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

RS880

Incident date

June 9, 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

Two or three civilians including one child were killed in an airstrike on Hraytan, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “suspected Russian warplanes” had fired missiles on the city, leading to two deaths.

A graphic video (‘scenes from the Russian raids on Hraytan, 9/6/2016’) was published by the White Helmets showing a charred body hanging from a vehicle and another casualty being placed on a stretcher.

But Ara and LCCSY blamed the regime, putting the death toll at three.

Baladi reported that a child died and other non-combatants were injured when a helicopter dropped barrel bombs, though it didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Hamida Bu-shnaq
4 months years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets rescue civilians from the destruction at Hraytan following alleged Russian warplane attacks (Youtube by Aleppo White Helmets)
  • "The first moments of the attack on Hraytan" (Youtube by Hraytan city)

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
    2 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS881

Incident date

June 9, 2016

Location

حي ‏الجزماتي‬, Al Jazmati (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1999667, 37.1935272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including a child and a woman died and dozens more were injured when non-combatants’ homes were struck by airstrikes in the Al Jazamati neighborhood of Aleppo, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted or unclear as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY blamed Russian strikes killed three civilians.

In a graphic and disturbing video, the Shaam News Network said that a mother and her daughter were pulled from the rubble following a strike, though it was unclear from the report who was responsible, as it referred to “Russian enemy planes and Assad’s helicopters” continuing to fly above Aleppo and its countryside “firing vacuum and cluster and phosphoric missiles and barrel bombs on the homes of unarmed civilians”. The footage shows a young child being dug out from the ground. At 2’04” a resident gives the following testimony: “They’re bombing indiscriminately. They’re bombing all the neighborhoods, they’re civilians here, women, a little girl, she’s 2-3 years old, what has she done to deserve to be killed? The woman we just pulled her out she’s all broken, another man all broken up and another woman dead. Shame on you world, shame on you Muslims, be scared of God. Where are the Arab countries? Where is the UN? We are being bombed every day, we don’t know where to go, have mercy on us.”

The source added that a family were still stuck under the rubble.

The White Helmets also posted a video depicting a child being removed from rubble. A further report said that one woman and a girl were killed while three other people were pulled out alive, though they did not identify the “warplanes” responsible. It also published an image of a woman being carried by members of their team after they had rescued her alive when her home was targeted.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the regime was responsible for the death of three non-combatants including a girl.

According to Zakarianassani, “the little girl Shaza from Al Jazmati was killed today by the child killer that is Assad forces”.

Videos published by Ammar Alhalabi and Hadi Alabdullah reported that an entire family was still trapped under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Shaza
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • A woman was found alive under the rubble following a strike on her home in Al Jazamati, June 9th. The White Helmets escort her to safety (via White Helmets)
  • A video showing a child casualty following a strike on Al Jazmati.
  • "Al Jazmati massacre due to Russian warplane shelling (Youtube via Shaam)
  • "Russian warplane shelling in Al Jazmati and a whole family is stuck under the rubble. There are martyrs and wounded. Initially 3 martyrs and 3 wounded" (Youtube via Ammar Alhalabi)
  • "At least 3 martyrs and 3 wounded and a whole family is still under the rubble" (Youtube via Hadi Alabdullah)
  • "watch the raids on al Jazmati whose victims were a young girl and a woman and three people were injured 10/6/2016" (Youtube via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Civilians pulled from rubble by the White Helmets (via Aleppo White Helmets )
  • "One woman and a girl killed and three people pulled out alive from under the rubble following raids by warplanes targeting al Jazmati neighbourhood east of the city of Aleppo" (via Aleppo White Helmets)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS875

Incident date

June 8, 2016

Location

حي الشعار, Al Bayan hospital, Al Shia'ar (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2085139, 37.1855771 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 18 civilians died and dozens more were injured when strikes hit the Al Shia’ar neighborhood in Aleppo, including Al Bayan hospital – with doctors, patients and members of the White Helmets among the casualties. The incident looks to have been carried out by the Syrian regime – with the majority of the sources blaming barrel bombs – but some other reports alleged that Russia was responsible.

The title of a video posted by LLC media said that Russia was to blame.

LCCSY initially reported that “warplanes” had carried out strikes on Al Bayan hospital, though they didn’t identify the planes.

However, in a second report LCCSY said that Russian warplanes were responsible for strikes on the Al Shia’ar neighborhood and published a number of images showing the aftermath.

A further report did not say who was to blame, but that “warplanes and helicopters targeted the street of Bayan Hospital in Shaar street in Aleppo with more than 8 barrel bombs in addition to airstrikes“, killing eight civilians and wounding others.

Both the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Shaam News Network said that they regime was responsible, blaming barrel bombs for putting the hospital out of service.

A later report by SNN blamed the regime again, this time putting the death toll as high as 15 with “scores more” wounded including children, women and members of the White Helmets.

Footage showing the first moments of the “massacre” was published by the White Helmets, who later attributed the incident to Assad.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t say who carried out the attack, but like SN4HR blamed helicopters and put the death toll at ten.

In a report on hospitals hit in an Aleppo strike, the BBC said: “One of the strikes hit near the Bayan hospital in the eastern Shaar district, activists and a monitoring group said.

Video footage, purportedly of the aftermath, showed bodies being pulled from burning and destroyed buildings.

It was not clear who was responsible, but government forces are seeking to regain control of the divided city.”

It was cited in the White Helmets report that the hospital was hit by two barrel bombs.

A number of other sources published video footage showing destruction to the hospital and neighborhood but didn’t identify who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 18
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets come to the aid of a wounded woman following a raid with barrel bombs on the Al Shia'ar neighborhood of Aleppo, June 8th (via White Helmets)
  • "the first moment of the massacre committed in al Shi’ar neighbourhood on the third day of the holy month of Ramadan 8/6/2016" (Youtube by Aleppo White Helmets)
  • "A massacre in Al-Shia’ar. Tens of martyrs and wounded in shelling with missiles and explosive barrels. Doctors and patients and members of the civil defense were among casualties. The attack was on Al-Bayan hospital" (Youtube by Hadi Abdullah)
  • "The massacre in Al-Shia’ar neighbourhood" (Youtube by Buraq Media)
  • "The massacre in Al-Shia’ar which left 10 martyrs and dozens on wounded" (Youtube by Ammar Alhalabi)
  • "Two explosive barrels on Al-bayan hospital...More than half the wounded are civil defense and patients" (Youtube by AMC)
  • The aftermath of shelling on Al-bayan hospital (Youtube by Baladi)
  • "the massacre in Al-Shia’ar after shelling" (Youtube by Thiqa News Agency)
  • Destruction caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on al Shiar neighbourhood (via LCCSY)
  • Building crumbles following suspected Russian airstrikes on al Shiar neighbourhood (via LCCSY)
  • Destruction caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on al Shiar neighbourhood (via LCCSY)
  • Victims of alleged Russian strikes (via LCCSY)
  • SNN publish photos of destruction and allege Assad responsible (via SNN Facebook)
  • SNN publish photographs of the destruction and allege Assad responsible (via SNN Facebook)
  • "Al Shia’ar neighbourhood targeted by Russian raids" (Youtube via LCC Media)
  • The White Helmets extinguish fire following airstrikes on the al Shi'ar neighbourhood (Via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Bodies removed from the site of alleged airstrikes (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • A building alight following suspected airstrikes, the White Helmets blamed the Regime (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • A woman is rescued in the Al Shi'ar neighbourhood following airstrikes (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • "when al Bayan hospital was targeted in al Shi’ar neighbourhood in Aleppo leaving more than ten killed and dozens injured. [voice off camera asks ‘what kind of hit was this’ and another one says ‘it’s a barrel..a barrel’]" (Video via SNN facebook)

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 18
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS876

Incident date

June 8, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman died and six others were injured in an airstrike on Salheen, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was an attack by Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to an initial report by LCCSY, three civilians including a woman were killed and several others injured in Russian strikes on Salheen.

However, in a second report, the source didn’t identify the “warplanes” which they said conducted the strikes.

The Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes continue to commit massacres against the people of Aleppo”, putting the death toll in Salheen at three with a “large number” of others wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other sources also mentioned raids by warplanes on Salheen, but did not identify them.

According to TRT, Russia and the regime shelled Salheen. It published an image of a wounded man.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "One of the wounded in Russian and regime shelling on Salheen today" (Tweet by @TRTArabi)
  • Medical workers treat the wounded following shells on Salheen (Youtube by AMC)
  • A building is destroyed in Al Salheen after alleged strikes (Youtube by Ahmad Aboalmagd)
  • "Russian warplanes continue to committed massacres against the residents of Aleppo. Three martyrs and a large number of wounded in al Salheen this morning" (Video via SNN Facebook)

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
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS877

Incident date

June 8, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including  two children died in airstrikes on Kafr Hamra, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was an attack by Russia or regime forces.

LCCSY reported that Russian strikes had killed four civilians, with one “infant body” being dug out from the rubble – though a second post referred only to “warplanes” and didn’t identify them.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at four.

According to So_ria9, “regime helicopters threw barrels in Kafr Hamra causing fires.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that a number of civilians had been wounded in Kafr Hamra, but didn’t mention any deaths nor who was responsible.

According to the White Helmets, two children died and two men were injured following a raid by vacuum missiles.

It also published a distressing video showing the body of a child being removed from the rubble though they did not say who carried out the attack.

Step News Agency reported that “more than ten civilians were under the rubble” following “Russian shelling”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Abdul Naser Dello
9 months years old male killed
Hamida Bushra
5 months years old killed
Shahud Kajo (haj Ali)
47 years years old killed
Mahmoud Youssef Da’bul
19 years years old male killed
Youssef Da’bul
21 years years old male killed
Malik Abdo Yassin Majri
26 years years old killed
Yasser Khalifa
male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Nasser Dalo, 9 months old, killed in an airstrike on Kafr Hamra, June 8th. (via SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets pull the body of a child from the rubble after air raids on Kafr Hamra (Youtube by Aleppo White Helmets)
  • "Phosphorus bombs thrown on Kafr Hamra (Youtube by Asyan Murad)
  • "The wounded in Kafr Hamra" (Youtube by Ibrahim Umar)
  • "Two children killed and two men injured following an air raid using vacuum missiles on Kafr Hamra" (via Aleppo White Helmets)

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
    7
  • (2 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS878

Incident date

June 8, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians including two women and two children died and dozens more were injured in raids on the Marja neighborhood of Aleppo, according to local sources – though it is unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that four civilians including two women died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Marja.

Activists told the Shaam News Network that “warplanes” (they didn’t identify them) targeted civilian homes, killing four non-combatants and injuring many more – most of them children.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, helicopters dropped barrel bombs on locations in the Marja neighbourhood. It also put the death toll at four, including at least two children – but did not say who the helicopters belonged to.

Mansoorhossein put the death toll at six, reporting that a “bakery was burned, and that the neighborhood is now without a bakery and a medical point”. It did not name the culprit.

Similarly, Alamawi said that the last bakery in the area was destroyed by the strike.

However, other sources including Al Jazeera and Jisr TV blamed the regime.

Other sources reported that civilians had been killed by helicopters, dropping “explosive barrels” – though it didn’t identify who they belonged to.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Warplanes and helicopters target Al-Marja in Aleppo where there are at least three martyrs and many wounded" (Youtube by Hadi Al-Abdullah)
  • Children wounded after alleged warplane shelling in Marja (Tweet by @jisrtv)

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
    4 – 6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS872

Incident date

June 7, 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

Two civilians – a child and a woman – died in an airstrike on Maarat al Numan, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY said that one civilian died and several others were wounded in a suspected Russian strike.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “warplanes” carried out strikes on areas of Maarat al Numan, killing a child and injuring others – though it did not identify the planes.

A second SO4HR report said that “a woman was killed while others were wounded by aerial bombardment on Ma’ra al-Nu’man“, though it is currently unclear whether this is the same incident as the one previously reported.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, publishing an image of the remains of cluster ammunition which they said had been fired by “government forces”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets at site of alleged Russian shelling. (Youtube by Baladi)

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
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS873

Incident date

June 7, 2016

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center, reported one girl killed in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Darat Izza.

All4Syria and A_siba also blamed Russia, though the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Asmma Ayman Asad
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]