded more than 30 who were taken to medical points for treatment.”

The scale of the injuries meant that local field hospitals announced it needed quantities of blood for the injured.

The raids continued overnight in Idlib to the 20th of July.

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 23
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The destruction caused by alleged Russian and coalition warplanes on 19th July 2016, Idlib. (via Alsouria).
  • Tweet reporting alleged Russian raids on various locations in Idlib city: Al Nakhla roundabout, Al Saha parking lot near Omar Bin Khattab mosque and the Young Offenders jail killing 10 and injuring 35. 20th July 2016
  • Syrian Network for Human Rights tweets that government warplanes [and allies] carried out raids on Idlib on the 19th killing three people at least including a woman and a baby. 20th July 2016
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBV865788
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • July 19, 2016, in Idlib, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3017/CS273a 37SBV865788

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 23
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1023

Incident date

July 19, 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

Raids continued overnight from the 19th to the 20th of July in Idlib, and Idlib City, killing up to 23 civilians, according to sources on the ground. Alamawi reported that missiles were continually fired throughout the night and into the next morning. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported sighting helicopters dropping explosive barrels after midnight on areas in the towns of al-Hbyt and al-Taman’aa in Southern Idlib.

On the 20th, Ibn Sina hospital was struck  with missiles, and according to Halab News, it was struck by the Assad regime. Smart News supported this claim.

According to other local sources, Russian warplanes continually raided Idlib overnight with varying death tolls from each source.

The Shaam News Network roundup reported that nine civilians were killed in Idlib, however, other sources placed the numbers much higher.

LCCSY tweeted that there were “15 civilian martyrs and others wounded as believed-to-be-Russian warplanes launched over 6 airstrikes on the neighbourhoods in Idlib city.”

The Al Ann TV broadcaster reported that both “Russian and Syrian warplanes carried out more than 7 raids in the morning (of the 20th) and killed more than 15 civilians.” Sinn News placed the death toll slightly higher at “23 people killed and dozens were wounded due to warplane raids on residential neighbourhoods in Idlib.” The source added the registration of more than 21 airstrikes on the city, where the Al-Rawda mosques was bombed by military aircraft. Alsouria News also supported these figures.

Syrian Press Center, however, reported that “tens were killed and wounded”.

According to local news source, Al Khaleej, “Russian warplanes targeted the city of Idlib with 6 airstrikes, killing 15 people in an initial toll, and wounding more than 30 others who were taken to medical points for treatment.”

According to Syrian Human Rights Network, eight raids struck parts of Idlib on the 20th including “near the cultural centre, al Jala’a gardens and Shia’ar residents”. Further to this, Ara News claimed that the alleged Russian warplanes also occurred around Khaled Shia’ar school and Mashtal and Jala’a parks and Al-Thawra neighbourhood in Idlib.

Shaam News Network argued that “Russian warplanes targeted Idlib City this morning, more than six air raids targeted several locations within the city most notably near the Mosque of the righteous and the University Park Arboretum and dizziness Alkestna civilian homes in Maosafar.”

Other sources pointed out that “the bombing targeted residential buildings, the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent organisation within the city severely damaged a number of houses and civilian cars.”

Al Ann TV reported that overall in Idlib ad its countryside, 80 civilians were killed or injured. Sinn News claimed “activists said the death toll from air strikes in Idlib and its countryside during the twenty-four hours reached 80 people with large numbers of injured people reached more than 200 people.”

Seriously injured civilians were taken to hospitals in Tabaah according to Shaam.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 23
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes. 20th July 2016, Idlib, (via Al-Khalij).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian victim of the contested strikes in Idlib (via Yusufaziz8282 tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian victim of the contested strikes in Idlib (via Yusufaziz8282 tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Heavily injured victim due to the contested strikes in Idlib (via Yusufaziz8282 tweet)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Idlib (via Moaz Al-Shami Youtube)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Idlib (viaEdlib Media Center)
  • Broadcaster says that Russian and Syrian warplanes carried out more than seven raids in Idlib this morning and killed more than 15 civilians (via Al-Ann TV)
  • Aftermath of the raids targeting Idlib (via Al-khalij online)
  • Aftermath of the raids targeting Idlib (via Alsouria)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Idlib (via LCCSY facebook)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Idlib (via LCCSY facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of injured civilians targeted by the contested strikes in Idlib (via Mouaz al Sham)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of injured civilians targeted by the contested strikes in Idlib (via Mouaz al Sham)

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
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 23
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]

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]