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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS819

Incident date

May 30, 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

In a major civilian casualty incident, consecutive strikes were reported by local sources across the city of Idlib, targeting the National Hospital and other locations. Up to 60 civilians – including women and children – were reported killed and 200 more injured.

Multiple sources attributed the incident to Russia, though there was some initial confusion in reporting by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Russia responded to the allegations by categorically denying responsibility for the attacks.

Raqqa Post said that according to activists, “a flock of Russian planes launched raids on the residential neighborhoods and the national hospital in the city of Idlib“.

The Shaam News Network reported eight consecutive Russian strikes from six warplanes flying at the same time over the city center of Idlib, targeting  “the National Hospital, al Jalaa Garden, Saad Mosque and other areas”. It added that it had received reports of more than 150 wounded civilians and a “massacre at the National Hospital”, along with strikes on other locations including Al Kestna Park, a mosque and a kindergarten. A further SNN report said that while there were no accurate figures for the number of dead, the initial toll was 20 with more than 200 wounded and 16 people missing. SNN went on to report that Russia had denied responsibility for the attack, issuing a statement in which it insisted that none of its planes had launched strikes on Idlib.

In another report, the US said that the culprit should be punished, however, it had not yet been able to determine the identity of the aircraft. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Russia had killed more than 60 non-combatants in attacks on the hospital and a mosque.

LCCSY listed some of the areas that were struck: “the National Hospital, Ibin Sina Hospital, the industrial city, Mutanabi roundabout and the outskirts of Abrar Mosque in addition to the neighborhoods of Qusou and Thawra“. They reported 10 deaths at the hospital and named

Safwan Daaboul, a member of “Molham Volunteer Team“ and Hamad Youseef Aoun as victims.

They later reported that the number of dead had risen to 50, including 10 children, with dozens more civilians injured.

The White Helmets published videos showing a man, a woman and a child being rescued from the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes.

However, in a series of news briefs, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime. It named “Safwan Daboul, head of food security at Banfsaj Organization” and “a volunteer in Mulham Voluntary Team” as victims. As well as the National Hospital, it said that the Sham Emergency System Office was struck, putting it out of service and destroying four ambulances.

But the Network later changed its position and attributed the incident to Russia, reporting that its warplanes carried out eight strikes on several areas of the city, killing 29 civilians. Muslim Al Sayeed Eissa, a media activist gave SN4HR the following testimony:

“I was one of the first to get to the vicinity area of the national hospital after it was targeted with two missiles. One of the missiles fell in the main street between the residential buildings while the other fell near Al Ashqar where Al Ashqar pharmacy is located. the building was destroyed completely. Medical teams pulled out 12 victims and more than 20 others who were wounded including very well-known figures such as a lawyer from the family of Izzdin and a female Pharmacist and a female doctor from Al Ashqar family. The bombing was Russian, it didn’t break the sound barrier and the bombing was carried out from a very high altitude.”

Twenty three civilian deaths including seven children and a number of women were documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It also blamed Russia.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Ezz Eldeen
Adult male laywer killed
Yehya Naes
Age unknown male injured
Roua Naes
Age unknown female injured
Rand Naes
Age unknown female injured
Ahmad Sayed Youssef
Age unknown male injured
Khaled San’na.
Age unknown male killed
a female doctor from Al Ashqar family
Age unknown female injured
Safwan Da'boul
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 60
  • (7–10 children2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–200
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (40) [ collapse]

  • Fires rage in the city of Idlib following multiple alleged Russian strikes on May 30th (via LCCSY)
  • A man carries a distressed child through a crowd in what appears to be a hospital after raids upon Idlib. (via BBC Arabic)
  • Title: recovering a child alive from under the rubble after working for hours. (via White Helmet)
  • Martyr Safwan Da'boul (via LccSY)
  • Recovering a woman from under the rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • Rescue workers recover a man alive from under the rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • rescue workers at the scene. (via White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    rescue workers recover a dead child from the rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • rescue workers at the scenes in Idlib. (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the airstrikes in Idlib. (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child wounded in the airstrike (via Baladi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the dead children in the airstrike (via hala-just1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the dead children in the airstrike. (via Hala-just_1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    children were killed in the airstrike. (via Hala-just_1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims. (via hala-just_1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    one of the children killed in the airstrike. (via Hala-just_1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    one of the wounded children in the airstrike in Idlib. (via Iransiskis1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Lawyer Anas Ezz Eldeen was killed in a suspected Russian warplanes shelling in Idlib. (via Al-Amawai)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the wounded children in the airstrike. (via baraa2abd)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via muhanaalsunaidy)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via muhanaalsunaidy)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
  • Safwan Daboul was one of the victims of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child in the airstrike. (via Al-Amawi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via Sedra Idlib)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via Sedra Idlib)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother checking if her daughter is still alive (via Abuarwa)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via khbrnet)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Alsouria)
  • martyr Safwan Daboul (via Alwan news)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via LccSY )
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via LccSY )

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 60
  • (7–10 children2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–200
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS817

Incident date

May 29, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 15 civilians including two children died and 22 others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Manbij, according to two local sources.

The media activist Ahmed al-Mohammad told Edorar that 13 civilians died in a Russian strike on buildings in the city, “emphasizing that four missiles targeted a three-storey residential building in the neighborhood of al Rabita street, which brought the building down and killed and wounded those inside. He added that eight people people have been identified, including two children, while the rest of the bodies are still unidentified dead, due to them being burnt and blown into pieces”.

According to Syria News Desk, four Russian strikes killed 15 non-combatants, wounded 22 more and destroyed residential buildings. Shahed-Alep news reported that warplanes also targeted a bakery and a residential building under which a whole family became trapped under the rubble.

Syria Post was the only source to blame regime airstrikes, while the Syrian Network said “the regime and its allies” were responsible.

The names of six of the dead, including one 6-year old child were published by the Syrian Human Rights Committee (see below)

Blogger Imad Osman reported the following: “In a second raid two missiles hit the neighborhood of Jarablos Road. The first missile fell at al Milhem bakeries without news of injuries. The secondn missile fell on a house in the building of the medical labs opposite the clinic of Dr. Na’assan Arab. The struck house house belonged to the family of Abu Jassem and the entire family is under the rubble now.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amani Hayran or Jiran
six years old killed
Wi’am Jiran
19 years old killed
Hussein al Muhtadi
Age unknown male from al Orja killed
Aqeel Juma al Muhtadi
Age unknown from al Orja killed
Badir Saleh Al’Ama
Age unknown killed
Shukri Abu Idris, the brother of Abu Aws
Age unknown male at the time of the strike he was in Kamel pharmacy killed
Hassan Mohamed Wallo
Age unknown male IDP from al Shioukh killed
Mohammed Rahmani
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (2 children2 women1–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath or an airstrike on Manbij, May 29th (via Syrian Newsdesk)
  • Bodies are lined up following an alleged Russian raid on Manbij, May 29th (via Syrian Press Center)

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
    13 – 15
  • (2 children2 women1–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS816

Incident date

May 29, 2016

Location

‏الكبر‬, Al Kiber, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.7713322, 39.7891866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian male named as Sahir Attallah al Ayyad died from injuries sustained in a reported Russian airstrike on al Kiber “two months earlier.”

No additional details are presently known, including the precise date of death.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sahir Attallah al Ayyad
Adult male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Onlookers to the destruction caused by air raids that have been reported by numerous sources to have been carried out by Russia. (via Syrian newsdesk)

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS815

Incident date

May 29, 2016

Location

تل الضمان‬, Tal al Daman, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.810278, 37.252222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians including one child and two women died – and 20 more people were injured – in an alleged Russian airstrike on a popular market in Tal al Daman according to local sources.

Activists told the Shaam News Network that Russian warplanes used cluster bombs to strike the market. It put the death toll at a minimum of 10 civilians.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially attributed the incident to the regime, putting the death toll at six, including a child and two women. The same was reported by Ara News. However, in a subsequent report, the SNHR changed its position and alleged that Russia was responsible, reporting that one of the strikes targeted a fuel store, killing six civilians including one child and a woman. Syria Newsdesk also blamed Russia, and said that seven people died including a child, and that 15 were wounded.

According to the White Helmets (who didn’t identify the warplanes responsible), there were more than 17 strikes on Tal al Daman “with vacuum missiles and cluster bombs which led to the deaths of ten people and the injury of 17 others.” They added that they’d managed to rescue five people from under the rubble, but while doing so their team was targeted with one further strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on Tal al Daman, May 29th (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via Shahed_Ayan news)

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS813

Incident date

May 28, 2016

Location

الهلك, Huluk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.237367, 37.171512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A member of the the White Helmets was reported killed and two ambulances destroyed in airstrikes or barrel bomb strikes on Hulluk and Bai’deen.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Title: Explosive barrels thrown in Hulluk by helicopters. Man in the video says they don’t know if there are people under the rubble. (via 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 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
    1
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS814

Incident date

May 28, 2016

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One unnamed civilian was reported killed and two or more injured in alleged regime (or possibly Russian) airstrikes on Maskaneh.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Regime warplane shelling killed a civilian and wounded others in Maskanah. (via LccSY)

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
    1
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS812

Incident date

May 28, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources reported Russian and Syrian regime raids on various parts of Aleppo, killing up to 17 civilians – including two or more children – and wounding others.

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes and helicopters had carried out raids with “vacuum missiles, cluster bombs and barrel bombs” on various locations in Aleppo. It said that this had led to a number of civilians being killed and injured.

Al Jazeera reported that there were as many as 100 raids in various parts of the Aleppo governorate. A report from Shahed Ayan stated that civil defense organistions counted over 700 raid in the region over a 48 hour period, in which 17 people were killed and 78 wounded. A strike in Al Sakhour caused the death of a minimum of three children, it said. Syria HR News said five children were killed in Al Sakhour as well as an elderly woman.

As well as the child civilian casualties in Al Sakhour, there were two named adult victims killed by barrel bombs in the area.

Reports from the twitter account of Shahba alleged the death of two female children and others wounded in regime strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Janoud Al Haji
55 years old male killed
Aoush Al Hussein
60 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (3–5 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Martyrs and wounded some of them critical due to regime shelling in Al Sakhour. (via ZakariaNassani)
  • Photo of the aftermath (via Thiqa agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    victim of the airstrike (via Al-Itihad press)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    victim of the airstrike (via Al-Itihad press)
  • Rescue workers at the scene (via Al-Itihad press)
  • Rescue workers at the scene (via Al-Itihad press)
  • Photo of the aftermath (via SOHR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Father talks about regime shelling to his family in Sakhour. He says regime has killed children. (via Step News)
  • Title: Helicopters threw explosive barrels in various places of Aleppo. (via Hadi Alabdallah)

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 – 8
  • (3–5 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS810

Incident date

May 27, 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

A single source, Halab Today TV, reported that one child was killed and two other civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kaljabrin.

At 0’21” in the footage an eyewitness, Ayman Al Hindawi says: “On Thursday May 26th, we woke up to noises of clashes in the village which were taking place between IS and the FSA, which led to IS gaining control of the village completely. The next morning Coalition planes launched a raid on the village which led to the death of more than 50 martyrs, all of them civilians and most of them women and children and men.”

At 1’14” he continues: “After IS withdrew from the village, Russian planes also launched a raid which killed one child and injured two others.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Title: Kaljabreen massacre (via Halab Today TV)

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]