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

RS832

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

التمانعة, At Tamani'ah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to one local source, LCCSY, one woman was killed and three other non-combatants wounded in several alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Tamani’ah. However, Smart News blamed “regime warplanes” for a woman’s death and the injury of “a number of other civilians”.

Qasioun also reported the incident but did not identify the warplanes responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS864

Incident date

June 6, 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

Between two and four civilians died in an airstrike on the Marja neighborhood of Aleppo, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “suspected Russian warplanes” killed four civilians when they fired missiles on the neighborhood.

The Shaam News Network, reported that 21 civilians died in Aleppo “in the first day of Ramadan in regime and Russian bombing“. It put the death toll in Marja at four civilians – though they did not say whether the regime or Russia were responsible.

The White Helmets published footage showing the aftermath of several raids on Aleppo – “the last of them in the al Marja neighboorhood” – which it said killed four civilians and injured many more, including women and children. It added that their team had managed to pull two bodies form the rubble, but did not say who carried out the attack.

However, Eldorar, Klmty and Tweets Palestine blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "several raids target the city of Aleppo the last of them in al Marja neighbourhood where 4 people were killed and many injured including women and children. The civil defence team has managed to pull out two bodies from under the rubble" (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • Search for people under the rubble at Marja, Aleppo (Tweet by @shbabRevolution)
  • "4 civilians died in aerial shelling from regime warplanes on Al-Marjeh today" (Tweet by @TweetsPalestine)
  • A reporter speaks about the presence of helicopters and warplanes - he also mentions barrel bombs. (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
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS896

Incident date

June 12, 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

A mother and four or more of her children were among those killed in an airstrike on Maarat al Numan, local media reported – the majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the attack, though some sources attributed the event to Russia.

The Shaam News Network blamed Moscow, reporting: “The city of Maarat al Numan was exposed to an aerial bombardment from warplanes firing several missiles at a residential area in Al Masri mosque street. Activists said the shelling caused the destruction of several houses over the heads of their inhabitants. Civil defense teams worked to lift the rubble. The  searches exposed a terrible massacre against a whole family in which a mother was killed with her four children – in addition to two other martyrs. The civil defence managed to pull out a woman and several children alive from under the rubble and moved them to field hospitals.”

Other sources reported that “the Egyptian mosque” in Maarat al numan was struck.

According to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, “Civil defense teams spent three hours removing a girl from the rubble”. Other sources published images showing civilians being rescued in the aftermath of the event.

However, LCCSY, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Baladi were among sources blaming regime warplanes.

According to SO4HR, seven died, including the woman and her five children.

Baladi put the number of children killed at five, with SN4HR said that six died.

@salqin tweeted that there had been “more than 50 martyrs and 100 wounded, most of them children and women, in bombings by the Russian Aviation in downtown Idlib city market and Maarat al Numan.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (4–6 children1 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 (66) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of children from the same family, killed in an airstrike on Maarat al numan, Idlib, June 12th (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "recovering a baby wounded from under the rubble of government warplanes missiles fired on Ma'aret Al Numan city in Idlib governorate, causing a massacre, June 12" (via SN4HR Facebook) [Link now unavailable acessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "a father lost his wife and his 5 children in regime warplanes missiles fired on Ma'ret An-Nu'man city in Idlib governorate June 12" (via SN4HR Facebook) [Link unavailable accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Footage of destruction at Maarat al Numan (Youtube by SMN)
  • The massacre at Maarat al Numan (Youtube by almarra 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
    6 – 8
  • (4–6 children1 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 (66) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS929

Incident date

June 23, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1995518, 37.1815538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to six civilians from one family, including women and children, died following air strikes on the Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

A number of sources alleged the regime responsible, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Halab Today TV alleged “Assad’s planes and it’s allies” were responsible, while the Shaam News Network referred to “Russian and Assad’s planes”, alleging they operated jointly.

However, the majority of reports attributed the event to Russia.

The civil defence team, the White Helmets, did not apportion blame, reporting that four civilians were killed and many injured. The team “managed to pull out a family still alive from under the rubble” and continued to search for survivors. In a subsequent video report by the White Helmets, seven non-combatants were documented injured.

“Lion war” put the death toll at four, while @zakarianassani suspected that eight were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–8
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Here in Aleppo, I know the paradise and blood shedding the sign of the bombing of Russian occupation aircraft, which has no mercy, neither human nor stone" (Tweet by @shbabRevolution)

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
    7–8
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS962

Incident date

June 30, 2016

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that up to four civilians died and several more were injured in an airstrike on Deir Ezzor – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. According to one source, Al Jisrtv, ISIS mortars also hit the governorate on this day.

The Syrian News Network reported  that “Russian warplanes launched intense raids on the neighbourhoods of al Rashdiya, Al Sina’a, al Ummal, Huweija and Sakr inDeir ez-Zor which led to one person being killed and left others wounded”.

al-AMAWI reported up to four people killed.

Justice for Life (JFL) tweeted that among the killed was one child.

The Syrian News Network pointed to Russia as the culprit, while Baladi News and the twitter accounts JFL NGO and Syriafree339 blamed the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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]

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
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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

RS994

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

قبر الأنكليزي, Kabr al Inglizi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2613693, 37.0926118 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man named was killed in an an alleged Russian airstrike on Qabr Inglisi, according to local media.

LCCSY and Smart News blamed Russia. Smart News reported the death of two people in this raid, but the other has victim has not been identified.

There is no other information on this raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Abdulrazak Haj Ibrahim
40 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1026

Incident date

July 21, 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

Russian and Assad regime warplanes continued to attack Idlib on July 21st, killing up to another six civilians, according to sources on the ground. The Smart News called the bombardment a massacre and also commented that the raids began in the night continuing on from the 20th of July.

Images published by the Shaam News Network showed destruction of Al Hijaz mosque, which SNN said had killed six civilians. Later reports by the source said  that there were more than 30 injured civilians as the result of over 14 raids by Russian warplanes.

However, Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime for the raids. It also placed the number killed slightly lower at four.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction in Al Hijaz mosque, Idlib on 21st July 2016. (via SNN).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes. Idlib City, 21st July 2016. (via SNN).
  • Destruction in Al Hijaz mosque, Idlib on 21st July 2016. (via SNN).
  • Destruction in Al Hijaz mosque, Idlib on 21st July 2016. (via SNN).

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
    4 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1058

Incident date

July 27, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that an unidentified child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Anadan.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (3) [ 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.

Summary

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