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

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
Official source

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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
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 – 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]

Incident Code

RS896

Incident date

June 12, 2016

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A mother and four or more of her children were among those killed in an airstrike on Maarat al Numan, local media reported – the majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the attack, though some sources attributed the event to Russia.

The Shaam News Network blamed Moscow, reporting: “The city of Maarat al Numan was exposed to an aerial bombardment from warplanes firing several missiles at a residential area in Al Masri mosque street. Activists said the shelling caused the destruction of several houses over the heads of their inhabitants. Civil defense teams worked to lift the rubble. The  searches exposed a terrible massacre against a whole family in which a mother was killed with her four children – in addition to two other martyrs. The civil defence managed to pull out a woman and several children alive from under the rubble and moved them to field hospitals.”

Other sources reported that “the Egyptian mosque” in Maarat al numan was struck.

According to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, “Civil defense teams spent three hours removing a girl from the rubble”. Other sources published images showing civilians being rescued in the aftermath of the event.

However, LCCSY, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Baladi were among sources blaming regime warplanes.

According to SO4HR, seven died, including the woman and her five children.

Baladi put the number of children killed at five, with SN4HR said that six died.

@salqin tweeted that there had been “more than 50 martyrs and 100 wounded, most of them children and women, in bombings by the Russian Aviation in downtown Idlib city market and Maarat al Numan.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (4–6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of children from the same family, killed in an airstrike on Maarat al numan, Idlib, June 12th (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "recovering a baby wounded from under the rubble of government warplanes missiles fired on Ma'aret Al Numan city in Idlib governorate, causing a massacre, June 12" (via SN4HR Facebook) [Link now unavailable acessed via Airwars archive]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "a father lost his wife and his 5 children in regime warplanes missiles fired on Ma'ret An-Nu'man city in Idlib governorate June 12" (via SN4HR Facebook) [Link unavailable accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Footage of destruction at Maarat al Numan (Youtube by SMN)
  • The massacre at Maarat al Numan (Youtube by almarra today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between 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
    6 – 8
  • (4–6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS894

Incident date

June 12, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One girl died and one other unidentified civilian died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Kalassa, according to local media.

SRG_syria, @freesyria28 reported the death of a child in what they said was a Russian raid.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was among other sources who didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the strike.

The child was named by @Damascordinate and LCCSY, both of which blamed Russia.

Aleppo White Helmet’s alleged “a martyr and a child” died as a result of the attacks.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Samar Mohammed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "one martyr and a child injured following a raid by warplanes targeting al Kallassa neighbourhood this morning" (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Link now unavailable - image retrieved from Airwars archive)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS895

Incident date

June 12, 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

Between 17 and 40 civilians died including up to 18 children – and up to 100 others were wounded – in airstrikes on one of the largest vegetable markets in Idlib, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this major casualty incident was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to the Shaam News Network: “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted a popular vegetable market in Al Furun street near the educational complex in the city of Idlib with several missiles that caused large fires. There were reports of a massacre against unarmed civilians, with body parts scattered across the market”.

It put the initial death toll at 30, with dozens more wounded, adding that most of the bodies were “charred”.

Another report by SNN said that victims were “burnt in cars” and that shops selling fuel were among the buildings bombed “during the rush hour when civilians were making their purchases from the market”.

A very graphic SNN video showed the charred remains of bodies and distressing footage of members of the White Helmets removing victims – with their entrails hanging out – from the scene.

A later SNN report put the death toll as high as 40, while many other reports form other news outlets said that the death count was likely to continue to rise.

However, other sources blamed the regime: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the death toll at 34 (nine children, three women and 22 men).

According to LCCSY, regime “warplanes targeted a vegetables market in the city with two missiles, killing more than 34 civilians and injuring 50 others”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the death of 33 non-combatants in a regime strike, of which 11 were children and one a woman.

Souriat – who was among other sources that didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the event – put the number of wounded as high as 100, adding that 35 civilians died, most of them “burned to death”.

Siryahora tweeted that “18 children were burnt [suggesting they were killed] in a Russian strike” on the market. The tweet included a graphic image of members of the White Helmets holding a charred child victim in the air.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 40
  • (5–18 children1–3 women22 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic video of charred bodies removed from the rubble (Youtube by SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Video shows the destruction caused by several airstrikes by warplanes on areas in Idlib city, one of the airstrikes targeted a popular market area, which killed 34 persons they are 9 children, 3 cictizen women and 22 man" (Facebook Video by SOHR)

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
    17 – 40
  • (5–18 children1–3 women22 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS893

Incident date

June 11, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians including a member of the White Helmets and a child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hraytan, according to local sources.

LCCSY said that four non-combatants were killed in a Russian raid.

@azazmedia2011 was among sources who said that Russia used phosphorous bombs.

The Shaam News Network also put the death toll at four and blamed Russia.

Activists informed SNN that the planes targeted civilian homes.

According to the White Helmets, a member of their team, “died after entering a coma that lasted around 20 days” following a raid by “warplanes” – though they didn’t identify the planes.

Additionally, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death of a member of the White Helmets, but it didn’t name him.

SO4HR said in an earlier report that “four militants” did in a raid on Hraytan, but it didn’t name the culprit. Another report said that regime shelling had killed “four fighters from the al-Sham Islamic Freedom movement”.

Other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible or reported that raids were carried out by both Russian and regime aircraft.

@Jamshidzal690 named a ten-year-old girl victim following the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Fares Mohammad Ali
Adult male A member of the White Helmets. killed

Family members (1)

Ahlam Hayek
10 years years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Fares Mohammad Ali died in an airstrike on Hraytan, June 11th (via White Helmets)
  • "Fares Mohammad Ali, born in 1982, from Hraitan city, member of Civil Defense center in Hraitan city in Aleppo governorate, died due to his wounds from suspected Russain warplanes missiles fired on Hraitan city earlier, July 3" (via SN4HR)
  • "The first moments of the missile strikes that carry bombs Vosforahaly cities Anadan and Hraytan in the countryside north of Aleppo" (Youtube by Thiqa News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS892

Incident date

June 11, 2016

Location

قباسين, Qabasin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.43304, 37.5671053 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Qabasin, according to local media.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted a popular market crowded with civilians in the city of Qabasin, north of Al Bab city in the eastern Aleppo countryside, leaving six dead and dozens wounded – at an initial count. There was also widespread damage to the marketplace and public property.”

Qasioun, also blaming Russia, put the death toll at eight and then at six.

Alaraby added more detail, reporting that the six people killed – again, at the hands of Moscow – were from the same family

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also put the death toll at six but didn’t say who was responsible.

Similarly, @AlMaghribToday didn’t identify the culprit, but said that as many as ten non-combatants died.

Other reports said that dozens of civilians were still trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (24) [ 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
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS891

Incident date

June 11, 2016

Location

كلجبرين‬, Kaljibrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5359847, 37.1173525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died and other civilians were injured in an airstrike on Kaljibrin, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the regime was responsible. They didn’t list any fatalities, but they reported that one female child was wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Youssef Abbas Saqqar
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A girl is wounded following alleged regime shelling on Kaljibin (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (38) [ collapse]