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

RS955

Incident date

June 29, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians including a child died and as many as five more were wounded in airstrikes on the outskirts of Saqabib, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

LCCSY, Syria News Desk, Qasioun and al-AMAWI blamed Russia.  

Regarding the scope of the strike, a media opposition activist called Mohamed Ali from the countryside of Idlib, told Syria News Desk that “the air force carried out four raids the northern outskirts of the city. The injured were transported via ambulance teams to a border hospital with Turkey, The strikes caused widespread destruction to property”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was the only source to blame the Syrian Regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (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 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
    1 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS953

Incident date

June 29, 2016

Location

خان الشيح‬, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.373059, 36.112682 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported airstrikes targeted the Palestinian refugee camp Khan al-Sheikh, leading to the death of at least six civilians including one child and one woman. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame for the attacks.

The highest death toll was given by Radar News, who reported eight civilians died. It said the strike also wounded at least 12 more – all of whom were reportedly Palestinian refugees.

According to Syria News Desk, “Khaled Al-Hamad, from Khan al Sheikh told Syria News Desk that the aerial and artillery bombardment targeted positions inside the camp, which led to casualties and the near completes destruction of homes. Additionally, there was damage to a school for the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), buildings and other civilian property.”

Among sources pointing to Russia were LCCSY, Syrian News Network, ActionPal News, al-Aqsa, Syria News, Al-mustaqbl, Smart News Agency, al-Qanat9 and Shahba Press.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Syria News Desk, Zaman al-Wasl, Qasioun and Baladi News blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suhaib Izzeddin
5 years old killed
Fathiya Nahar
Age unknown female killed
Izzeddin Abu Al Nour
Age unknown killed
Amer Nimir
Age unknown killed
Ali Hasan
Age unknown killed
Noureddin Nimir
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Civilians survey destruction at Khan al-sheikh, a Palestinian refugee camp (Tweet by @qudsn)
  • Material destruction, the result of alleged strikes on the Palestinian refugee camp, Khan al-sheikh (via Zamanalwasl)
  • A photo of the destruction at Khan al-Sheikh following alleged Russian raids (via Aqsatv news)
  • A photo published by Radar News of alleged victims following aerial bombardment on the Palestinian refugee camp, Khan al-Sheikh (via Radar 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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS952

Incident date

June 28, 2016

Location

منطقة كباني "الكبينة", Al Kabina area, Lattakia, Syria

Geolocation

35.7175411, 36.2333804 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes in the al-Kabina area outside of Lattakia led to the death and injury of several civilians, local media reported.

According to Syria News Network “intense airstrikes by the Russian Aviation occurred alongside clashes which targeted areas controlled by the rebel regions. A number of civilians were killed and wounded, and civilian homes were targeted in the vicinity of al Kabina.”

Two out of four sources, SNN and Muslum News, pointed to Russia as the culprit, while no source pointed to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (4) [ 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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS951

Incident date

June 28, 2016

Location

ياقد العدس, Yaqid al Adas, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2645222, 37.0187463 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an incident in the town of Yaked al-Abas near Aleppo, that led to the death of up to 13 civilians, including four members of the The White Helmets. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Aleppo White Helmets reported, “the news of the martyrdom of four of the Civil Defense Volunteers from the Maarat arteeq centre after they were targeted by warplanes in the town Yaked al Adas while carrying out their humanitarian duty to put out the fires that broke out in the town”.

A range of local media, such as Syrian News Network, Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), Halab News, Syrian Press Center, Baladi News and Aleppo White Helmets also reported the death of four members of the White Helmets.

The White Helmets and the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the incident to the Syrian regime, while LCCSY, Smart News Agency, Baladi News, @HNMNEWS tweet, @Mamoun_sy tweet, All4Syria, StepAgency News and al-Araby blamed Russia.

The Twitter account @HNMNEWS also reported the use of cluster bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Mukhtar
26 years old male Member of Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed
Yasser Abdel Rahman Tamim
30 years old male Driver of Civil Defense center’s ambulance in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed
Mohamed Abdulaziz  El Hadj Omar
22 years old male Member of Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed
Mustafa Zahi Abdul Kader
24 years old male Member of Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of strikes on Yaqid al Adas, June 28th (via Syrianpc)
  • The four White Helmets, alleged killed in Russian airstrikes on Yaked-al-Abas (Tweet by @Mamoun_sy)
  • The White Helmets conducted a funeral and buried the dead following alleged Russian attacks on Yaked-al-Abas (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • Yasser Abdul Raheem Tamim, born in 1985, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, driver of Civil Defense center’s ambulance in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo (via SN4HR) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Mohammad Abdul Aziz Haj Omar, born in 1994, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, member Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq. Died following alleged airstrikes, the source attributed blame to the Syrian Regime. (via SN4HR)
  • Ahmad Sha’aban Haj Omar, born in 1990, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, member of the Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq. Died following alleged airstrikes, the source blamed the Syrian Regime (via SN4HR)
  • Mustafa Zahi Abdul Qader, born in 1992, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, member of the Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq. Died following alleged airstrikes, SN4HR blamed the Regime (via SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets search through the rubble following alleged airstrikes on Yaked al Abas (via Eldorar)
  • The White Helmets work to extinguish fire allegedly caused by "warplanes" (via arabsToday)
  • According to Alaraby, vacuum missiles, allegedly launched by Russian warplanes, resulted in the death of four White Helmet members, when they tried to extinguish the blaze (via Alaraby)

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
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS950 CS243

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

الخفسة, Al Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2308082, 38.021965 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 13 civilians died in airstrikes on Al Khafssa, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia, the US-led Coalition or the Syrian regime were to blame.

The majority of sources, including HNN, @AJABreaking and @HalabNewsN blamed Russia.

The Step News Agency, also attributed the event to Russia, put the death toll at seven, including two children and one woman. It added that the victims were from the same family.

Abarahpress said that as many as 13 had died, but similar to a number of other sources, did not identify the culprit.

However, Breakingnews reported the Coalition carried out strikes targeting ISIS in Al Khafssa. @RadioAlKul blamed the Coalition for seven deaths.

According to Manbij Mother of the World, “Coalition planes bomb the area of al Khafsa east of the cemetery with two missiles at exactly 02:00 am. There is news of a massacre in which an entire displaced family has been killed. We await further details from our correspondent.“

One source, Syrianewsdesk, said the regime was responsible, putting the death count at five non-combatants.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A video listing those killed following alleged airstrikes, at 0’41” : "7 unidentified victims in an air raid on al Khafsa" (Youtube via Halab TV Today)
  • June27PDF

    SN4HR report entitled ‘No less than 240 Massacres in the First half of 2016 - including 33 massacres in June (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • June27PDFArabic

    SN4HR report entitled ‘No less than 240 Massacres in the First half of 2016 - including 33 massacres in June (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA121099
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 27, 2016, in Al Khafsa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2995/CS243 37SDA121099

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 26th - 27th:

* Near Manbij, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL tunnels and damaged an ISIL fighting position and denied ISIL access to terrain.

For June 27th - 28th:

* Near Manbij, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, and an ISIL anti-tank guided weapon and damaged three ISIL fighting positions.

Update from UK MoD for Monday 27 June:

‘Monday 27 June – Typhoons provided close air support to Syrian democratic forces fighting in Manbij…On Monday 27 June, while Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s conducted reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence on Daesh activity, Typhoon FGR4s and Reaper remotely piloted aircraft provided support to both Syrian democratic forces and Iraqi units. The same day, in Syria, a pair of Typhoons conducted a successful attack with Paveway IV guided bombs against a Daesh strongpoint on the south-western outskirts of Manbij.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS949

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Surgical Hospital, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two airstrikes hit the hospital in al-Bab city, causing the death of up to eight civilians, including two children and wounding up to 20 more. Included in the death count were up to five medics and two bodyguards. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Baladi News received reports from two medical staff who told the source that the air raid caused “The martyrdom of eight civilians, including a baby girl and injury of 20 others”.

Likewise, the Free Syrian Army reported that: “Heavy shelling targeted the hospital wounding four of the medical cadre and the martyrdom of two bodyguards of the patients in the hospital. Additionally, a baby girl who was in an incubator died because her oxygen supply was cut off by the bombing”.

The culprit was contested. Syria News Desk attributed the strike to the Syrian regime, putting the death toll at five, including a doctor. It added that ten others, including five of the medical staff, were wounded.

Four other sources – Syrian Network for Human Rights, Halab News Network, Step Agency Bews and Jsirtv – reported that the airstrikes were carried out by Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians pulled from the rubble in al-Bab following suspected airstrikes (Tweet by @jisirtv)

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS948

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

خان الشيح‬, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.373059, 36.112682 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of one civilian and injury of four more people in alleged Russian airstrikes on Khan al Sheikh.

According to Syrian Press Center “Russian planes carried out 24 air strikes, including the use of eight cluster strikes, on targeting Khan al Sheikh, resulting in civilian casualties, according to activists”.

Smart News reported that “one civilian was killed and four were wounded. The bombing was carried out by Russian warplanes”.

Also, it is worth noting that four sources reported the use of cluster bombs which are illegal under international law.

Qasioun, Syrian Press Center, Syriahadath, Radio al-Kul and Al-AMAWI all attributed the event to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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]

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

RS947

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and another eight were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Saraqib, local sources on the ground reported.

According to Baladi, “Warplanes launched two raids targeting residential neighborhoods in the city with Saraqib, resulting in martyrs and eight wounded, White Helmets teams went to the place and worked to dig out one the martyr and to take the wounded to nearby hospitals in the region”.

Smart News Agency blamed Russia, reporting a first raided “targeted a house” whiile a second was “carried out on the local council building in the city”. It also put the death toll at one with eight wounded.

LCCSY, Syrian PressCenter, Syrianewsdesk, @TomasFadi, @jisirtv, @RadioAlKul all reported that Russia had carried out strikes on Saraqib.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • "The effects of the destruction of a house in the town of Sarakib by an air strike" (Tweet via @Step_Agency)
  • "a video showing the signs of destruction left by warplanes that targeted an area in Saraqib, eastern Idlib which left several people wounded." (Video by SOHR Facebook)
  • Residential neighbourhoods targeted in Saraqib (via Baladi)
  • "Russian planes launched air strikes targeting the local council building in the city of Saraqib on Monday, which resulted in civilian death and injury of eight others, including dangerous situations, according to activists" (via Syrianpc)
  • A building demolished following alleged airstrike on Saraqib (via @Step_Agency)
  • A building demolished after alleged airstrike on Saraqib (via @Step_Agency)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]