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

TS065 RS1865

Incident date

January 27, 2017

Location

جب مخزوم , Jeb Makhzoum, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.431667, 37.744167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians from one family were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish or Russian airstrikes or artillery shelling on Jeb Makhzoum near Al Arima.

The Syrian Obseratory for Human Rights said it “learned that a man was killed along with his wife and five of their children who are under the age of eighteen. They were killed when warplanes bombed the outskirts of Al Arima, which is located about 20 km to the northeast of Al Bab city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo. It is not known whether the warplanes were Russian or Turkish.”

Syria News Desk agreed on the casualty numbers and provided more information on the location of the strike: “Seven civilians from one family were killed and others injured this morning by Turkish artillery shelling of the village of Jeb Makhzoum under the control of the Islamic State Organization, located south of the town of Al Arima, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The media activist Anas al-Khatib, quoting a civilian source from Al Arima, told the Syrian News Agency that the Turkish artillery targeted the village with more than 11 shells, which fell on houses in the center of the village, killing a whole family consisting of the father and his wife and their five children. Others were taken to a hospital in the city of Ta’ad, in addition to the total destruction of two houses, partial destruction of two other houses and substantial damage to other property.“

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (5 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jeb Makhzoum, Aleppo (جب مخزوم ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.431667, 37.744167. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (5 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3628

Incident date

April 27–28, 2019

Location

قلعة المضيق, Qal’et Al Madiq in Sahl Al Ghab, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven civilians including up to five women died and as many as 10 more non-combatants were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on different locations in Qal’et Al Madiq in Sahl Al Ghab on the night of April 27th, local media reported. While the majority of sources blamed Russia, one source – Al Haall – pointed to the regime, while Daily Sabah said that an unidentified plane was responsible.

Local Coordination Committees of Syria put the death toll at three – though several other sources said that as many as five people had died – all of them women, according to one report by the White Helmets.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who also put the death toll at threem said that “Russian warplanes carried out four raids on places in Qal’aat al-Madiq”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published multiple reports in which it said that the following locations were struck:

  1. 111 Women and Children Specialist” Hospital in the al Shamali neighborhood – “severely damaging its building and equipment. As a result, the hospital went out of service, on April 28”.
  2. The Education Directorate building in the al Shamali neighborhood – “severely destroying its building and damaging its equipment and furniture, on April 28.”
  3. A complex of schools: Fawaz Haj Hussein Primary School, Akram Ali Secondary School and Akram Ali High School in the al Shamali neighborhood – “partially damaging the schools, on April 28”.
  4. The ‘33102 Center of Civil Defense’ in the middle of Qal’at al Madiq
  5. 5. Grain silos in Qal’et al-Mideq, west of Hama, “with airstrikes with space and cluster missiles”.

The Network reported that only the strike on the civil defense centre had resulted in civilian harm – referring to “a massacre”. In a separate posting it said that “five civilians most of whom are from the same family, including a woman, were killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on the middle of Qal’at al Madiq town in Hama governorate western suburbs, on April 28.”

The White Helmets put the death toll at five, reporting that the “five martyrs” included “a disabled woman and her disabled young son, in addition to several other injuries.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Nadia Abd al-Kareem Aqeel ناديا عبد الكريم عقيل
Adult female killed
Ghayath Mohammed Aqil غياث محمد عقيل
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Mohammed Aqil أحمد محمد عقيل
Age unknown male killed
Najib Ahmed Aqil نجيب محمد عقيل
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Bari Khaled al-Yasouf عبد الباري خالد اليسوف
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1 child1–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Qal'et al Madiq in Sahl Al Ghab (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on the Education Directorate in Qal'et al Madiq in Sahl Al Ghab, Apr 28th (via SN4HR)
  • A civilian is removed from the ruins of buildings following an airstrike on Qal’et Al Madiq in Sahl Al Ghab, April 27th.

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1 child1–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2734

Incident date

November 15, 2017

Location

محكان, Mahkan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.974444, 40.485556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians from the same family were killed, and 20 to 24 others were wounded when Russian warplanes allegedly struck IDP tents in Mahkan, according to local media. Sources all blamed Russia for the raids.

The victims included four children and three women, all from the same family.

There are no other details at this time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

The wife of Abdul Aziz al-Thib
Adult female killed
Child of Abdul Aziz al-Thib
Child killed
Child of Abdul Aziz al-Thib
Child killed
Farouk Al - Omar Al - Jabri
Age unknown killed
Daughter of Mahmud al-thib
Child female killed
The son of Ali althib
Child male killed
The daughter of Ismael althib
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • A report in the aftermath of the shelling, 15th Nov 2017. (via Nafiza alfurat)
  • A report in the aftermath of the shelling, 15th Nov 2017. (via Euprats Post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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

RS2085

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

كفر زيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as seven civilians were killed, and seven civilians were wounded, following an airstrike on Kafr Zita. Sources were confused as to who was to blame, some blamed Russian warplanes, others the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) blamed the Syrian-Russian alliance. 

There was also confusion as to how many casualties there were in the incident. Step News reported that two people were killed. SN4HR reported “ at least 3 civilians (2 children and a woman)”. However, Smart news reported that as many as seven were killed. The Violations Documentation Centre named three fatalities, and Basel Darweesh named another victim. 

According to Alaan news, civilians were buried under the rubble. There were allegedly, according to sources, some serious injuries due to the extent of the residential damage. 

Syria-mirror reported that “rocket-propelled grenades” were to blame, which struck residential communities.

Sources claimed that the three civilians named by VDC were been displaced to Kafr Zita northern Hama from Halfaya. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Terkia al-Hasan al-Naser
Adult female killed
Sharifeh Basem Danawer
Child female killed
Ahmad Basem Danawer
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Adel El Amouri
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an airstrike hit Kafr Zita, 6th April 2017. (via Al Jazeera)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2853

Incident date

January 3, 2018

Location

تل الطوقان, Tal Al-Toukan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed – including an entire family of five – according to local media in airstrikes on Tal Al-Toukan. Dozens were also wounded in the raids. Sources blamed bot the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids which damaged a Mosque as well as residential homes.

Mustafa Haj Yousuf, director of the Syrian Civil Defence, reported to Nessma News that “the bombing was carried out by Russian planes and planes belonging to the Syrian regime, resulting in five dead and eight injured.”

Amongst those dead were “a child and three women and a man” – all from the same family.

Due to the intensity of the high explosive missiles, many civilians were wounded and trapped under the rubble. Local media added that it was likely the death toll would rise.

Allegedly there were as many as six raids on the vicinity.

Five of the victims were named by multiple sources.

The shelling included the towns of Khan Sheikun and Sarqib, and the town of Sahiyan and the village of Tal Al-Toukan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hatem Hussein Al Samayh
Child male killed
Samiha Mohammed
Age unknown killed
Hamida Hameed Al - Batosh
Age unknown killed
Ali al-Sameeh
Age unknown killed
Aziza Al Batosh
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A baby wounded in the airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Tal Al-Toukan, 3rd January 2018. (via @hadialabdalla)
  • Hatem Hussein Al Samayh, killed in airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Tal Al-Toukan, 3rd January 2018. (via Yaser albathoush)
  • Injured civilians being dragged from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Tal Al-Toukan, 3rd January 2018. (via Nessma News)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Tal Al-Toukan, 3rd January 2018. (via Qasioun News)
  • Tal al Touqan al Kabir Mosque, damaged in the airstrikes which struck the residential neighbourhood of Tal Al-Toukan, 3rd January 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In an article published on January 30th 2018 Russia reported: ”crews of the Aerospace Forces of Russia had successfully performed 34,561 sorties. The Minister of Defence pointed out that the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, as well as the Su-24M, Su-34 and Su-35S short-range aircraft had proved to be efficient. The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers delivered 66 strikes by cruise missiles, and each eliminated the assigned target. The Minister of Defence also stated that Russian UAVs provided complete control over the whole Syrian territory. The head of the military department paid attention to the significant contribution to the achievement of the operation made by the Navy. The naval surface forces carried out 171 combat missions. The ships and submarines carried out 100 high-precision attacks with the Kalibr cruise missiles. For the first time, the aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Kuznetsov" participated in combat operations. Due to high professional skills of deck aircraft, 1,252 terrorist objects were eliminated.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS201

Incident date

November 27, 2015

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six or more civilians were reported killed including up to four women when Russian warplanes allegedly shelled As Sukhna. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, one of the rockets targeted two houses, “which killed six civilians including a child and three women.”

The VDC has named the six victims that were killed during the strike.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Lutfiye Hmaidan
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Atiye al-Abdulla
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Maysam al-Abdulla
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Fidaa al-Abdulla
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Abdulla al-Abdulla “al-Zeer
Adult male Named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Heyam al-Sahen
Adult female Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (1 child4 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of As Sukhnah, for which the generic coordinates are: 34.8848748, 38.8711739. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (1 child4 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2986

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

كفر باتنة, Kafr Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and up to 80 more civilians were wounded as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Kafr Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Kafr Batna was one of many lethal aerial incidents on that day in eastern Ghouta and was by many described as a massacre.

DMC News said that the strikes hit a popular market in the town and other sources mentioned that the strikes hit residential areas.

The death toll spanned from four to seven, the highest reported, among others, by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) who reported that one child was among the fatalities.

Al-Araby, who reported five fatalities said that one woman and one child were among the victims.

Some sources reported “a number of wounded” while Smart News Agency reported as many as 80, reportedly including women and children.

The incident reportedly included both airstrikes as well as ground-launched artillery. As the field activist, Omar al-Khatib, told al-Araby that the massacre carried out by the Syrian military aircraft by firing rockets.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Most of the sources who identified a culprit pointed to the Syrian regime. Among these are SN4HR, al-Araby and Smart News Agency.

However, LCCSY pointed, as the only one, to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The remaining sources did not apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–80
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Locals attending a prayer for a victim of the contested strikes in eastern Ghouta on February 6th, 2018. It is unclear whether if he was killed from the strikes in Kafr Batna as reported by this source, as DMC Press published a similar photo in relation to the strikes in Jabar, also on February 6th (via Smart News Agency)
  • Locals attending a prayer for a victim of the contested strikes in eastern Ghouta on February 6th, 2018. It is unclear whether if he was killed from the strikes in Kafr Batna as reported by this source, as DMC Press published the same photo in relation to the strikes in Jabar, also on February 6th (via Smart News Agency)
  • Footage from the immediate aftermath of the contested aerial shelling in Kafr Batna, Damascus, where locals are rescuing trapped civilians from under the rubble, February 6th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Wounded civilian receiving treatment following the contested aerial shelling in Kafr Batna, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)
  • Smoke rising from the town of Kafr Batna, Damascus, after being subject to aerial shelling on February 6th, 2018 (via DMC Press)
  • Smoke rising from the town of Kafr Batna, Damascus, after being subject to aerial shelling on February 6th, 2018 (via DMC Press)

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–80
  • 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

RS618

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians including three children were killed and several other civilians injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Abu al Duhur, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network put the number killed at four and said the victims were all from the same family. But other sources – also blaming Russia – put the death toll at seven. According to Zamanmasdar this included three children and a woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (3 children1 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 (7) [ 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 airstrikes in Idlib for February 10th – February 16th though published a detailed response to civilian casualty allegations in the governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (3 children1 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 (7) [ collapse]