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

RS836

Incident date

June 3, 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

Between six and eight civilians died and 12 more were injured in an air or artillery strikes on the Al Kalassa neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The Shaam News Network reported Russian raids with warplanes and helicopters across Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. It said that this coincided with “violent artillery shelling“, killing eight civilians in the Al Kalassa neighborhood. It is therefore currently unclear whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

Slnnews said that seven non-combatants died in a Russian strike.

Rozana fm reported on Syrian and Russian raids, adding that six civilians died and 12 others were wounded in Al Kalassa – though it did not identify which actor was responsible.

But Syria News Desk blamed the regime – also putting the death toll at six with 12 injured – and reporting that a five-storey building was destroyed, trapping injured people under the rubble.

Zaman Alwasel also attributed the event to regime warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on the Al Kalassa neighbourhood of Aleppo, June 3rd (via Alriyadh)
  • Civilians and destroyed buildings on Al Castello Road. (via Alriyadh news)
  • Two boys support a third injured boy on Al Castello Road following alleged Regime attacks (via Alriyadh)

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS868

Incident date

June 6, 2016

Location

ذيبان‬, Ziban, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0108763, 40.5045318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On June 8th, a single source, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently, reported that a civilian died from wounds sustained in an alleged Russian strike a few days previously.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al Taha 
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS900

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic scene of children injured and killed following raids on the Ferdos neighbourhood, Aleppo. (Youtube by AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
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 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS933

Incident date

June 24, 2016

Location

‏الشيخ احمد‬, Sheikh Ahmad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1511189, 37.5288154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians including up to two children and one woman died in an airstrike on Sheikh Ahmad, according to local reports – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), Halab Today and Syria2011 attributed the event to Russia.

According to the SN4HR, two civilians including one child and one women died.

But Halab Today said that two children were killed.

However, both Al Jazeera and Alamawi reported that the regime was responsible.

The Step News Agency did not identify the culprit, but said that a cluster bomb had killed two children and one woman.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Yusuf al Khaled
9 years old killed
Fawaz Yusuf al Khaled
8 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • List of martyrs, victims listed at 1'32'', Omar Yusuf al Khaled and Fawaz Yusuf al Khaled (Youtube via Halab Tv 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 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
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS966

Incident date

July 2, 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

Continuous heavy shelling by warplanes was reported to have killed seven civilians including an entire family of four in Hraytan.

Other than Syrian News, who claimed there were both Russian and Syrian regime planes, all other sources have reported Russia the sole culprit.

Syrian News reported that the neighbourhood Al-Haramis was shelled and Hraytan alleged the neighbourhood of Al-Baladiya was destroyed.

Multiple sources named victims including LCCSY and Halab News Network 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Ibrahim Omar al Hilou
43 years old male killed
Shahad Ahmad al Hilou
15 years old killed
Mohamamd Ahmad al Hilou
11 years old male killed
Rajab Mahmoud Omar al Hilou
43 years old killed
Abdul Mu’ti Mohammad Ali
Adult male reportedly a high school teacher killed

The victims were named as:

Hasnaa Haj Mohammad
32 years old killed
Hajer Ahmad Koussa
Child female killed
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • A video showing destruction in Hraytan following alleged airstrikes (Youtube by Hraytan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child is placed in a body bag, a victim of alleged airstrikes on Hraytan (Tweet by @Alamawi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded toddler in Hraytan, struck by alleged Russian warplanes (via @Marai_halabi) [Tweet no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian baby with a wound to the head after alleged Russian strikes on Hraytan (Tweet by @Marai_halabi) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very young civilian distressed and covered in blood following alleged Russian strikes on Hraytan (Tweet by @Marai_halabi) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • The White Helmets bury the victims of alleged attacks on Hraytan (via Aleppo White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian male killed in suspected raids on Hraytan (via Aleppo White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child placed into a body bag, following alleged aerial bombardment (via Aleppo White Helmets)

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
    7
  • (3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS998

Incident date

July 12, 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

One civilian died and others were wounded in an airstrike on Hraitan, local sources reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

Anadan Media Centre blamed Russia for the shelling, as didMasar Press, Shahba Press, Shebah News Agency, and several other local sources.

However, Hawra News pointed to the Syrian regime, reporting it shelled “Anadan, Hraytan, Hayan, Kafr Hamra, Mallah, Maarat Arteek, Babis, Kafr Naha, Urma Al Kubra, Ain Jara and killed seven civilians” in total.

A pro-regime news feed – SyriaWatanNews – tweeted: “Warplanes targeted the armed groups in Hraytan, killing one person and wounding others.”

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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Scenes of suspected Russian bombing on Hraitan (Youtube by Qasioun)
  • Smoke rises across Hraitan, the effects of suspected Russian or Regime warplanes (Youtube by Anadan Media Center)
  • Local people survey the destruction in Hratian after alleged Russian or Regime planes attacked (via Syrianpc)
  • Smoke rises above Hraitan following suspected warplane shelling on the town (Tweet by @ShehabAgency)
  • Evidence of material destruction in Hraitan after suspected Russian shelling (via Step)

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
    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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1030

Incident date

July 22, 2016

Location

سوحا, Soha, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.000015, 37.401581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Syrian Press Center claimed that five airstrikes were carried out in Soha village killing and injuring civilians. Multiple sources including Alamawi and SMO News reported that it was Russian warplanes which attacked Soha village. However, both Radio AlKul and LCCSY blamed the Assad regime for the raids.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Smart News both placed the number of civillians killed at seven. The latter confirmed they were all from the same family and included 4 children.

Syrian Press Center put the numbers slightly lower at three and also confirmed the names of those three victims, listed below.

A pro-regime Twitter page reported that “Syrian air forces targeted the movement of ISIS fighters in Soha and Salameya, East Hama, which killed an armed member and wounded 5 others at least.” Syrian PC, however, claimed that Soha was a “neutral village” meaning it is neither pro or against Assad.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Omar Khaled Al-Hammoud
Age unknown male killed
Shayma’a Khaled Al-Hammoud
Age unknown female killed
Afra’a Waleed Al-Hammoud
Two months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (2 women1 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 (10) [ 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 July 16th – 27th 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 women1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1062

Incident date

July 28, 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

Local media reported that one civilian died and several others were wounded in a cluster bomb attack on Maarat al Numan, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Multiple sources published images showing the remains of cluster bombs on the ground – though many sources didn’t identify who had dropped them.

According to Maarmac12, Qasioun, Syriancoalition, SRG and LCCSY Russia was to blame.

But Nabdsyria and EMC attributed the event to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Ibn Subhi Al-Sayed
Age unknown killed

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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets collect cluster bomb remnants in Ma’arat Al-Nu’man (Tweet by @ALAMAWI)
  • The White Helmets find cluster bomb shrapnel in Maarat al Numan (Via Eldorar)
  • The Civil Defense team collect the left over cluster bombs in Maarat al Numan (via Eldorar)
  • A member of the White Helmets picks up a piece of cluster bomb, allegedly used by Russia (via Eldorar)
  • At the scene in Maarat al Numan at White Helmet member holds a cluster bomb, suspected used by Russia (via Eldorar)
  • Remnants of cluster bombs allegedly used by Russia in Maarat al Numan (via Eldorar)
  • A cluster bomb - thrown in Maarat al Numan, Russia alleged responsible (Tweet via @syrian191124)
  • A civilian among domestic items in Maarat al Numan following suspected Russian attacks (via Qasioun)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

On October 28th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "The ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groupings have launched offensive within June and July near the Aleppo city. The Russian Aerospace Forces are providing active support to the government troops. Joint operations caused elimination of significant number of insurgents, terrorist training camps, plant producing armament, explosive devices, and combat hardware,” noted Sergei Shoigu."

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 (13) [ collapse]