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

RS913

Incident date

June 17, 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

Two named civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on al Bab, according to local media.

Activists speaking to syrianpc news  said that Russian warplanes launched strikes on residential buildings in the city of Al Bab, killing two civilians and wounding five others.

A number of sources which reported the incident did not identify the warplanes responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hana Hamdo Kazkaz/Czkaz
Adult female killed
Abraham/Ibrahim Hambo Kazkaz/Czkaz
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets pull people from the rubble (Tweet by @syriaTwiit)
  • "Warplanes launched air strikes on houses in the city of the Al-Bab the day Friday, killing two civilians and wounding five others" (via Syrianpc)

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
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS914

Incident date

June 17, 2016

Location

عطشان, Al Atshan, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.406297, 36.823819 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Reports said that five civilians including three children and two women died in a refugee camp for displaced persons near A’tshan in the northern Hama countryside. The majority of sources including numerous independent tweets have attributed this offensive with Russia.

Aljazeera said that Moscow was responsible, reporting that victims were “killed in a Russian aerial bombardment on a camp for displaced people near the village of parched countryside of Hama”.

Smart News blamed both the regime and Russian for the strikes and alleged “Military aircraft Regime and the Russian Air Force, launched cluster bombs”.

A number of other sources which reported the incident did not identify the warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (15) [ 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
    5
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS912

Incident date

June 17, 2016

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shiekhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that a woman died and five other civilians wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun.

The syriannewsdesk, and Halab Today TV were among sources that blamed the attacks on Russian warplanes, specifying the use of cluster bombs.

The Shaam News Network reported that some of those injured involved “cases of amputation due to the explosion of cluster bombs” and “civil defense teams worked to transport the injured to medical hospitals and collect cluster bombs that did not explode to spare civilians from the risk of (further) explosions”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khadija Jawhar
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Destruction of a street in Khan Sheikhoun, June 17th, allegedly caused by Russian airstrikes. (via syriannewsdesk)

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
    5–8
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS911 CS232

Incident date

June 17, 2016

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83869, 38.7462902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians died and up to 17 others were wounded in an airstrike on Al Mansoura village, according to local media. Multiple reports said a strike hit a car travelling along the al Rasafa road and killed those inside. It was unclear who was responsible for the deaths, with allegations against Russia, the US-led Coalition and the Assad regime.

Smart reported “International coalition planes carry out a raid on the village of al Al Mansoura in Al Ar Raqqahh”, along with multiple other sources.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently attributed the event to Russia, reporting the death of “three martyrs following a Russian strike that targeted al Rasafa junction. One victims car was allegedly “totally burnt out.” Orient News also suspected Moscow.

Step News Agency and 7al did not identify the culprit, they put the death toll at five – 7al repoted 17 others wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was the only source to blame the regime, it said that warplanes killed three non-combatants.

Zamanalwasl added that a number of residential homes were also destroyed and published an image of the ruins.

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.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Husain al-Abbas
45 years old From the village, Rasim al Baath killed
Abu Hamza
Adult From the village of Talbissa killed
Khalil Ayed al Razzouk
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–17
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The ruins of civilians' homes following an airstrike on Al Mansoiura, June (via Zamanalwasl)
  • First Quarter Street in al Tabaqa following alleged Russian raids (via Baladi)
  • A building destroyed in Al Mansoura (via 7al)
  • 'Al Baath Village: Walid Al Abbas, 45 years old '

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.

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
    37SDV770660
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 17, 2016, in Al Mansoura, 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. 2975/CS232 37SDV770660

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 17th-18th: Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL-used logistics route and an ISIL-used culvert.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–17
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS910

Incident date

June 17, 2016

Location

الثورة‎, Al-Thawrah (Tabaqah), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported Russian warplanes carried out strikes in the region of Ar Raqqah and Al Tabaqa, reportedly killing 13 or more people and injuring up to 20. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently identifed eight locations:

Near the al Hamza mosque

Near the al Rahma mosque

The first neighbourhood at the entrance of al Bahira Garden

Al Manghiya street

Al Zweikat neighbourhood

Near al Nour mosque

The old gas station, al Gaz Hill

Al Kasara neighbourhood

Activists cited in a report by SNN said that three people had been targeted and killed whilst in a vehicle on a street near Al Mansoura town. The streets of Al Wasat and Al Maghniya also came under ‘heavy bombardment’, according to the report and strikes in these locations resulted in the deaths of six civilians, including women and children and ‘dozens wounded’.

The SNN report outlines how the conflict was unfolding in Tabaqa, an IS controlled area. According to the report, the regime was trying hard to get to Tabaqa through Ithriya road, where significant battles were taking place. The report alleged that Russian warplanes were responsible for airstrikes whilst the regime was trying to advance on the ground.

All4syria News reported that ‘two men a woman and three girls were killed after warplanes bombed their car near the village of Harbh southwest al-Tabaqa city, and three people, one of them displaced from the city of Talbisah, and called Abu Hamza, was killed by a Russian raid yesterday morning at Rusafa road in the town of Mansoura.”

In an article by Zamanalwasl news, the activist Mohamed Osman said that five civilians were killed and seventeen wounded in in raid on the city of al-Tabaqa on the Euphrates River. He made specific mention of the death of a family who owned the Hamadi shop.

The Syrian observatory for Human Rights  reported that ‘at least thirteen were killed’. The report said that warplanes (allegedly Russian) bombed al-Tabaqa, killing a woman, a young man, and injuring other citizens. The report mentioned the death four members of the so-called “Islamic State” organisation.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

the wife of Hamadi al Dakan
Age unknown female killed
child of Hamadi Al Dakan
Child killed
child of Hamadi Al Dakan
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Abu Hamza
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–20
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rising from Al Tabaqa following an airstrike on June 17th (via RBSS)
  • Smoke rises following alleged raids on Al Tabaqa (via RBSS)
  • "smoke rising following the burning of an oil transport vehicle targeted by Russian raids in al Sweikat neighbourhood, al tabaqa" (via RBSS)
  • Destruction after alleged Russian raids on Al Tabaqa (via RBSS)

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
    5 – 13
  • (3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–20
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS909

Incident date

June 16, 2016

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.197971, 37.1656697 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Shaam News Network, reported civilians killed and wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes on various locations in Aleppo. The report stated, “In the stricken city of Aleppo Russian aircraft and Assad’s helicopters have carried out raids on the neighborhoods of al Maysar, Bani Zeid, Altarab,  Bab al-Nairab, Alsakhur, Hanano residences, Al Hawooz roundabout, al Jandol area, and Al Castillo road which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded among civilians”.

No additional details are presently available.

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
    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 strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS908

Incident date

June 16, 2016

Location

Castello Road, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.25784, 37.15199 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian news desk reported that three civilians were killed in an overnight offensive on Castello Road. The people killed were travelling down this road in a car, according to this source and others.

The Syrian news desk reported that  victims had been unable to evacuate the area during the daytime ‘due to regime troops stationed in the Sheikh Yusuf hill and snipers of the Syrian Democratic Forces on the Maksoud neighborhood road that connects the areas controlled by the opposition in the city of Aleppo neighborhoods Brifa”.

Ailwaa News attributed the attacks to the regime, as did Smart News, who reported that two women were also wounded during this shelling.

The majority of sources suggest this attack was by regime helicopters, though some blamed artillery.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Syrian Regime
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS907

Incident date

June 15, 2016

Location

Castello Road, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.25784, 37.15199 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and twelve civilians died in alleged aerial bombardment on the Al Castillo road, “the only entry point into the city” of Aleppo, as reported by HalabToday TV. Fifteen civilians were suspected wounded during the attack, news of which came amdist reports of various neighbourhoods affected, namely: al Maysar, Bani Zeid, Altarab,  Bab al-Nairab, Alsakhur, Hanano residences, Al Hawooz roundabout, al Jandol area, and Al Castillo road. At present the faction responsible is unclear, with both Russian warplanes and the Syrian Regime cited in reports.

Baladi reported that the regime was responsible, stating that “the Regime forces [were] trying various means to cut through Castello Road, the main artery of Aleppo and the main road between the city of Aleppo and its countryside. They bombed  the road continuously with explosive barrels, rockets and spatial cluster bombs, causing the death of many civilians and seriously wounding dozens more”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also alleged “shelling by Regime forces” as the cause of deaths.

@thiqanewsagency said Assad’s forces were stationed in the Sheikh Yusuf hill when they targeted Castello road. Other reports mentioned Hndarat as the base from which Assad’s forces operated.

Later reports noted the deaths of two Palestinians, and blamed “shelling of the Kurdish separatist militia stationed in the neighbourhood on the way to #Heik_mqsod”.

No further details are presently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (44) [ 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 – 12
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (44) [ collapse]