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

RS126

Incident date

November 7, 2015

Location

سقبا وحموريه, Between Saqba and Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.523493, 36.3847445 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed including four children – and dozens of people injured – following an alleged Russian or Assad regime air raid on neighbourhoods in an area linking the towns of Saqba and Hamouriya.

The White Helmets and Radio Al Kul blamed Russia, while VDC and the Syrian Free Army said the attack was the work of Assad.

VDC published seven people who killed by names.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fadi Zuheir al Bashash
Child male killed
Imad Dirkhbani
Child male killed
Maher Abu Al Joz
Child male
Labiba Arabi
Adult female killed
Fadia Issa or Eisa
Adult female killed
Malak Hamandoush
Age unknown female killed
Khalil Subhi Aamer
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets inspect a demolished building following an alleged Russian raid on Damascus, Nov 7th (via The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of casualties following the alleged Russian raid on Douma, Nov 7th.
  • The moment a child was pulled from the rubble following the alleged Russian strike on the town of Saqba, Nov 7th.
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on Sakaba, Nov 7th.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area between the neighboring towns Saqba (سقبا) and Hamouriya (حمورة). The coordinates between the two towns are: 33.523493, 36.3847445. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS320

Incident date

December 26, 2015

Location

الصناعية الشيخ نجار, Sheikh Najjar (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2691894, 37.2561836 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians including an 85-year old man were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sheikh Najjar.

SDU Syria said that “Russian warplanes have launched air strikes targeting residential neighborhoods in Sheikh Najjar City, which resulted in the deaths of five martyrs and dozens wounded.” The Syrian Observatory put the death toll at seven.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Faysal Nahhas Dibo
40 years old male killed
Mohammad Shokeh
85 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1005

Incident date

July 14, 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

Up to seven civilians died in either an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Al Salheen, local media reported.

Smart News Agency  Shahba Press and AMC news all blamed Russia. Al Jazeera pointed to bot Russia and the Assad regime carrying out strikes in three neighbourhoods including Al Salheen, Fardous and Hanano.

Alamawi, however, blames the Assad regime for the airstrike, as does HMN News.

Step News reported that there was shelling in Fardous in tandem with those in Al Salheen. Further to this, Zaman Alwasl News said that there were 15 raids launched in the local area.

According to Alamawi, six people were killed in the airstrike which hit the residential area.  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was among other sources that put the death toll at three.

Smart News Agency are the only source to claim that seven people were wounded in the airstrike.

Syrian Press Center add those injured were in a “critical condition”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasser Ayroud bin Abu al Wahab
41/42 years old male killed
Nouri Hallak
61/62 years old killed
Mustafa Bak’kur bin Hassan
65/66 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man awaits medical assistance after an airstrike on Al Salheen, 14th July 2016. (via. AMC)
  • A young boy injured by an airstrike caused by Russian and Assad regime warplanes, 14th July 2016. (via AMC)
  • The destruction caused by Russian and Assad regime warplanes on 14th July 2016, (via, AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A street in Salheen following suspected warplane shelling (Tweet by @SMARTNewsAgency)
  • Scenes from Salheen, the impact of suspected Russian bombardment (Tweet by @Step_Agency)
  • Footage of a blazing building and significant material destruction in Salheen due to alleged Russian warplane shelling (Youtube by Halab)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A bloodied man is helped by other civilians in Salheen following alleged Russian attacks (via HNN News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A medic treats an injured civilian in Salheen (via SNN News)
  • An elderly man sustained injuries in alleged Russian shelling (via SNN News)
  • The tweet alleges six killed in Salheen - with a photograph of demolished buildings (Tweet by @HalabTodayTV)
  • Explosions in Salheen due to alleged aerial bombardment (via Syrianpc)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child drenched in blood due to injuries sustained in alleged warplane shelling (via Enab Baladi)
  • The White Helmets at the scene in Salheen - a building smokes following the alleged shelling (via Enab Baladi)
  • The civil defense team attempts to extinguish fires caused by alleged Russian warplanes (via Enab Baladi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage of severely wounded in Salheen, medics attempt to save the civilian life (Youtube by AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yasser Ayroud bin Abd al Wahab, born 1976, Aleppo. Allegedly killed by warplanes in Salheen (via HNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Nouri Hallak, born 1956, Aleppo. Reportedly killed in warplane shelling on Salheen (via HNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The civilian Mustapha Bakkour Bin Hassan, born 1952, Aleppo. Allegedly killed by Russian warplanes in Salheen (via HNN)
  • Footage of the impact of alleged aerial bombardment in Salheen - extensive material damage and human cost (Youtube by HNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 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
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1280

Incident date

September 19, 2016

Location

التبني, Al Tabani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to local media, six or seven civilians were killed and several more wounded by warplanes in al Tabani, Deir Ezzor. Sources were conflicted as to the responsible party, with most agreeing the planes were Russian.

Most sources claimed six dead. For instance, Jisir TV tweeted “six martyrs in the town of Al Tabani”, and Step news agency used similar language. However, SRG Syria claimed seven had been killed.

Deir Ezzor 24 originally stated four fatalities, but revised their number upwards to six after two civilians died of injuries sustained from the bombings.

LCCSY, Step, Salquin, and Deir Ezzor 24 all claimed the planes were Russian, but the Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that they were the regime’s.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fassih al Marzouk
Adult male killed
Sabriya al Marzouk
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

The daughter of Walid al Abd al Razaj
Child female killed
The daughter of Walid al Abd al Razaj
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Fadel al Obeid
Adult male killed
Samia al Razaj
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The contested airstrikes reportedly launched three raids on al Khan area and around the former politics building in al Tabani (via Deir Ezzor 24 facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS822

Incident date

May 30, 2016

Location

الكوم, Al Kom, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.19224, 38.85746 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, Russian or regime airstrikes took place in Al Kom near the ancient city of Palmyra – killing at least five non-combatants. .

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at seven non-combatants, including two women and two children. Al Jisr also blamed the regime.

The names of some of the dead were published by news4u which also noted that an entire family had died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

The Al Badewi family
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Al Fallaj
Age unknown male killed
Abdul-Aziz Al-Rafidan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: A masscare where 6 people killed in AL Kom, north of Sikhna, Homs. (via jisrtv)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1697

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

كرم الذحان, Karam al Tahan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196287, 37.181253 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians were killed and dozens of others were wounded in airstrikes against the town of Karm Al Dhaham, Aleppo. In addition to the human cost, the airstrikes reportedly caused extensive physical damage to buildings and homes.

The majority of local sources, including Nabd News and @ShahbaPress, attributed the airstrikes to Russian airplanes. However, Smart News only identified that both Russian and regime planes carried out airstrikes in the area but did not distinguish which struck Karm Al Dhaham.

An image posted by Enab Baladi showed a woman mourning for the loss of her family members and images posted by @Ahmd_alfaran show the physical destruction to buildings caused by the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A woman weeps for her relatives in the Karam al-Tahan neighborhood of Aleppo.
  • 'Seven killed and dozens of wounded in addition to the great destruction in buildings and property.'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

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

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1840

Incident date

January 16, 2017

Location

تلبيسة , Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8420186, 36.711974 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven named civilians were killed and as many as dozens more were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime air and/or artillery strikes on Talbisah, according to sources on the ground.

Sources were conflicted as to which party caused the civilian harm. There was also some confused reporting. For example, LCCSY initially blamed Russia but then pointed to the regime. The Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and Assad – while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t identify the culprit.

One of those killed was a paramedic and ambulance driver, named as Abdul Majid Wakih. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, he “died when Syrian regime artillery shells fired on Talbisa city while  he was aiding injured of previous shelling”. But RFS media office said that “he was shot dead in the city”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Hadi Khashfa
Adult male killed
Ismail Musa Al Jamous
Adult male killed
Fatima Toumi
Adult female killed
Ayman al-Akeidi
Adult male killed
Abdul Majeed Wakih
Adult male Paramedic and ambulance driver killed
Khaled al-Kaysini
Adult male killed
Kawthar Nabhan
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Khaled al-Kaysini.
  • An artillery shell falls on Talbisah, Jan 16th 2017.
  • 'The moment of the raid - and the martyr Abdul Majid Wakiyeh'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'The Martyr Ayman Al - Mirjawi'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'Dozens of injuries and five martyrs as a result of air raids and artillery shelling on the city in the countryside # Homs North'
  • 'Martyr Abdul Majid Wakih'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1957

Incident date

March 9, 2017

Location

حماده عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed, including a child and three women, and 13 were injured, following an alleged Russian airstrike which struck a camp for displaced peoples in the vicinity of Hamada Omar village, local media reported. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged raid.

According to Smart, the vicinity was under the control of ISIS at the time of the airstrike.

Those wounded were critical according to Smart News.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (2) [ 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 March 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]