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

RS1172

Incident date

August 20, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 16 civilians including women and children died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Orme Al-Kubra, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime. The majority of reports, however, pointed to Russia.

The lowest death count was given as 10 by the Shaam News Network.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “on Saturday afternoon 20 August 2016, alleged Russian warplanes fired missiles at the residential buildings in the vicinity of the market of Urm Al Kubra town, located in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate. This resulted in the deaths 12 individuals including three children and two women.”

LCCSY put the death toll higher, at 15, blaming “Russian airstrikes with rockets and cluster bombs”, which reportedly struck “a market and four-story building.” A subsequent reported noted that “Russia jointly with the Assad regime committed numerous massacres in Aleppo in Saturday”.

A number of other sources put the death toll as high as 16. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there was “an aerial bombardment on Orme Al-Kubra and Kafar Halab in which barrel bombs were used”. The Observatory said that of the 16 who died across these two locations, two were children and a further four were women.

However, AMC and Tiqa attributed the event to the regime, with AMC adding that many people were still trapped under the rubble.

Syrian Press Center and other sources noted that dozens had also been claimed wounded.

Halab News listed victims and also named a further 11 unidentified fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khalil Mahmoud Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahman Khalil Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Rahman Khalil Darwish
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Mustafa Hamdo
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 16
  • (2–3 children1–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Inside of a civilian home in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, AMC)
  • Aftermath of the alleged raid. (via AMC)
  • Aftermath of the alleged raid. (via AMC)
  • Aftermath of the alleged raid. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, Thiqa News Agency)

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 August 20th – 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
    10 – 16
  • (2–3 children1–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1205

Incident date

September 1, 2016

Location

الزعفرانة, Zafarana, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8933447, 36.7788246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians including a child and one woman died in airstrikes on Zafarana, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the attacks.

The majority of sources, including Yaarabaladeli9, Step News Agency, Alghad Alsoury, and NabdSyria, blamed Russia.

Baladi, also blaming Russia, put the death toll at three including one woman and a child.

According to SND, Russia used phosphorous bombs, leading to the deaths of three civilians.

One sources, Smart, attributed the event to the regime, while a number of others referred only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al-Mohammad
Adult male killed
Rula Darwish
Child female killed
Ahmed Al-Shamali
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (16) [ 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 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
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1237

Incident date

September 7, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 28 civilians died and up to 57 more were wounded in airstrikes on the Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

Sources reported three or four raids, with the lowest civilian death toll given as 12 by Ara news.

Syria News Desk reported that “20 civilians were killed, including five children, and more than 15 others were wounded due to the Russian warplanes targeting the popular vegetable market and residential buildings in the central neighborhood of al Sukkari with two rockets. Abu Mohammed al-Halabi of Syria News Desk said that buildings collapsed on top of their occupants”.

Smart was among many sources attributing the event to Moscow. It reported that as well as the strike on the vegetable market, there was shelling “near Al-Ikhlas mosque”. It put the death toll as 28 civilians including 17 women and children with a further 49 people injured.

Elwatan also said 28 died but added that as many as 57 were also wounded.

According to LCCSY, also blaming Russia, most of those killed and wounded were women and children – victims of “two vacuum missile attacks on the residential houses”.

However, Zamanalwasl, AMC and Alitihadpress said that the regime was responsible.

A number of other sources didn’t apportion blame, referring only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Abdul-Ghani Kazaz
40 years old killed
Jamil Mohammed Sa’eed
52 years old killed
Hussein Mahmood Al-Jasim
12 years old killed
Ahmad Salem Ashrafi
23 years old killed
Ahmad Bader Aldeen Banshi
18 years old male killed
Ali Al-shaghel
Age unknown killed
Mahmood Mahmood
Age unknown male killed
Unidentified child
2 years old killed
Murjan
7 years old killed
Abdo Abdallah Rahhal
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 28
  • (5 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–57
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets rescue mission in Sukkari, Aleppo. Footage contains distressing and graphic material of both wounded and killed civilians (Youtube via Insaan Rights Watch)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian covered in blood in Sukkari, the human impact of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Smart)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A street scene in Sukkari following alleged Russian warplane shelling. Local people stand over the bodies of victims and blood covers the street (via Zamanalwasl)
  • The White Helmets alongside local people in Sukkari - upheaval caused by suspected Russian shelling (via Baladi)
  • Civilians survey the destruction on a street in Sukkari, Aleppo, full of rubble following suspected Russian shelling (via Syrianpc)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressed civilians in Sukkari - bodies of victims on stretchers and trees fallen, the impact of alleged Regime warplane shelling (via Alitihadpress)
  • The search for wounded civilians continued into the night in Sukkari (Tweet via @HalabNewsN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children who survived the suspected warplane shelling on Sukkari (Tweet via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Buildings burn in Sukkari, the consequences of alleged warplane shelling (Tweet via @aa_arabic)
  • A child civilian cleaned and treated for wounds sustained in alleged Russian shelling on Sukkari (Tweet via @AleppoAMC)
  • The destroyed streets of Sukkari, Aleppo. The aftermath of suspected Russian warplane shelling (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Local people survey the scene in Sukkari - mass material destruction and civilian cost, the impact of suspected Russian shelling (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Russian warplanes allegedly struck Sukkari - the photograph shows significant damage to buildings in addition to the human cost (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Significant material destruction in Sukkari, Aleppo (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Small children treated by medics in Sukkari for injuried sustained in alleged Russian warplane shelling (via AMC)
  • Two young children weep in the streets of Sukkari, their father was killed by alleged Russian warplanes (Youtube via AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressing footage of children wounded and crying whilst receiving medical treatment in Sukkari (Youtube via AMC)

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
    10 – 28
  • (5 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–57
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1270

Incident date

September 16, 2016

Location

دير حافر‎, Dayr Hafir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.151494, 37.707842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians of whom between two or four were children died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Dayr Hafer, Aleppo, local media reported. Halab News said that the four victims were from the family of Hussein al Allawi al Kiyari.

According to LCCSY, “warplanes, believed to be Russian, launched several airstrikes on Abu Souseh village, which led to the death of four children and massive damage to buildings.” AlmaghribToday also put the death toll at four but said that two of these were children.

Al Araby al Jaded reported that “the media activist, Mohammed al-Halabi, told Al Araby al Jaded that Russian military aircraft ‘targeted the tents for the displaced people in the villages of Abu Soussa and al Imam north of Deir Hafer City, killing four children from one family and injuring others to varying degrees”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Member of the family of Hussein al Allawi al Kiyari
Age unknown killed
Member of the family of Hussein al Allawi al Kiyari
Age unknown killed
Member of the family of Hussein al Allawi al Kiyari
Age unknown killed
Member of the family of Hussein al Allawi al Kiyari
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (20) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1302

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

الميسر, Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.212011, 37.171227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Maysar neighbourhood, according to local media.

Al Jazeera reported that seven civilians were killed in regime strikes “in the neighborhoods of Sukkari Mashhad Marjeh and Salhin.”

But LCCSY said that Russia also carried out strikes resulting in an unspecified number of dead and wounded.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ 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 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
    2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1334

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

الكلاسة, Kallasa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and nine civilians including one child died in airstrikes on the Kallassa and Maysar neighbourhoods of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was responsible.

LCCSY reported that “Russia’s and Assad’s warplanes conducted airstrikes on the eSufun al Samanastern neighborhoods of Aleppo” – including in the Kallassa and Maysar neighbourhoods.

According to @syria_pluse , “a squadron of four Russian aircraft bombarded the neighbourhoods of Myasar, Hanano, Salhen and Kallaseh”.

Most sources said that three civilians had died. For example, Shahba Press reported that there were three dead and about six wounded in the Myasar district”.

RFS_North claimed that Myasar was hit by barrel bombs which would imply that the strikes there were conducted by the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sufun al Saman
Age unknown killed
Abd al Razzaq Haj Ibrahim
Child killed
Suleiman Mohammed Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Bashar Shakir
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 9
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • A building in Kallasa destroyed in alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via RFS_NORTH) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A digger shifts rubble in Kallasa following in alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via RFS_NORTH) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Destruction in Kallasa, the impact of alleged Russian shelling on September 24th (via @RFS_NORTH) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A civilian receives medicial treatment for injuries sustained in alleged Russian shelling in Kallassa on September 24th (via HMN News)
  • Victims of an alleged Russian bombardment on Kallassa, September 24th (via HMN News)
  • Wounded civilians receive aid following alleged Russian shelling in Kallassa on September 24th (via HMN News)
  • A civilian is tended to by a medic for injuries sustained in alleged Russian shelling in Kallassa, September 24th (via HMN News)
  • Dust and destruction on the Maysar neighbourhood of Aleppo following alleged Russian shelling, September 24th (via @HalabTodayTV)

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
    4 – 9
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1366

Incident date

September 29, 2016

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and six civilians were reportedly killed and up to 20 more wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Jarjanaz near Idlib.

Step News, News from Damascus and Syria News Desk attributed the event to the Assad regime. Meanwhile, Qasioun, Smart News and Syriansnews claimed the strikes were conducted by Russia.

Halab News gave the lowest death count, reporting  “four dead and ten wounded, most of them women and children, following four air raids on the village of Jarjanaz near Idlib that targeted a children’s school and civilian homes a short while ago.”

Shahba Press, SNN and Qasioun reported five civilians dead, two of them women and three children.

But Syriansnews put the death toll higher, at six including three children and three women – with 20 more people injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (3 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on Jarjanaz near Idlib, 29th September 2016 (via Smart News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young girl was among the victims caused by the contested strikes targeting Jarjanaz, Idlib, 29th September 2016. (via HNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young girl was among the victims caused by the contested strikes targeting Jarjanaz, Idlib, 29th September 2016. (via 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (3 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1399

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Location

الهلّك, Hallak, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.231951, 37.170997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians died in an incident in Hallak, Aleppo, according to local media – though it was unclear whether they were killed by Russian or regime strikes or by a sniper. 

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least 4 civilians including a woman were killed by suspected Russian warplanes shelling”.

Other sources however reported that only one civilian was killed, and that he was killed by Kurdish snipers – these sources were Nabd Syria, AleppoAMC and @Alikdour.

Ali-Kodur  accused the  “YPD and PKK of using snipers everyday”.

The twitter account @Syrianmubasher said that one civilian had been killed by an “SDF sniper”.

Egypt Today and LCCSY attributed the event to Russia while al-Jazeera and Syrian News pointed to the Assad regime as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Kurdish Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Unnamed civilian allegedly killed by a sniper. (via, Ali-Kodur)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Kurdish Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Kurdish Forces
  • Kurdish Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Kurdish Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]