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

RS372

Incident date

January 12, 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

Eight to nine civilians including two women and four children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab.

SNN reported that alleged Russian warplanes shelled the residential houses northwest of Al Bab city in eastern Aleppo suburbs, under the control of ISIL.

The IS agency Al A’maq also reported on the incident, stating that nine people were killed and 15 injured – mostly women and children, but they did not specify who was responsible. And Halab News claimed regime helicopters were responsible, after dropping barrel bombs on the city.

Among the dead Alaan TV named “four members of the family of Ahmed Abdullah Al Sha’aban including two children.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children2 women)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ 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 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children2 women)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS373

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52815, 37.95495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 25 civilians including three children and one woman were killed and 40-41 injured in airstrikes on Manbij, according to multiple sources. While four of the sources say that Russian forces carried out the attacks, a fifth blames the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that 25 non-combatants were killed and “about 40 others wounded” in seven airstrikes by Russian warplanes “which focused focused on Al’Haal, Shar’aat Al banat, the Aleppo road and Al Zira’a and Hneital neighbourhoods.” They noted widespread destruction to residential buildings.

The IS agency Al A’maq also blamed Russia (putting the death toll at 25 and the number injured at 41), while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 50 civilians were injured or killed (including three children brothers) in 15 raids by “warplanes believed to be Russian“.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that shelling by regime forces killed at least seven, including one woman and her three children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hala Qutaiba al-Hsain
Child female killed
Leena Qutaiba al-Hsain
Child female killed
Yehya Qutaiba al-Hsain
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 25
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–41
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Hala Qutaiba al-Hsain, killed an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, VDC)
  • Leena Qutaiba al-Hsain, killed an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, VDC)
  • Yehya Qutaiba al-Hsain, killed an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, VDC)

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 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 25
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–41
  • 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

RS374

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

دير العصافير, Dayr al Asafeer, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.465278, 36.419722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians including a woman and child were killed and 10 others injured in airstrikes on Dayr Al Asafeer, according to sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “warplanes believed to be Russian” carried out the attacks, while the White Helmets – who put the initial death toll at two (one woman and one child) with 10 injured – did not say who was responsible. They reported that a raid with two missiles targeted residential streets, destroying buildings, adding that “the rescue team in the southern district have moved the wounded and pulled a boy alive from under the rubble and evacuated civilians from the targeted area as well as cleared the roads.”

The Tulip kindergarten was among those buildings struck.

While most sources blamed Russia, Radio al Kul said the Assad regime had dropped cluster munitions on the town. And the al Baath Media site also claimed regime credit for the attack, noting that “the air force of the Syrian army targeted sites and gatherings of militants in the towns of Darya, Deir Al Assafir and Outaya in Damascus.”

The White Helmets also listed an unidentified woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Maram Seika’a or Saibaa
Child named by the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • A member of the White Helmets rescues a child following an airstrike on Dayr al Asafeer, on January 12th 2016. (via, The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)
  • Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Te burial of Maram Saibaa, killed an in alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syria Blogspot)

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 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS375

Incident date

January 12, 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 were killed – including two children, an elderly man and a first aider – and several wounded in an airstrike on Douma, according to the White Helmets – though they did not say who was responsible for the attack the report stated that residential areas were targeted with cluster bombs.

Shaam News reported that Russian warplanes had allegedly launched several raids on Douma with missiles and cluster bombs, which led to an unspecified number of deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abu Hatem Al Seidawi
Adult male named by Douma Revolution killed
Omar Bewidena
Age unknown male named by Syria2011 killed
Mohammed Jamal al-Ghazzawi
Age unknown male named by Syria2011 killed
Abdullah Injaileh
Child male VDC blamed “warplane shelling“ killed
Ziad Ahmad al-Slaik
Child male VDC blamed “warplane shelling“ killed
Shadi Hammoudeh
Adult male first aider was named by a local activist as having died as a result of cluster munitions killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Abu Hatem Al Seidawi, killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime raid on January 12th 2016. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    First aider, Shadi Hammoudeh, was named by a local activist as having died as a result of cluster munitions. (via, YASER ALDOUMANI2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Abdullah Injaileh, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, YASER ALDOUMANI2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Ziad Ahmad al-Slaik, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Found on VDC and media activist Yasser elFawal alDoumani page)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Shadi Hammoudeh, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Douma Revolution)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS376

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

طلف, Talaf, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9116252, 36.5593243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten non-combatants were reported killed and a number wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Talaf in the Hama countryside, according to local sources.

Fatality claims ranged widely, from one to ten civilians killed. The local Hama Media Centre later issued a video report in which it interviewed local activist Abu Rayan:

“Rayan: The Russian bear targeted us we were sitting peacefully and a rocket landed, there is no FSA here only civilians, look around you.

Q: Who was injured?

Rayan: Children

Q:are the children from Daesh?

Rayan: Yes the children aged four and five years old we moved from here are from Daesh (sarcasm).”

That said, small arms fire can be heard from the town at the time of the airstrike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • An interview with a local civilian by the Hama Media Centre regarding the alleged Russian raids. (via, Hama Media Centre)
  • Footage showing the destruction to civilian homes in Talaf. (via, Hama Media Centre)
  • A video of the raid in the exact moment that the airstrike fell. (via, Abu Obeida Khuzaymah)
  • Footage showing the internal destruction to residential homes. (via, Hama Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A deceased baby which was discovered in the rubble in the aftermath of the raid which struck Talaf. (via, Hama Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage of the leg of an injured man. (via, Abdalbarey Mstfa)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian raids which killed civilians in Talaf. (via, Al Jisir)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS377

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

حر بنفسه, Harbnafsa, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9371883, 36.6221952 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians were killed and a number of others wounded in Harbnafsa, according to the Shaam News Network, which blamed Russian warplanes.

However Orient TV, Zaman al Wasl and Step News said that regime artillery was responsible for the deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (7) [ 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 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS378

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

معرسة الخان, Ma’arasta Al Khan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.38032, 37.0744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 10 civilians including three women and two children were killed and ten to 12 wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ma’aratsa Al Khan, according to multiple sources. The targets appear to have included a civilian bus.

The Shaam News Network reported that “Russian aircraft committed a massacre in the town of Ma’arasta Al Khan west of the two Shi’ite villages“, claiming 13 lives and wounding more than a dozen.

The White Helmets put the death toll at 10, with 12 others wounded, but did not say who the “warplanes” that carried out the two raids belonged to.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights produced three reports.The first blamed the Assad regime and said 10 civilians including three women were killed.

However, subsequent reports said Russian warplanes were responsible for shelling the road that leads to the town of Hayyan, next to “the Great Mosque in Ma’ar Setat Al Khan town in northern Aleppo suburbs that is under the control of armed opposition.” It put the death toll at 12 civilians including two children and two women, adding that almost 12 others were injured.

Orient TV interviewed a survivor who placed the death toll as high as 22: “We don’t understand why we are being targeted; the front line is over there, why are we civilians being targeted? Not a single military person is here, yet more than 5 women and 7 or 8 children and 10 men waiting to collect bread were killed.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Mohammad Awso
Adult male the VDC it blames Syrian Regime aircraft killed
Wafaa Mohammad Misto
Child female the VDC it blames Syrian Regime aircraft killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • Members of the White Helmets rescue victims of an airstrike by "warplanes" on Ma'arasta Al Khan, January 12th 2016. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Interviews discussing the airstrike in Ma'arasta Al Khan which killed between 10 and 22 civilians. (via, Al Jazeera)
  • White Helmets who attempt to clear the rubble of a civilian home which was destroyed by an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • White Helmets clearing the rubble, possibly in an attempt to rescue a trapped civilian, 12th January 2016. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Chaos in Ma'arasta Al Khan as civilians and White Helmets attempt to clear the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • A car damaged in the raids. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Another photograph showing the extent of damage to the residential homes in Ma'arasta Al Khan. (via Radio Al Kul)
  • A damaged van from the alleged raid on Ma'arasta Al Khan. In the background an Ambulance can be seen. (via. Radio Al Kul)
  • Another car damaged in the raids. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • A photograph showing the extent of the damage to the inside of a Mosque in Ma'arasta Al Khan. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Another image showing the extent of the internal damage to the Mosque in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Another image showing the extent of the internal damage to the Mosque in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Damage to the infrastructure of the Mosque following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 12th January 2016. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Part of a shop or market which was damaged in the alleged airstrikes. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Damage to the infrastructure of the Mosque following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 12th January 2016. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • A civilian casualty is carried from the scene where the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike hit. (via Radio Al Kul)
  • Valuable items are transported form the Mosque in order to protect them from the rubble. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • An injured civilian is rescued from the rubble. (via, Radio Al Kul)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian is rescued from the rubble by the White Helmets. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Damage to the infrastructure of civilian homes. (via, Radio Al Kul)

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 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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

RS379

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.864249, 36.804977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to five civilians including four women and one child were killed in an airstrike on Saraqib, according to multiple reports. While most sources blame Russia for the attack, others claim the Assad regime was responsible.

Shaam News said Russian forces carried out a “massacre” in which five non-combatants including children died. It reported that this was one of three incidents in Idlib on this day, the others being in Ma’arat al Nu’man and Sarmada.

Al Hall reported that “scores of civilians were killed, on Tuesday, and wounded more than a hundred others, a result of air strikes Russian warplanes, which targeted the cities and towns of Idlib countryside“, but they said that the Assad regime was responsible for the raid on Saraqib, which killed five civilians, including an unborn child in a mother’s womb, and left a number wounded. After two other incidents in Idlib on this day, activists said that hospitals were filled with wounded people and that there was an acute shortage of medical supplies.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed regime warplanes – again putting the death toll at five.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the number killed in Idlib had risen to 43 including four children and six women – blaming Russia and saying that the number of deaths was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries sustained in the three attacks.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Alaa Haj Musa
Adult female killed
Watfe Haj Musa
Adult female killed
Rahaf Haj Musa
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Nermin Habeeb
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (0–1 children4 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ 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 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (0–1 children4 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 (7) [ collapse]