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

RS1441

Incident date

October 12, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Kalassa neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to LCCSY, there were “six martyrs and some wounded, most of them still stuck under the rubble, after Russian warplanes carried out bunker buster missile attacks on Kalasah neighborhood.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “suspected Russian warplanes fired missiles on Al Sabhan Mosque in Al Kalaseh neighborhood in Aleppo city, damaging it severely and rendering it inoperable”.

Shahba added that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded as a result of Russian strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image depicting serious damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Al Kalassa, Oct 12th (via SN4HR)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1473

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

Al Zar'aroura, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1656062, 36.9718334 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians including children and women died in a strike on the Al Za’aroura area near Kafr Naha in the western Aleppo countryside, according to sources on the ground. The majority of sources attributed the incident to Russia, though one pointed towards the regime. Several other reports didn’t identify the culprit.

LCCSY put the death toll at five including two children and two women, and blamed Russia.

Halab News, meanwhile, listed unidentified victims as “a child, two men and two women”.

According to Orient, “five civilians were killed and others injured by air strikes carried out by Russia on the outskirts of the town of Kafr Naha in the western part of Aleppo. Aircraft targeted the Al Za’aroura area near the town of Kafr Nahah with rockets. The Civil Defense teams evacuated the injured and victims to medical hospitals.”

@MasarPressNet reported that six civilians died in the attack, but didn’t name the culprit.

According to Baladi, “rocket-propelled grenades” struck the area – but the source didn’t apportion blame.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to the regime, reporting that “at least five victims died due to government warplanes (allies) missiles fired on Al Za’rora area near Kafr Naha town in Aleppo governorate, October 17, 2016.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Destruction to civilian homes depicted here in Al Zar'aroura. (via Baladi news Network)
  • Civilians digging through and saving what is left of their homes in Al Zar'aroura following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on 17th October 2016. (via SNN)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)

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 October 1st – 19th 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 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2172

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

الجانودية, Al Janoudia, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8839, 36.291466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya, Jisr al-Shughour, according to local media sources.

Media activist, Musab Ahmed Orabi, was among those dead. However, none of the sources were clear as to whether he was one of the five civilians killed or an additional death.

He was working with the Qatar Red Crescent team when the strike occurred, Enab Baladi reported. They further noted that Musab was “a famous actor who was known for his dramatic and cynical scenes of the Syrian regime and his president, Bashar al-Assad.”

According to RFS Media Office, Musab was injured by shrapnel in the abdomen. “He was taken to the hospital and died during an operation that did not last more than 15 minutes,” their report read.

A source from the Syrian Civil Defence told Alaraby that two members of the civil defence and five civilians were killed following three raids from Russian aviation.

Aleppo AMC tweeted that seven people were injured during the attack, including two members of the civil defence – but given the death toll in other sources, it is likely that this was in fact referring to fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Musab Ahmed Orabi
Adult male Journalist killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Media activist Musab Ahmed Orabi was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya. 26th April 2017. (Via: Enab Baladi)
  • Media activist Musab Ahmed Orabi was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya. 26th April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

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 specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS330

Incident date

December 30, 2015

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to six civilians including two women and three to four children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Buliyal, according to the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that three non-combatants – including two women and a child – died when Russian warplanes allegedly fired missiles on Al Buliyal.

But according to the Violations Documentation Center three children died in the raid.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muna Khalaf al-Slaiman
Child female killed
Aya Khalaf al-Slaiman
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Murhaf Faraj al-Delli
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–4 children2 women)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Buliyal (البوليل ), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.20253, 40.37126. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

For December 28th-30th 2015, Russa has stated that “In the course of last two days, since December 28, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 121 combat sorties engaging 424 terrorists’ objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Daraa, Raqqah and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–4 children2 women)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1096

Incident date

August 4, 2016

Location

معرة الأتارب, Maarat al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1597476, 36.8192717 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and six civilians including two children died and as many as 30 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime airstrike on the two camps for displaced person near the town of Maarat al Atareb.

Halab News Network reported there were no less than eight raids, with the use of cluster bombs in the vicinity.

The camps which made up approximately 50 tents, were reportedly left shattered. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “one of the camps is located in the area between Ma’aarat al-Atareb and road al-Sahara and has more than 30 tents, while the other is located between Ma’aarat al-Atareb and the road to al-Atareb town and has about 20 tents. The airstrikes on both camps damaged and burned about 10 tents”. The Observatory said that 30 people were injured in the raid, though Syria News Desk put the number injured much lower at 10.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights added that the missiles also struck an ambulance at the Civil Defence Centre in Maarat al Atareb.

HNN claimed that the bombardment was so intense that ambulances were unable to reach the area for some time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime raids. Maarat al Atareb, 4th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
    A child killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime raids. Maarat al Atareb, 4th August 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (SN4HR).
    Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (SN4HR).
  • An ambulance caught in the riads. (via, SN4HR)
  • Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (SyrianPC)
  • Remnants of the displaced persons camp. Maarat al Atareb, via (Syria-news)
  • An image showing an ambulance caught in the raids and the extent of the destruction on the displaced persons tents. (via, Smo-sy)
  • Inside of the ambulance which was caught inthe alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, shahbaPress)

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 August 1st – 10th 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
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1128

Incident date

August 12, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and six civilians were killed and at least an additional six civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on August 12th, which reportedly struck a vegetable market in Kafr Naha town in the Western part of Aleppo governorate. Despite the numbers of civilian casualties reported, only one adult male was named by the VDC. All sources reported that civilians were also injured except for @Step_Agency, which reported that there were no injuries.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Russian cluster bombs were used. While most sources blamed Russia, a number didn’t name the culprit.

In response to the event, the legal council of Aleppo cancelled Friday prayers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Urwa Sader al Abbas
Adult male from Qaryatain killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Urwa Sader al-Abbas, killed in an alleged Russian raid in Kafr Naha. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Urwa Sader al-Abbas, killed in an alleged Russian raid in Kafr Naha. (via, VDC)

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 August 12th – 13th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1192

Incident date

August 26, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five civilians – from the same family, according to some reports – died and up to eight more were wounded in airstrikes on Orme Al-Kubra, local media reported. The majority of sources attributed the event to Russia – though one, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, blamed the Syrian regime.

According to LCCSY, “five civilians were killed and others were injured as a result of Russian aircraft launching two airstrikes with vacuum missiles on residential neighborhoods in the town of Orme Al-Kubra”.

Syrian News Desk, also blaming Russia, put the death toll at six, including one child, adding that 10 more civilians were wounded in an attack “on the the town centre which resulted in widespread destruction”.

AMC and @aleppopress said that five people from one family died.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the regime was responsible, while a report by Slnnews referred to both Russia and regime actions on the town.

Many reports added that civilians remained trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Orme Al-Kubra, August 26th 2016. (via AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty still trapped under the rubble following an alleged raid. (via, Civil Defence)
  • The White Helmets attempting to rescue trapped civilians. (via, Civil Defence)
  • The White Helmets attempting to rescue trapped civilians. (via, Civil Defence)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Civil Defence)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SND)

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 August 20th – 31st 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 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1225

Incident date

September 5, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of six died in an air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s al Sukkari neighbourhood, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

ZamanAlwasel, Kalimahora and LCCSY blamed Russia, with LCCSY pointing to a vacuum missile attack on a residential building.

However, other sources such as the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Shaam News Network and AMC, said that the regime was responsible.

According to Alamaiw, “regime helicopters shelled the neighbourhood with gas cylinders”.

Halab Today published an image of “an unexploded missile fired by regime forces” [see image below], reporting that there had been “dozens killed and injured following an intense missile and artillery attack”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Six members of the Al Ahmad family
killed

The victims were named as:

Jom’a Habon
11 years old injured
Ahmad Sabbagh
7 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Images of Al Sukkari - the aftermath of alleged Russian shelling (Tweet via @Alresalahpress)
  • Mass material destruction in Al Sukkari - the result of suspected Russian aerial bombardment (via Enab Baladi)
  • Mass material destruction in Al Sukkari - the result of suspected Russian aerial bombardment (via Enab Baladi)
  • The White Helmets at the scene in Al Sukkari following suspected warplane shelling (via Enab Baladi)
  • One of the White Helmet rescue team holds a baby in his arms - saved from the destruction in Al Sukkari (via Enab Baladi)
  • A street full of rubble in Al Sukkari - the consequences of alleged warplane shelling (via Enab Baladi)
  • A man holds a baby in his arms - resuced from the alleged Russian warplane shelling (via RFS)
  • A photograph of one of the missiles in Al Sukkari - the source suspected six killed (Tweet via @shbabRevolution)
  • Jom’a Habon, 11, was injured due to warplanes shelling in Al-Sukkari (Tweet via @IranArabSpring)
  • The White Helmets scour the rubble for survivors in Al Sukkari (Tweet via @kalimahorra1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic image of Ahmad Sabbagh aged 7 years. Allegedly hit by an explosive barrel bomb on Marya street (Tweet via @farmaneMehrdad)

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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 6
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]