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

RS938

Incident date

June 25, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, one woman was killed and up to ten other civilians were injured from an airstrike on Kafr Hamra.

The majority of sources reported that the strike was Russian, however, the Blog Amin News said that it was carried out by the Syrian regime. The source also said that ‘Syrian children were bombarded’ and published images of wounded children.

Finally, many sources such as Shahed Ayan, Orient Net, al-Araby and al-Buraq mention the unlawful use of phosphorus, cluster and thermal bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghazala Ahmad Attro
45-47 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • "@0’32” Haayan: Ghazala Ahmad A’tro 45 years old [in bombing on Kafr Hamra]"
  • "The effects of bombing phosphorus on the town of Kafr Hamra in the countryside of Aleppo" (Youtube by Shahed ayan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Syrian children were bombarded by regime forces on the town of Kafr Hamra countryside north of Aleppo" (via Blog.amin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Syrian children were bombarded by regime forces on the town of Kafr Hamra countryside north of Aleppo" (via Blog.amin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Syrian children were bombarded by regime forces on the town of Kafr Hamra countryside north of Aleppo" (via Blog.amin)
  • A girl is treated for injuried following alleged airstrikes on Kafr Hamra (Tweet by @syriafree339)

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
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS937

Incident date

June 25, 2016

Location

معارة الارتيق, Maarat al Arteek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.247681, 37.053483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russia airstrike killed up to two civilians and left a number of others wounded in the city of Maarat al-Artiq, local media reported.

Multiple sources blamed Russia for the event, though several referred only to “warplanes”.

According to @HalabNewsN there were two Russian strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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 (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 – 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS936

Incident date

June 25, 2016

Location

خربة العمقية, Kharbat al A'mika, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.5724474, 36.3857108 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, an alleged Russian airstrike on Kharbat al-A’mika killed between three and 11 civilians and wounded a number others.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the airstrike killed one entire family: “The bombing on the village (…) resulted in the killing of five individuals from the same family [four children and one woman]”. It should also be noted that the Syrian News Network claimed that cluster bombs were used in the attacks.

@ALAMAWI put the death toll at 11, but like a number of other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A photograph from SN4HR report - image also used on Il Ibzimo 19th June incident - therefore unsure of legitimacy. (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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS935

Incident date

June 25, 2016

Location

القورية, Al Qouria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.96, 40.55 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major casualty incident, up to 80 civilians including 29 children and 21 women died and up to 100 more were wounded in airstrikes on al Qouria town, according to local media. Reports said that entire families were wiped out, and Airwars has listed the names of 74 victims. It is currently unclear who was responsible for the event, which sources blaming both Russia and the Assad regime.

The highest death toll was given by Al Araby, who put the number killed at “more than 80 people”. The Shaam News Network also said the number killed had risen to 80 (including 25 children), reporting “mass burials that break the heart.”

The Syrian News Network quoted UNICEF and said  “that there were reports of the deaths of 25 children in crowded areas in the town of Al-Quriyah in Deir ez-Zor air strikes”.

According to The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) there were “several raids with cluster bombs, killing 72 people, including 25 children, and injuring dozens of others”.

Similarly, a tweet from @salqin reported  “more than 70 victims, mostly women and children”.

Sources said that the airstrikes targeted civilian residential areas and reportedly one mosque.

A correspondent for the Deir ez-Zor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that “entire families were decimated by the air raids that targeted Al Iman Mosque and the surrounding area in the city center”.  Deirezzor24 News also said that the raids were “targeting civilian and densely populated areas”

Syria4all also mentioned the bombing of the mosque, quoting media activist Amer Huwaydi, who Syria4all that “Russian aircraft launched several air raids on the city targeting the al-Iman mosque in the town which was under control of Daesh.”

It is contested who was responsible for the airstrikes, with sources pointing to both Russia and the Assad regime.

However, the majority of the sources – such as Syrian News Network, Syrian Network for Human Rights, Syrian Press Center, Jsirtv News and al-Arabiya – attributed the strikes to Russia, while only a few sources including Baladi News and Syrian Network for Human Rights, pointed to the Assad regime.

A number of sources referenced the unlawful use of cluster munitions and phosphorous bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (16)

Hosam Othman Al Sultan
Child killed
Islam Othman Al Sultan
Child female killed
Udai Mothanna Al Sultan
Child killed
Yousef Muthanna Al Sultan
Child male killed
Feryal Mothanna Al Sultan
Child female killed
Faten Mothanna Al Sultan
Child female killed
Janin Mothanna Al Sultan
7 months years old female killed
Jehan Mohammad Al Sultan
Child female killed
Hamid Yousef Al Sultan
Child killed
Athari Yousef Al Sultan
Child female killed
Bader Hamid Al Sultan
Child female killed
Amal Hasan Al Shrabi, wife of Othman Al Sultan
Adult female killed
Najat Assaf Al Shuwyikh, wife of Muthanna Al Sultan
Adult female killed
Faten Yousef Al Sultan
Adult female killed
Muslim Hamdan Al Sultan
Adult male killed
Hamid Al Sultan
Adult male killed

Family members (10)

Hazzar Mohammad Ahmad Al Rmeih
Child killed
Hamid Mohammad Ahmad Al Rmeih
Child killed
Amina Jasem Al Mhemid, wife of Hamid Ahmad Al Rmeih
Adult female killed
Nadya Mohammad Ahmad Al Rmeih
Child female killed
Janin Hamid Ahmad Al Rmeih
9 months years old female killed
Faisal Saleh Ahmad Al Rmeih
Child killed
Amjad Saleh Ahmad Al Rmeih
Child female killed
Mohammad Saleh Ahmad Al Rmeih
Child male killed
Yahya Al Ali Al Eid Al Rmeih
Child killed
Fatima Al Hussein Al Rmeih
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Joud Ibrahim Akla Al Karkour
Child female killed
Hamza Ibrahim Akla Al Karkour
Child killed

Family members (2)

Adham Abdul Athim Aboud Al Joumaa
Child killed
Ayham Abdul Athim Aboud Al Joumaa
Child killed

Family members (3)

Walid Khaled Jamil Al Khleif Al Hamid
Child killed
Mohammad Khaled Jamil Khleif Al Hamid
Child male killed
Mohammad Al Jamil Al Khleif Al Hamid
Child male killed

Family members (8)

Mohammad Mahmoud Sayer Al Bibini
Child male killed
Nawal Mohammad Abdul Karim Al Bibini
Child male
Mariam Yousef Al Ali Al Bibini
Adult female killed
Ohoud Naser Al Hasan Al Bibini, wife of Mohammad Hamid Al Sultan
Adult female killed
Faisal Assad Srai Al Bibini
Adult male killed
Amjad Thaer Al Sayer Al Bibini
Adult male killed
Sultan Hamid Ibeid Al Bibini
Adult male killed
Mohammad AbdulAhad Al Khalaf Al Bibini
Adult male killed

Family members (8)

Amina Al Salama Al Khleif, wife of Ibrahim Al Karkour
Adult female killed
Fatima Al Salama Al Khleif
Adult female killed
Joud Moammad Salama Al Khleif
Adult female killed
Heba Wahhab Al Khleif
Adult female killed
Ilham Wahhab Al Khleif
Adult female killed
Yazan Mohammad Salama Al Khleif
Adult male killed
Suliman Wahhab Al Khleif
Adult male killed
Asmaa Saleh Al Hatroush, wife of Khaled Al Jamil Al Khleif
Adult female killed

Family members (5)

Bara’a Jamil Khalaf Al Hamid
Adult female killed
Bara’a Jamil Khalaf Al Hamid
Adult female killed
Khadija Jamil Khleif Al Hamid
Adult female killed
Amina Abdul Karim Al Housh, wife of Amer Al Naji
Adult female killed
Zahra Al Khleif Al Abid Al Awwad, wife of Ali Al Hamed
Adult female killed

Family members (5)

Wahab al Hamid
Adult male killed
Family of Wahab al Hamid
Age unknown killed
Family of Wahab al Hamid
Age unknown killed
Family of Wahab al Hamid
Age unknown killed
Family of Wahab al Hamid
Age unknown killed

Family members (3)

Abdullah Mahmoud Al Abbash
Adult male killed
Mother of Abdullah Mahmoud Al Abbash
Adult female killed
Son of Abdullah Mahmoud Al Abbash
Age unknown male killed

Family members (4)

Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Rajab
Adult male killed
Family of Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Rajab
Age unknown killed
Family of Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Rajab
Age unknown killed
Family of Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Rajab
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Zakariya Al Turki Al Haj
Child male killed
Rayyan Abdullah Mahmoud Al Abbash
Child killed
Matra Hamdan Al Abd Al Ali
Age unknown female killed
Amouna Hamid Al J’eis
Adult female killed
Sabah Al Bahsh
Adult female killed
Ahmad Jamil Khleif Al Hamid
Adult male killed
Abdurrahman Al Ali Al Hamed
Adult male killed
Yousef Al Hussein Al Mohammad Al Ali
Adult male killed
Mohammad Saloum Al Abd Al Wahed
Adult male killed
The son of Muhammad Al Wardi al Younis
Age unknown male killed
Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Sayer Albeyena
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    74 – 80
  • (29 children21 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The moment warplanes carried out a strike on al Qouria town, June 25th (via SO4HR)
  • Sultan Hamid Obeid, reportedly one of up to 29 children killed in alleged Russian airstrike on Al Quoira, June 25th (via LCCSY)
  • Nawal Muhammad Abdulkarim, killed in an alleged Russia strike on Al Quoria, June 25th (via LCCSY)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    74 – 80
  • (29 children21 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (39) [ 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]

Incident Code

RS933

Incident date

June 24, 2016

Location

‏الشيخ احمد‬, Sheikh Ahmad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1511189, 37.5288154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians including up to two children and one woman died in an airstrike on Sheikh Ahmad, according to local reports – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), Halab Today and Syria2011 attributed the event to Russia.

According to the SN4HR, two civilians including one child and one women died.

But Halab Today said that two children were killed.

However, both Al Jazeera and Alamawi reported that the regime was responsible.

The Step News Agency did not identify the culprit, but said that a cluster bomb had killed two children and one woman.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Yusuf al Khaled
9 years old killed
Fawaz Yusuf al Khaled
8 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • List of martyrs, victims listed at 1'32'', Omar Yusuf al Khaled and Fawaz Yusuf al Khaled (Youtube via Halab Tv Today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 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 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS932

Incident date

June 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

One woman died and other civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab city, Aleppo governorate, local sources reported.

According to  LCCYS, “The Russian warplanes used internationally-banned phosphorous bombs and vacuum missiles on Bab city and Mahdoum in the eastern suburb, resulting in the death of one woman and injury of other people”.

HalabNow reported “more than 20 Russian raids” on Al Bab, while Syrian Press Center said that Russia had used cluster bombs in the attack.

Other sources who reported the incident did not identify the “warplanes” responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (13) [ 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
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS931

Incident date

June 23, 2016

Location

‏الشيخ احمد‬, Sheikh Ahmad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1511189, 37.5288154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to four civilians including one woman and two children died and an unknown number of others were wounded – reportedly mostly women and children – in airstrikes on Al Sheikh Ahmad village, Aleppo, according to local sources. All sources but one blamed Russia.

A later report by Step News Agency said the death toll had risen to three: two children and one woman. The report said that a cluster bomb had been fired by an unidentified faction.

Two child victims by Syria2011, the source reported that they had died after sustaining injuries from “bombing of Russian aviation”.

However, activists told Aljazeera that “Syrian warplanes” carried out the attack – though nearly all other sources alleged Russia responsible, with two sources pointing to “stereochemistry rockets” used by the Russian aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manaf al Hasoun
Age unknown killed
Omar Yusuf
9 years old killed
Yasser Fawaz
8 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ 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
    3 – 4
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]