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

RS826

Incident date

May 31, 2016

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, LCCSY, reported that nine civilians were killed in Homs – “most of them in Russian airstrikes on Sukhnah city”.

No further details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS858

Incident date

June 5, 2016

Location

الموحسن, Muhassan, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2257487, 40.3109038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network reported that several civilians had been killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mohassan in Deir ez-Zor.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “warplanes” had carried out raids in the area, but neither identified them nor provided casualty figures.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ 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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS890

Incident date

June 11, 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

Two civilians including one child were killed and other civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Kalassa, according to local sources.

LCCSY and Qasioun were among sources blaming Russia for the death of a child.

According to Baladi, two civilians died and four were wounded – it also attributed the incident to Moscow.

Other sources put the death toll at two but didn’t identify the culprit of the raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Mohamed Al-Raai
9 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (39) [ 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
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS922

Incident date

June 19, 2016

Location

Castello Road, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.25784, 37.15199 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on the Al Castello Road north of Aleppo city, according to local media – though it is unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a media activist and IT Engineering student at the Free Aleppo University died in suspected Russian warplane strikes on Castello Road.

However, according to Syrian Press Center, the regime was responsible. The source said that aircraft targeted Castello road with ‘dozens of barrels’ and ‘explosive stereochemistry rockets’.

Multiple other sources referred to ‘warplanes’ and ‘helicopters’ but did not identify them.

Only the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the bombardment to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Mohammad Jawad
22/23 years old male IT Engineering student and media activist killed
Muhammad Hisham Mjos
51 years old male killed
Mohammed Adib/Ahmed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Mahmoud Mohammad Jawad an IT Engineering student died in alleged Russian raids (via SN4HR)
  • "Regime aircraft targeted dozens of barrels and explosive rockets stereochemistry since morning Castello Road road north of the city of Aleppo" (via Syrianpc)

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
  • (3 men)
  • 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

RS956

Incident date

June 29, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians died and several more were wounded in airstrikes on Hayan in Aleppo, local media said – though most sources blamed Russia, there was also an allegation against the Syrian regime.

Most sources reported the death of one civilian, while one source, LCCSY alleged the strikes led to four civilian deaths.

Halab New Network, LCCSY, Halab News and Halab Today identified one of the victims.

The majority of sources (LCCSY, Halab Today, Halab News, Jsirttv, Smart News Agency, Shahba Press) identified Russia as the culprit, while one source, Rudaw, noted that “the Syrian army fighter jets bombed the towns belonging to the city of Aleppo, including Hayan…”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mousa Khaled A’assi
20 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A list of alleged killed on june 29th at 1’29”, including Moussa Khaled Assi. The source attributed blame to Russia. (Youtube by Halab Tv Today)

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
    1 – 4
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS988

Incident date

July 11, 2016

Location

Displaced persons camp near al Qali', al Sokhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a camp for displaced persons near al Qali’, al Sokhna, according to sources on the ground.

Sinn News, Shahba Press and Step News Agency all blamed Russia for the attack.

There are no reported numbers of those killed or wounded, but several sources do point to casualties.

According to the Shaam News Network, “martyrs and wounded fell by the raids of the Russian aviation which targeted civilians directly in Homs east.  Russian planes launched raids into Sukhna city and its environs, one hit a camp for displaced people in Kulaia area, and there were fallen martyrs and wounded.” Furthermore the source reported that “activists stressed that the bombing also caused the burning of three tents and a number of cars… there was an absence of revolutionary media from the region, as it is located within the controlled areas of state regulation.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A displaced persons camp near al Sokhna struck by alleged Russian attacks (via Sin news)
  • The effect of suspected Russian shelling on a displaced persons camp near al Sokhna (via@Syriafree339) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

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 July 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1020

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1918713, 37.1722841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

What has been described as a ‘bombardment’ on Bab al Nairab reportedly killed six civilians, including an unborn child. – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Qasioun filmed as an explosive barrel was thrown on the neighbourhood, which is also located very close to an airport. A number of other sources attributed the events to explosive barrels.

Some news sources reported the warplanes responsible were Russian. News Ajell tweeted “Another massacre committed by Russian warplanes against children in Bab Al Nairab.”

Work Media Homs, however, reported that the Assad regime used artillery shelling in the neighbourhood. Shahba tweeted that there were “four martyrs including a fetus inside his mothers womb due to Assad artillery shelling in Bab Al Nairab.”

Halab News Network later reported that the Assad regime “used more than 25 shells in Bab al Nairab”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights published a report with the names of the civilians. Although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported only four were killed, these names confirm the total number was six.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Khaled Khuraki
2 years old male killed
Mohammed Deeb Khuraki
19 years old male killed

Family members (2)

Kalthom Ahmad Khudur
17 years old female pregnant killed
The fetus of Kalthoum Ahmad Khudur
0 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Mun’im Mohammed Dinno
12 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohammed Hamsho
23 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children2 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Qasioun News)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Halab News Network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother and her fetus were killed in contested airtsrikes targeting Bab Al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother and her fetus were killed in contested airtsrikes on Bab Al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via News-ajil tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A mother and her fetus were killed in contested airtsrikes on Bab Al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Abu_Mohammad_fa tweet)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Bab al-Nayrab, Aleppo (via Qasioun News)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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
    6
  • (3 children2 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1052

Incident date

July 26, 2016

Location

‏كفر بسين‬, Kafr Bssein, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2709462, 36.9960522 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child died in Kafr Bssein, local media reported – though it was unclear who was responsible for the deaths.

According to Halab News, Halab Today and Syrian Press Center, an unidentified “man and a child” died in an attack using cluster bombs. The sources didn’t identify the culprit.

Some other sources also put the death toll at two but referred only to “warplanes”.

Madar Daily reported that Russia used cluster bombs on Kafr Bssein, while the Shaam News Network said that a girl died following Russian raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (7) [ 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 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
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]