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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4802 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

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
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
  • (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
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 – 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]

Incident Code

RS1012

Incident date

July 16, 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

An entire family was killed in a missile attack which took place in the afternoon of July 16th on Aleppo’s Ferdous neighbourhood, according to local media. Sources said that explosive barrels and missiles struck the area, though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Orient news reported that six warplanes carried out the strikes.

Ara, Baladi News and Smart all blamed the regime.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the shelling to Russia.

Buraq Media reported that 12 people were killed, with five coming from one family. Syrian Press Centre put the number as high as 13 with 20 or so civilians  also wounded.

The HNN named six victims, listed below, and reported about another seven identified victims, including two women.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Fadel
33 years old male killed
Khadija Halloum
9 years old female killed
Maher Khaled Abtini
28 years old male killed
Mariam Omar Amin
75 years old female killed
Ziyad Ahmed Shanan
61 years old male killed
Zainab Mohammad Najjar
7 months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 13
  • (2 children1–3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A father and baby killed in an airstrike in Fardous, on 16th July 2016. (via, @chemicalmassacre tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footages showing civilians being dogged out from under the rubble after the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via HNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footages showing the immediate aftermath and civilian casualties after the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Baladi News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footages of civilian victims following the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Sayf Al-Sama)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Buraq Media Foundation)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via SN4HR)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Buraq Media Foundation)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Syrian Press Centre)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Step News)
  • Image of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Smart News)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Fardous, Aleppo (via Smart News)

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
    8 – 13
  • (2 children1–3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1010

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Artillery and warplane shelling bombarded Hryatan leaving between three to four civilians dead, local media reported.

According to Halab News, Step and Al Jazeera, this was the work of the Assad regime.

However, TurkArab Now blamed Russian warplanes for the airstrike.

Al-Marsad News put the death toll at four. However the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there were no casualties.

LCCSY reported that three people were killed in two Russian raids. This figure was also given by the Syrian Network for Human Rights who said it included a girl and two women – and named Russia as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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]

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 – 4
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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

RS1011

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

أعزاز‎, Izaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Civil Service Defence Quarter was put out of service when two warplanes fired missiles on Izaz, Aleppo, a town close to the Turkish border in northern Aleppo. Up to  five civilians including a child reportedly died in the attack, which caused extensive destruction to the building and injured several Civil Defence workers.

Ara News blamed the Assad regime for the warplanes.

But  the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Aleppo24 blamed Russian warplanes for the bombardment on the area.

According to Syrian Press Centre, five civilians were killed in the raid. Several other local news sources also put the numbers killed at five including SRG_Syria. LCCSY put the death toll slightly lower at two.

The Syrian Coalition tweeted that there had been “more than 60 martyrs and dozens of wounded in Aleppo today due to warplanes shelling.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Sa’eed Karbo
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammed Sa’eed Karbo, who was killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which bombarded Izaz in Aleppo on 16th July 2016. (via, SheroAlo1 tweet).
  • Aftermath of airstrikes on Aleppo, though the media does not specify the exact location (via Syrian Coalition tweet)
  • Footage of the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes on Izaz, Aleppo (via Sayf Al-Sama youtube)
  • Aftermath of the strikes on Izaz, Aleppo (via SN4HR)

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 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1008

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

الألمجي, Al Alamji, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.208797, 37.162306 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Warplanes struck Al Almaji, a residential neighborhood in Old Aleppo and killed between 10 and 11 civilians, including women and children. According to Horrya News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Assad warplanes launched the raids. However, Shahba News Agency and other local news sources reported the raids to be Russian.

The Syrian Civil Defence said 11 people were killed in the raid. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the numbers slightly lower at seven, also adding that 4 of them were children. Halab News reported that five children and three women were included in those killed.

According to Shahba, 23 people were injured in the raid.

Horrya News stated that “Assad warplanes launched raids in many neighbourhoods of Aleppo and killed more than 50 people including Al Almaji.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 11
  • (4–5 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man being rescued from the rubble after airstrikes hit Al Alamji neighbourhood in Old Aleppo. 16th July 2016. (via. Syrian PC).
  • Civil Defense officer saying that warplanes fired a missile killed 11 people including women and children (via White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child being rescued following strikes on Al Almaji (via Shababrevolution tweet)

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
    7 – 11
  • (4–5 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1009

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to LCCSY, “two martyrs, including a child, and several wounded were reported due to Russian airstrikes on Anadan city”.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russia carried out raids on ” Anadan, Hraytan, Kafr Hamra, Mallah, Hayyan and Baleirmoon” but made no mention of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ 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
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R915a

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

مشفى عمر بن عبد العزيز في حي المعادي, Omar Abd Al Aziz Hospital, Al Maadi, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, there were injuries to medical staff and material damage to the Omar Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital in the Maadi neighbourhood in Aleppo on July 16th 2016 after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime missile targeted the healthcare facility.

Other local sources, such as Radio Al Kul and @salqin also described that there were deaths but did not state the number. It reported that there were “martyrs, wounded, and massive destruction of residential buildings, and Omar Bin Abdul Aziz hospital was out of service as a result of the helicopters dropping naval mines on the neighbourhood of Maadi in the old Aleppo.”

There was a mixture of reports blaming both the Russian forces and the Syrian regime. Aleppo AMC posted on Facebook that the “Regime’s helicopters targeted with more than eight naval mines Omar Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • @AFPar photo of two paramedics at the Omar Abdel Aziz Hospital in the Maadi neighbourhood which was reportedly targeted by Russian or Syrian regime missiles on July 16th 2016 (Image via Twitter)
  • @SN4HR tweeted that their were "government warplanes bombarded with missiles near Omar Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital in the neighbourhood of Aleppo" on July 16th 2022 (Image via Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]