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

RS806

Incident date

May 24, 2016

Location

Afrin-Darat Azza road, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3402953, 36.8411064 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to reports by the Shaam News Network and multiple other sources, Russian airstrikes targeted the road between Afrin and Darat Azza destroying fuel transport trucks, and killing two drivers and injuring several other civilians in the vicinity. The reports noted that this road was considered to be a “humanitarian corridor” and “one of the most important lifelines in northern Syria“.

Most sources blamed Russia for the raids, or did not identify the warplanes. Syria Mirror said it was the work of the regime.

At present no names of victims have been confirmed. However photographs of a civilian that was killed were made available by @mazenaloush on Twitter and the Syria Mirror. Syria-news has also reported that ten civilians were wounded in the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The truck driver was killed in the air strike
  • The road between Afreen and Darat Ezza, photo courtesy of Zaman Masdar news.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The truck driver who was killed in the air strike
  • An oil truck on fire

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
    2
  • (1 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS805

Incident date

May 22, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that nine female farmers died when remains of cluster bombs allegedly fired by Russia exploded.

Al Jisr TV also reported this information, but said this occurred in Kafr Hamra – which is possibly a mistake.

Because of near-identical copy by all media, this is presently classed as a weakly reported incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (13) [ 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 May 1st – 31st

Summary

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

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS804

Incident date

May 21, 2016

Location

صلاح القرية‬, Salah al Qariya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.243096, 40.260944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to six civilians including two children and two to three women died in airstrikes on Salah al Qariya area, in Albu Umar according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

LCCSY reported the death of four civilians in what they said were Russian strikes. Qasioun put the death toll higher, reporting six civilians killed. It later named the child Salah Kharaba as having died from injuries sustained in a strike by “warplanes” on Deir ez-Zor.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and Syrian PC news also said four individuals died and a number more were wounded after Russian planes targeted Salah al Qariya.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime was responsible, also putting the death toll at four non-combatants including a child and two women.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Kharaba
Child male killed
Mariam al Falah
Age unknown female killed
Hanan Awwad al Khalifa
Age unknown female killed
Subha al Ahmad
Age unknown female killed
Ayham Mahmoud al Awwad al Khalifa
3 months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ayham Mahmoud Awad Al Khalifa, three-months-old, killed in an alleged Russian strike on Salah al Qariya, May 21st (via SN4HR)

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 publicly 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 – 6
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS803

Incident date

May 20, 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 between five and ten were injured in strikes on Hraytan, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network said that one civilian was killed and five were wounded in Russian strikes, “noting that one of the raids targeted the al Bara’ bin Malik mosque”. Many other sources also blamed Russia.

Several raids – including one on the mosque – were equally reported by the White Helmets, but they did not identify the warplanes responsible. They published footage which included the extinguishing of a fire and said that ten civilians were wounded in additional to the one who died.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and multiple other sources blamed the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed the attacks to “government warplanes” which it said had “partially destroyed” the mosque.

Mamoun-sy said on Twitter that the person killed was a child. The Violations Documentation Center named one victim of “warplane shelling” as 17-year-old Mohammad Mahmoud Hijazi.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Mahmoud Hijazi.
17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of the shelling in Hraytan is pulled from the rubble (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the air strikes
  • SN4HR: government warplanes fired missiles on the vicinity of Al Baraa Bin Malek Mosque in Hraitan city in Aleppo governorate, partially destroying the mosque, May 20.
  • Syrian civil defence battling fire after the air strikes.

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
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS802 CS214

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

الحمرات, Al Hamrat (Ar Raqqah), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians (from the same family) including three children and one woman died in airstrikes on Al Hamrat according to local sources – though reports were confused with conflicting allegations that Russian, the regime or the Coalition had carried out the attacks.

Qasioun said a Russian fighter targeted residential neighborhoods in the village, resulting in deaths and injuries, though it did not provide casualty figures. And an Islamist activist, Hussein al Ahmad, tweeted that “Russian pig warplanes” had wounded “unarmed civilians”.

But Shaam News Network alleged that “aircraft belonging to the international Coalition” bombed Al Hamrat, leading to the death of the family of  “Abdul Al Hadi Hassan Al Abd al-Hadi Albouhbal“, including children and women after their home was targeted with “several missiles“. Syria 24 also blamed the Coalition.

Other sources including Ennnabaladi, HNN News and LCCSY also said an entire family were killed, but did not identify the warplanes responsible.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published several reports of the incident, but like other sources did not say who the aircraft belonged to. It also named the “Abdul Hadi Hassan family” as victims and added that several houses in the area had been destroyed.

However, speaking to Al Hall, Mohamed Salah, a RBSS spokesman, said that while there were “no confirmed reports on the identity of the planes responsible, it is likely they they belonged to the Coalition” given the accuracy of the targeting and the fact that Daesh had imposed a security cordon around the area following the bombing”.

RBSS also said that Coalition planes had dropped leaflets on the city stating “‘The time has come to leave al Raqqa’ in a letter addressed to the civilians asking them to leave the town.”

Jisr TV attributed the incident to the regime, putting the death toll at five – all members of the same family. A report by Al Jazeera was not clear on who was responsible, but implied that regime strikes elsewhere may have spread to Raqqa.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

five members from the family of Abdul Al Hadi Hassan Al Abd al-Hadi Albouhbal

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Translation: civilians dead and wounded following 4 raids by warplanes on the town of al Hamrat eastern Raqqa countryside.
  • Translation: an entire family killed after their home was targeted by warplanes in the town of al Hamrat in the eastern Raqqa countryside.
  • Translation: an entire family martyred following bombing by warplanes the area of al Hamrat int he eastern countryside.
  • civilians fleeing
  • Aftermath of the airstrike
  • Translation: #Al raqqa coalition planes throw leaflets over Raqqa says ‘The time has come to leave al Raqqa’ in a letter addressed to the civilians asking them to leave the town (via RBSS)

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 May 1st – 31st

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition noted no strikes near Raqqa for May 18th-19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS801

Incident date

May 18, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fifteen people or more, including up to ten children and seven women, were killed in airstrikes on Ar-Rastan during a second day of bombings on the town. Some sources blamed the Assad regime, with others only aying ‘warp[lanes’ were responsible.

Multiple sources said that 13 people from the Turkmani family had died in the raids.

Zaman Alwasl news reported that: “15 civilians were killed including 13 from the same family and majority are children and women. The victims were from Turkmani family:

Usama Turkmani and his wife Fadwa Diab and 5 of their children.

Usama’s sister, Shahira, and 5 of her children.”

According to Gulf Eye News, the family was hiding inside a shelter in fear of the bombing, yet the shelter was targeted by what was reportedly the Syrian regime.

All4Syria News also reported these names, but said that three of Shahira’s children had died.

Another name was reported by Homs Al Rastan. It posted a video (GRAPHIC) of a dead body, saying it was Kutayba Tarya. 

Myasar Hadidi posted a video on YouTube showing “a woman saying farewell to her children and family who were killed.”

Fifteen victims, killed by “Syrian government and affiliated militias” were named by the VDC.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Bassam Abd al-Kareem al-Terkmani
Child male killed
Tarek Abd al-Kareem al-Terkmani
Child male killed
Osama Yousef al-Terkmani
Adult male killed
Rimas Osama al-Terkmani
Child female killed
Omer Abd al-Kareem al-Terkmani
Child male killed
Riham al-Terkmani
Child female killed
Nezha al-Terkmani
Child female killed
Rawan al-Terkmani
Child female killed
Shahira al-Terkmani
Adult female killed
Samira al-Terkmani
Adult female killed
Mohammad al-Terkmani
Child male killed
Maria al-Terkmani
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Hosain Fetrawi
Adult male killed
Salwa Ziab
Adult female killed
Kotaiba Taria
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 17
  • (8–10 children7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    27
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of airstrike which destroyed residential places.
  • The fifth airstike in Rastan.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A woman mourning her children.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    casualties from the same family after the airstrike

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
    13 – 17
  • (8–10 children7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    27
  • 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

RS800

Incident date

May 17, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians including one child died in airstrikes on Ar-Rastan according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

According to LCCSY, “several” Russian raids killed five civilians and wounded more. Syria7ra also blamed Russia on Twitter.

However, many other sources said the Syrian regime was responsible for the raids. Shaam News Network said the regime carried out two raids with vacuum missiles, leading to the death of three non-combatants, including one child, and the wounding of many others. Enab News reported that “seven warplane raids in Ar-Rastan killed 3 civilians and wounded 15.”

Three victims, killed by “warplanes” were named by the VDC.

Yaroub Aldaly tweeted a link to a YouTube video (GRAPHIC) by Homs AlRastan, saying “A sister searches from her brother before she recognizes him. Martyr Nidal Mousilli, died in warplane shelling in Ar-Rastan.” His name was also mentioned in a tweet by Abobyanalrastan.

Homs Alrastan posted three other (graphic) videos on YouTube, showing the dead and wounded after the strikes on Ar-Rastan.

A day after the raids, on the 18th, Eldorar news reported: “Today three civilans died from wounds they suffered in yesterday’s 17th, warplane shelling of Ar-Rastan.” This would put the death toll at six.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nidal Mosili
Adult male killed
Obaida Ali al-Mawla
Child male killed
MAhmoud Ahmad Fetrawi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Casualties from the air strike.e

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Martyr Nidal Moselly

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Airstrikes on Al-Rastan

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured taken to hospital.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    a number of civilians killed due to the airstrikes

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Nidal Moselli

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
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS798

Incident date

May 15, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, Russian warplanes targeted farmlands in the northern and western suburbs of the town of Ar Rastan with vacuum missiles, leading to the death of one or two civilians and the wounding of several others. Sources spoke of dozens of Russian raids.

Ar-Rastan media office said the civilian killed was Siham Ibrahim Ayyoub, daughter of Abu Ayyoub.

In two tweets, by Syriafree339 and Gelal1985abdo, the death of a combatant was also reported: “Sameer Zabateh from Ar-Rastan was killed in Russian warplane shelling in Al Zara front.”

Okaz news and Homs Committee news spoke of a total of more than 50 Russian airstrikes in the districts of Ar-Rastan, Ghajar, Talbiseh and E’z Al-deen which killed 8 and wounded others.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Siham Ibrahim Ayyoub
Age unknown female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ 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 May 1st – 31st.

Summary

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