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

RS1435

Incident date

October 12, 2016

Location

كفرلاها, Kafr Laha, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.88305556, 36.5 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians were reported killed in air and artillery strikes on Kafr Laha, according to sources on the ground.

All but one source blamed the regime for this incident, though the Shaam News Network said that “Russian and Assad warplanes” launched strikes on areas of Homs including Kafr Laha.

Al Jazeera put the death toll at six, while the Shaam News Network published the same number, saying that one of the female victims was pregnant.

In addition, between six and 24 people were reported wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Abdulrazak Ismaeil
Child male named by Homs Media Centre killed
Salam Mohammed Al-Suleiman
Child named by Homs Media Centre killed
Fatima Al Ali
Age unknown female amed by Microsyria and SDUsyria killed
Amina Abdur-Rahman Fares
Age unknown female amed by Microsyria and SDUsyria killed
Rafida Mohammed Ibrahim
Age unknown female amed by Microsyria and SDUsyria killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (2 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • An interview taken in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Kafr Laha, Oct 12th highlighting the damage to civilian homes. (via JisirTV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage of what appears to be child casualties. The remains are barely recognisable. According to the source, it is Salam Mohammed Al-Suleiman. (via Homs Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdullah Abdul-Razak Ismaeil, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Kafra Laha, Oct 12th. (via Homs Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Kafr Laha, Oct 12th (via Smart News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between 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
  • (2 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS034

Incident date

October 10, 2015

Location

التمانعة, Al Tamani'ah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians from one family, including a child and two women, were reported killed after an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Tamaanah. Two people were injured. The dead were later listed by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Local media activist Abdul Kader Al Bakri told the Network: “This time we traced a Russian radio frequency. Al Tamanaa’ town is under the control of An-Nusra Front, Ajnad Al Sham, Jund Al Aqsa, Faylaq Al Sham, and Ahrar Al Sham, however, the targeted house and its surrounding region were civilian areas that did not have any military presence in it.”

Ma’ara Media Centre also carried an eyewitness interview with an off-camera male who insisted the attack was Russian and had killed five of his close relatives: “I was in the village. I had come to see my family. I parked the car a distance away and got out. I saw my father looking up at the plane and my mother was shouting ‘get out get out the plane is going to hit us’ I told her it’s okay I’ll take you away. As I started approaching the bomb struck and it happened. My father was killed and my aunt, may God have mercy on them and my brother Mohammad and Badrieh and Abdo and Ahmad. The whole family was martyred.”

However, Smart News said the regime perpetrated the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Salah Al Shehnaa
Adult male 50 years old killed
Hind Mohamad Al Soussi
Adult female Salah's 48 year old sister killed
Mohammad Al Shehnaa
Adult male Salah's 28 year old son killed
Badreya Salah Al Shehnaa
Adult female Salah's 28 or 29 year old daughter killed
Abdo Salah Al Shehnaa
Child male Salah's 11 year old son killed
Ahmad Salah Al Shehnaa
Child male Salah's 5 year old son killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 women2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Interview with one of the survivors from the family listing the names of the victims. His father, aunt, and 4 siblings. At Tamani'ah, 10th October 2015. (via, Maara Media Centre) 10/10/2015]
  • An image shows the civil defence tending to one of the injured victims of the strike on the town, At Tamani'ah, 10th October 2016. (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Tamani’ah (التمانعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.457626, 36.750314. 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

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 women2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS066

Incident date

October 21, 2015

Location

أبو خنادق, Abu al Khanadak, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.406795, 37.199541 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six people were killed – including four women – following an alleged Russian strike on civilian homes at Abu al Khanadak. The dead were later named by VDC.

Images obtained by Shaam showed significant damage at the site.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Tamader Mohammad Abd al-Qader al-Dandan
Adult female killed

Family members (1)

Faten Ahmad Abd al-Qader al-Dandan
Adult female killed

Family members (1)

Abd al-Hai Ahmad Abd al-Qader al-Dandan
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Radwan Rajab Al Mohamad
Adult male killed
Zaeilah Faraj al Yousef
Adult female killed
Najmeh Hosain al-Khaled
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 women2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Rescuers at scene of alleged Russian strike at Abuu, Oct 21 2015 (via SNN)
  • Rescuers at scene of alleged Russian strike at Abuu, Oct 21 2015 (via SNN)
  • Rescuers at scene of alleged Russian strike at Abuu, Oct 21 2015 (via SNN)
  • Photos from SNN of the aftermath of the bombing of Russian planes of civiian homes in Abu Al Khanadeq in the eastern countryside.

Geolocation notes (7) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that up to six people were killed in an airstrike in the village of Abu al Khanadak (أبو خنادق) in Hama. After investigating visual material from sources, we narrowed this location down to a compound on the northwest outskirts of the village, for which the exact coordinates are: 35.406795, 37.199541.

  • Image from scene showing dense trees adjacent to building targeted in strike.

    Imagery:
    SNN

  • The groups of trees marked B, C, and D are progressively farther away from the viewpoint of the camera.

    Imagery:
    SNN

  • Although it's barely visible, the features marked F is a road leading away from the village.

    Imagery:
    SNN

  • The dense trees adjacent to the targeted building and the concrete roof are seen here in a satellite image.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite imagery shows the trees from the on-the-ground photo in a staggered pattern.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • The road barely visible in the witness image is seen here in an overhead shot. The compound targeted in the strike is to the bottom left of the red box.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite image showing a close-up of the home targeted in the strike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed carrying out strikes in Hama governorate for October 21st-22nd 2015: “For the last 24 hours, the Russian Su-34, Su-24M, Su-25SM aircraft performed 53 combat sorties engaging 72 terrorist facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 women2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2475

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and four children were killed in their home as alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces struck the town of Jarjanaz.

The death of a sixth civilian was also reported. Those killed included the woman’s grandson, according to local sources. At least five others were injured.

Three “space rockets” hit the town through the night, according to Step News. Akhbar News said the destruction of civilian houses and the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq mosque was due to rocket-propelled grenades.

Activists told Smart News that the house of Hossam Salama, a leader of the al-Ahrar-al-Sham Islamist Movement was damaged but he was not hurt.

The Civil Defense worked to retrieve the dead, transferring the wounded to the nearest medical point.

The incident occured after midnight.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

  • Raids destroyed multiple buildings
    http://archive.fo/PDw0x
  • White Helmets in the wreckage
    https://twitter.com/SyrianCoalition/status/910482006928232450
  • A mother and four children died in their their home
    https://twitter.com/HadiAlabdallah/status/910456922117169153
  • Translation: 'Russian aviation targets residential areas in the town of # Jarjanaz countryside Idlib leaving martyrs and wounded'
  • Translation: 'The martyrdom of four children and their child after the Assad regime's flight targeting their home this morning in # Gergnaz countryside # Idlib'
  • Translation: 'Painful scenes of the horrific massacre committed by Russian airliners in the town of Jarjanaz in the countryside of Idlib'
  • Further footage of the aftermath of the strike on Jarjanaz, Sept 20th 2017.
  • A news report on the strike on Jarjanaz, Sept 20th 2017.

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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

RS452

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including one woman and her five children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources.

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town of Baza’aa, the village of Qasr al Buraij, and a farm near the town of Kabassin, which led to the fall of many martyrs and the wounded.“

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that one woman and her five children died when “suspected” Russian warplanes fired missiles fired on a farm near Al Bab city.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS612

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including four children and one woman were killed in airstrikes on Douma, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian enemy planes launched dozens of raids on the towns of eastern Ghouta“, leading to two deaths in Douma.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that artillery shelling by the regime killed at least four non-combatants including three children and one woman.

An additional victim, one-year-old Alya Al Akhras was named by Syrian Martyrs, Yasser Al-Fawal Al-Dumati and the White Helmets.

The White Helmets published a graphic video showing the aftermath of a strike and the casualties, though they didn’t say who was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ena’am Nabaki
Age unknown female Named by Zaman Masdar, mother of Saeed Khabeya killed
Ayham Reyad Al-Najjar
Child male Zaman Masdar killed
Radwan Ziad Al-Najjar
Child male Zaman Masdar killed
Mohammed Mahmood Al-Masri
Child male Zaman Masdar killed
Amer Al-Fustuki
Age unknown male Zaman Masdar killed
Alya Al Akhras
Child female Named by Syrian Martyrs, Yasser Al-Fawal Al-Dumati and the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman0–1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Alya Al-Akhra, 1 year old, died due to airstrikes in Douma." (via, Yasser Al-Fawal Al-Dumati)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a deceased civilian following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syrian Revolution Network)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia makes no public mention of having carried out strikes in Damascus from February 10th – February 16th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman0–1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS804

Incident date

May 21, 2016

Location

صلاح القرية‬, Salah al Qariya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.243096, 40.260944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to six civilians including two children and two to three women died in airstrikes on Salah al Qariya area, in Albu Umar according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

LCCSY reported the death of four civilians in what they said were Russian strikes. Qasioun put the death toll higher, reporting six civilians killed. It later named the child Salah Kharaba as having died from injuries sustained in a strike by “warplanes” on Deir ez-Zor.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and Syrian PC news also said four individuals died and a number more were wounded after Russian planes targeted Salah al Qariya.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime was responsible, also putting the death toll at four non-combatants including a child and two women.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Kharaba
Child male killed
Mariam al Falah
Age unknown female killed
Hanan Awwad al Khalifa
Age unknown female killed
Subha al Ahmad
Age unknown female killed
Ayham Mahmoud al Awwad al Khalifa
3 months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Ayham Mahmoud Awad Al Khalifa, three-months-old, killed in an alleged Russian strike on Salah al Qariya, May 21st (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 publicly reported any strikes between May 1st – 31st.

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 child2 women)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS934

Incident date

June 24, 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

According to a range of local media reports, between two and six civilians including up to two children and three women were killed and up to 45 civilians were injured in an airstrike on Urma al Kubra. There are conflicting statements as to whether the airstrike was conducted by the Syrian or the Russian regime.

Al-Araby reported that the Syrian regime was responsible airstrike, while Baladi, @BigSyrianRevolution, Al-majhr and Syrian News claimed that it was Russian.

Besides from the death of the non-combatants, al-Majhr News report that the airstrike “killed the military commander of the movement of Nur al-Din Al-Zanki, Colonel Mohammed Naimi, and killed the commander of a brigade supporters, Juma Ghazal, and the commander Ansar brigade, Omar Ahmad Barakat”.

The number of civilians reported injured varied, but many of the sources (such as Al-araby, Thiq News, Shabab News) reported that “dozens” were injured. However, Step News Agency said the number of wounded civilians mounted up to 45.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Aziz Barakat
55 years old male killed
Jumaa Ghazal
15 years old male (uncertainty over his combat status as al-Majhr News refers to him as combatant) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–45
  • 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]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Urma al Kubra, June 24th (via Jisrtv)
  • @1’32” Jumaa Ghazal 15 years old (Youtube by Halab Tv Today)
  • "warplanes targeted the town of Urma al Kubra and Kafr Jom with barrel bombs and cluster bombs which led to five martyrs - 2 children and three women" (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Smoke rises following warplane attacks on Urma Al Kubra (via Aleppo White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "civil defence work on moving the injured following the raids on Urma al Kubra" (via Aleppo White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "civil defence work on moving the injured following the raids on Urma al Kubra" (via Aleppo White Helmets)

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 June 1st – 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
    2 – 6
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–45
  • 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]