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

RS1070

Incident date

July 30, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on Kafr Naha, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The majority of sources “Qasioun, Sadaaltwhed, Halab News, Alamawi, Jisr tv, Syrian Press Center) pointed towards Russia, with death counts varying between five and seven civilians.

According to Horrya, both Russia and the regime were responsible. It put the death toll at seven with dozens more injured.

A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplanes that carried out the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Danied Al-Shabbout
Child killed
Shahed Al-Shabbout
Child killed
Abdo Al-Shabbout
killed
Kamal Al-Shabbout
killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Video of the alleged Russian airstrike in Kafr Naha, Aleppo (via Qasioun)
  • A street in Kafr Naha where suspected Russian shelling demolished buildings (via SN4HR)
  • Suspected Russian warplanes attacked Kafr Naha - photographs reveal material destruction on the neighbourhood (Tweet via @thiqanewsagency)
  • The White Helemt rescue mission in Kafr Naha - suspected Russian warplanes responsible for civilian casualties and material destruction (Tweet via @jisrtv)

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 29th – 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
    5 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1330

Incident date

August 4, 2017

Location

منطقة المنجم, Al Munjem area, Al Tabani, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.605833, 39.818611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources reported that a minimum of four people were killed in an air raid in al Tabani. One report from Smart totalled the number of victims at seven. The majority of sources asserted that the strikes were carried out by Russian forces, or as reported by Step news agency, ‘#russian-owned’ aircraft.

According to an article on Syrianpc News the airstrike targeted “a car carrying four civilians” resulting in ‘killing them and injuring others’. The civilians travelling in the vehicle in Al-Manjam near al Tabani, were described by a number of sources as ‘displaced people’ and in a Qasioun news report as ‘mostly women and children’.

Statements from activists in a Smart news report allege ‘seven civilians, including children, were killed by a military aircraft raid, targeting a car in the town’, though they did not specify the actors in this attack.

The incident was first reported on August 4, 2017 at 12:40 am by @NewsJorf.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the attack on a car near Al-Munjem area (منطقة المنجم), or ‘the mining area’, in the town of Al Talbani (التبني), western Deir Ezzor governorate. Research confirmed that there is a salt mine in Al Tabani, however we were unable to locate it. Another source mentions the car was travelling between the towns of Al Tabani and Maadan. The coordinates for the town of Al Talbani (التبني) are: 35.605833, 39.818611

  • The village of Al Talbani (التبني)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
  • Stated location
    near al Tabani, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV740411
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 4th-5th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed four ISIS oil stills.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1313

Incident date

September 23, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local and international media reported six civilians, including three or four children and one man named Mohammad Alloush, were killed in an air raid on the neighbourhood of Bab al Nayrab, which according to CNN and Sky News Arabia struck a water pumping station which supplied 250 thousand people in eastern Aleppo. Geroun News said phosphorus bombs were used, leading to a fire in the station. It was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

According to HNN, “three children, a man, an unidentified woman, and Mohammad Alloush” were killed in the raids.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that deaths were caused by Russian warplanes and the regime’s helicopters, listing “two children, a girl and a young man from one family, in addition to a woman and her child” as killed.

Most sources put the death toll at six: @shahed_alep suggested that all six were from the same family. Islammemo and @Mamoun_sy both published roundups of death tolls in Aleppo neighbourhoods which claimed six dead in Bab al Nayrab.

Sources did not agree on the identity of those responsible. Alsouria attributed the damage to “heavy shelling,” @RFS_mediaoffice and @ALAMAWI both accused Russian warplanes, while Syrian Press Center and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights both stated that the attackers were the joined forces of the regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Alloush
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A little girl is dug out from the under rubble following the airstrikes in Bab al Nayrab, reportedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime (via al-Rai newspaper)
  • Images showing the destruction caused by the contested airstrikes in Bab al-Nayrab (via Christian Triebert)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1757

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Al Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven people were reportedly killed in an airstrike on al Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, according to local media source Halab News.

According to the source, the seven civilians died “following Russian enemy raids on al Salheen”.

There were no other known sources with information regarding this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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 specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3622

Incident date

April 26, 2019

Location

تل هواش, Tal Hawwash, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians from two families died and eight more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Tal Hawwash, according to sources on the ground. All sources but one alleged that Russia was to blame – though the Facebook page ‘Al Muoali Clan History ‘ pointed to the Assad regime.

JisrTV put the death toll at three: a  woman, man and a girl – but most sources said between five and seven people died.

Smart News Agency reported: “Houses were destroyed as a result of a Russian air bombardment Friday, April 26, 2019, targeting the village of Tal Hawwash north of Hama province in the centre of the country. Russian warplanes launched four raids on the village and the roads leading to it, killing five civilians, including a girl and two women and wounding at least six others, some of whom were left a serious condition.”

‘The Al Muoali clan history’ Facebook page was alone in blaming the regime. It reported  the deaths of  Mohammed Bahjet Al Salloum and Ahmad Ibrahim Al Ahmad, along with his mother and his sisters. According to this source, there were “six successive missile strikes on the village”.

Orient News added that “more than a dozen” other civilians were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohamed Bahjat Al Salloum محمد بهجت السلوم
21 years old male killed
Darizya Abdullah Al Salloum درزية عبدالله السلوم
55 years old female killed

Family members (5)

Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Ahmad أحمد إبراهيم الأحمد
18 years old male killed
Ghazal Ibrahim Al-Ahmad غزل إبراهيم الأحمد
16 years old female killed
Boudour Ibrahim Al Ahmad بدور إبراهيم الأحمد
35 years old female injured
Ibrahim Al-Ahmad ابراهيم الاحمد
35 years old male killed
Rehab Fawaz Al - Ahmad رحاب فواز الاحمد
32 years old female ' wife of Ibrahim' killed

The victims were named as:

Ghafer Ibrahim
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–2 children3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • An alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via LCCSY)
  • "Continuing raids by Russian warplanes on the village of Tel-Hawash in the north-western Hama countryside." (via Syria.liveuamap)
  • Alleged Russian raids hit Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via White Helmets)
  • Destruction caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 267th (via Step)
  • Footage of alleged Russian airstrikes on Tal Hawwash, April 26th.
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeting the village of Tal Hawwash in the northern suburb of Hama, with several air raids.'
  • Translation: 'Civilian casualties by aerial bombardment of the Russian occupation on Tel Hawaash in the countryside of Hama'
  • The aftermath of strikes on Tal Hawwash, April 26th. The reporter says that six houses were destroyed in the strike.
  • "Shelling of the Russian occupation aircraft on the outskirts of the village of "Tal Hawwash" in the northern suburbs of Hama", April 26th (via Ebaa)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via Syria TV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hawwash, April 26th (via Syria TV)
  • Translation: "Two civilians were killed and a number of civilians were wounded in the village of Tal al-Hawash, in the village of northern Hama, as a result of the air raids carried out by the Russian occupation planes targeting residential areas inside the village" (via LCCSY).
  • Translation: "Three martyrs and eight wounded as an initial result of four airstrikes targeted the village of Tal Hawash, the civil defense teams immediately went to the place where I worked to retrieve the martyrs and the wounded" (via Syria Civil Defense).
  • Translation: "The effects of the destruction as a result of the Russian raids that targeted the village of Tal Hawwash north of Hama" (via Step News Agency).
  • Translation: "Terrifying minutes filled with the smell of death and fear. Five civilians were killed and eight others injured as a result of the targeting of the Russian warplanes to the village of Tal Hawwash in Hama countryside. Today, the civil defense teams evacuated one of the civilian casualties and delivered them to the hospital for treatment" (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Translation: "The Martyrdom of Mohammed Bahjet Al Salloum from the village of Tal Hawash. The impact of a raid from the Asadi Air Force which targeted the village with six successive missiles on the village. We ask Allah for patience and solace and improve the consolation of our cousins in the village of Tal Hawash" (via Al Muoali clan history).
  • Translation: "The martyrdom of Ahmad Ibrahim Al Ahmad with his mother and his sisters. The impact of a raid from the Asadi aircraft that targeted the village of Tal Hawash. We ask God for patience and solace and improve the consolation of our cousins in the village of Tal Hawash" (via Al Muoali clan history).
  • Ghafer Ibrahim was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Tal Hawash on April 26th, 2019 (via Akram Al Ibrahim).

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–2 children3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2938

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

معرةالنعمان, Ma'arat Nu'man, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians were killed, and dozens were injured, in airstrikes on Ma’arat Nu’man, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raids. Many blamed Russia, while some media reported that the Syrian regime were responsible.

Sources reported that C5 missiles struck the residential homes in the vicinity with as many as six rockets, causing huge destruction and dozens of dead and wounded.

A mother and her unborn child were also included in the death toll. An upsetting image was published of the unborn child in the aftermath of the raid, covered in rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Rabei al-Rabei
Adult male killed
Hamideh Ahmad al-Gareeb
Child female killed
Amineh Shnani
Adult female killed
Amineh Hmaimes
Adult female pregnant killed
Gofran Hmaimes
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th jan 2018. (via Smart News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th jan 2018. (via Hadi Al Abdallh)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th jan 2018. (via Mou’az Al Shami)
  • Gofran Hmaimes, killed in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th Jan 2018. (via VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An unborn child, killed in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th Jan 2018. (via @aboalhodaalhoms)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th Jan 2018. (via @mohamed1aldaher)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th Jan 2018. (via @Omar_Madaniah)
  • Adnan Rabei al-Rabei, killed in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th Jan 2018. (via Mahmoud Al Ghareeb)
  • Hamideh Ahmad al-Gareeb, killed in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, 28th Jan 2018. (via Mahmoud Al Ghareeb)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3209

Incident date

March 9, 2018

Location

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5112138, 36.3881891 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians including a child were killed and dozens more were wounded in multiple air and artillery strikes on Jisreen, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

High-explosive missiles were used in conjunction with cluster bombs with as many as 13 raids on the residential neighbourhood which was subsequently “destroyed”, according to local media.

Syrian regime helicopters also reportedly carried out “fierce raids accompanied by an artillery bombardment and very violent missile strikes” on towns including Jisreen.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “the airstrikes targeted Jisreen ahead of the convoy of aid, which includes 13 trucks carrying humanitarian and food items to the city of Douma.”

Syria Noor referred to the event as “a massacre”, citing The Damascus Media Center who said that said “Russian warplanes targeted the town of Jisreen with 13 Russian raids since the morning, which resulted in five martyrs and the injury of dozens more in an ever increasing toll. The center pointed out that the hysterical bombing coincided with the entry of humanitarian aid convoy to al-Ghouta today noon.”

@SYR_REV_NEWS noted that five civilians died as they attempted to leave the town. The source added that the strikes occurred during the night.

 

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Samir Qasideh
Adult male killed
Mohammad Samir Qasideh
Adult male killed
Husam al-Tounsi
Adult male killed
Ismaeil Shihadeh
Adult male killed
Nour Ismaeil Shihadeh
Adult male killed
Firyal Hamidi
Child female killed
Husam Abo Habra
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 9th March 2018. (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 9th March 2018. (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 9th March 2018. (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 9th March 2018. (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 9th March 2018. (via Horrya)

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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

RS3251

Incident date

March 13, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians were killed and “a large number” more were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Harasta, according to local media. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

@Wesal_TV and @HalabTodayTV  and other sources put the death toll at three. However, the Violations Documentation Centre listed five adult male fatalities. It said the victims has been killed by “Syrian government and affiliated militias” who had used “cluster munitions”. @millitry_report mentioned the use of “elephant rockets”, while @hamadaalhr noted “shelling with all types of weapons, including prohibited ammunition”.

There were reportedly as many as six raids which struck the residential vicinity, which included dozens of ground-to-ground missiles targeting civilians homes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Dahdouh
Adult male Known as 'Abo Abdo' killed
Mohammad Qadado
Adult male Known as 'Abo Abdo' killed
Mahmoud al-Wazeh
Adult male Known as 'Abo Fahed' killed
Ahmad Halimeh
Adult male killed
Abo Saleh al-Shatti
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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]

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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]