Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS905 CS230

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

‏السموقة‬, Jisr Samouqa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.433611, 37.249444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an airstrike on the village of Samouqa, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the US-led Coalition.

Aleppo24, @ALAMAWI, Al Mukhtassar and Nabd Syria blamed Russia.

Aleppo 24 reported: “A family made up of 7 people killed and 3 other civilians killed in a cluster bomb raid thought to be Russian on the villages of Al Ghoz and al Samouq in al Shahba dam northern Aleppo countryside.”

According to Al Mukhtassar, “10 killed and dozens injured following Russian strikes using cluster bombs on the towns of al Ghoz and al Samouqa and al Shahba Dam area in northern Aleppo countryside.

However, LCCSY reported three deaths were caused by “airstrikes with cluster bombs, believed to have been carried out by international Coalition warplanes.”

There had been no prior allegations of Coalition aircraft using cluster munitions – though many such claims against Russia.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: a family made up of 7 people killed and 3 other civilians killed in a cluster bomb raid thought to be Russian on the villages of Al Ghoz and al Samouq in al Shahba dam northern Aleppo countryside.
  • Translation: Syria direct: 10 killed and dozens injured following Russian strikes using cluster bombs on the towns of al Ghoz and al Samouqa and al Shahba Dam area in northern Aleppo countryside.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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
    37SCA430334
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • June 14, 2016, in Samouqa, 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. 2973/CS230 37SCA430334

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 13th - 14th:
• Near Manbij, 13 strikes struck 10 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL cave entrances, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL command and control node, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL security headquarters.
• Near Mar’a, three strikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL tactical vehicle, and an ISIL mortar system.
For June 14th - 14th:
* Near Manbij, six strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS903

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

Various locations in Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2000000, 37.6000000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Shaam News Network, reported that “Russian planes launched raids on the villages of Zeitan, al Zirba, Al Karassi, Khan Tuman, Al I’ss, Jib Kass and Aleppo – Damascus road – leading the fall of civilian martyrs and wounded.” No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS902

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven civilians died in an airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local sources. The majority of reports attributed the incident to Russia, however, two said that this was the work of the Syrian regime.

Accordng to @ShahbaPress – who pointed towards Russia – two children were included in the dead.

However, @syriahadath and @QasiounNewsAR blamed the regime.

Al Jazeera reported that as many as six children died in ”Syrian and Russian raids”.

Some other sources did not identify the culprit, but said that civilians were still trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "The civil defence team managed to pull three people alive from under the rubble" (via Aleppo White Helmets Facebook) [Page unavailble accessed via Airwars archive)
  • The destruction in Kafr Halab (Youtube by AMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 7
  • (1–6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS901

Incident date

June 14, 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

Between two and four civilians including one woman died and several others were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Urma al Kubra, according to local sources.

Most sources blamed Russia for the strike, putting the death toll at four.

According to @ShahbaPress, “two Palestinians were killed and wounded, including a woman in a Russian bombardment with cluster bombs”.

@Anasalhage said that a woman died and several other non-combatants were injured following the collapse of a building.

Shahed-ayan said that four died, though didn’t say who was responsible.

Similarly, 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
    2 – 4
  • (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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "a raid by a warplane targeting Urma al Kubra led to the collapse of a building and several injuries one of them critical and fires raging in the targeted area. The civil defence team worked to put out the fires and evacuate the civilians" (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page unavailable accessed via Airwars archive)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS900

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and five civilians died, including a woman and a child and up to 15 other non-combatants were wounded in an airstrike on Al Fardous, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY named a female victim as killed in a Russian strike.

Syrianpc said that the death toll was as high as five with 15 more injured.

AMC published a graphic and distressing video showing dead bodies and casualties – including children – following the aftermath of a strike, which it said was carried out by the regime.

Other sources, including @AlfardousMedia@Shahed_alep, Radio Al Kul and Smart attributed the incident to Moscow, while Alsharq blamed both Russia and the regime.

According to @albasheerbews, five civilians died and 11 more were injured in a strike on a “naval mine”.

@syriia24 said that a child was killed and six other civilians injured, while

@syria_feed reported that helicopters targeted the town with explosive barrel bombs, though the source didn’t identify the culprit.

Similarly, a number of other sources referred to “warplanes” but didn’t say who they belonged to.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatima Hammoud Al Alewi
60 years years old female killed
Aharin Hadi al-Abdullah
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–15
  • 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 (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic scene of children injured and killed following raids on the Ferdos neighbourhood, Aleppo. (Youtube by AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of distressed children and civilian casualties (Youtube by Alcatraz dz)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–15
  • 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 (41) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS899

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

حي ‫‏صلاح الدين, Salahudin (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1874206, 37.1204853 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians including a woman died and up to 17 more were injured in an airstrike on Salahudin, though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

Orient, LCCSY, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Syrian Press Cente all blamed Russia.

Ara News said that the regime was responsible, citing three strikes with cluster bombs killing three non-combatants.

Many other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

@AlQanatTV and @RadioAlKul also said the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mrs. Fatima Al Hamoud Al Alawi
60 years years old female killed
Muhammad Bakri Douji
40 years years old male killed
Ismaeil Muhammad
45 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–17
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • One of the children injured following strikes on Sallahudin (via Aleppo White Helmets Facebook) [Page unavailable accessed via Airwars archive]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–17
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS898

Incident date

June 13, 2016

Location

المعادي, Al Ma'adi (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1914827, 37.1630799 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians died in an airstrike on Al Ma’adi, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame.

Among the sources blaming Russia were LCCSY and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

According to SN4HR, at least three civilians including two children died.

LCCSY put the death toll at two.

However, according to @read19971El, the regime was responsible. It said that an unspecified number of civilians died and six others were wounded. @A_lef_ also blamed the regime.

@HalapTodayTV put the death toll as high as four, but as with a number of other sources, didn’t identify the culprit.

@thiqnewsagency named two victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulaziz Assi
7 years years old killed
Alaa Assi
27 years years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS897

Incident date

June 13, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on idlib, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime – or possibly both parties.

An initial report by The Shaam News Network said that Russian warplanes targeted the “medical center in the vicinity of the Directorate of Education building in the city of Idlib”, killing five civilians and wounding 10 more.

However, in a video report by Shaam, a member of the White Helmets says that both Russian and regime planes hit the same location.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at five, and reporting that missiles were fired on a White Helmet’s ambulance, damaging it.

A further report by SN4HR said that “government warplanes missiles fired on Al Mashtal Park in Idlib city, causing fires, and damaging its facilities“.

Step put the death toll higher, at six non-combatans, but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

@ogygensy and Syrian Mirror attributed the incident to Russia, with Syrian Mirror reporting that a medical center was targeted.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–24
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "0’12” white helmet: says regime planes with their Russian allies hit the same place twice. There are five martyrs and one injured" (Youtube by SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–24
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]