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

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

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

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)

Adult male killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Child female killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
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

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:

Adult male killed
Child male killed
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

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

RS799

Incident date

May 15, 2016

Location

السحل, Al Sahal, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.87441, 38.63985 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Raqqa News 24/24 reported that a “Russian warplane” targeted the home of one of the residents of the village at 02.30am, leading to the man’s immediate death. It also said that the planes targeted the water pump east of Al Mansoura, causing material damage. Muslim Forum also reported the death of the man and said others were wounded.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently referred only to “warplanes” and did not identify them. However, it said there had been four strikes which led to the death of the young man Z’eitar Mohammad Al Hussein al Ali.

The VDC also named this victim as killed in “warplane shelling”.

Alwatan news (pro-regime source) said the Coalition was responsible for the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Z’eitar Mohammad Al Hussein al Ali.
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (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 May 1st – 31st.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ 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

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]

Incident Code

RS797

Incident date

May 14, 2016

Location

بابيص, Babis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2465575, 37.0250416 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources reported that two civilians were killed and up to seven people were wounded following alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village of Babis in the countryside of Aleppo.

While most sources blamed Russia, some said the Syrian regime was responsible, and again others did not identify who carried out the raids. The victims were named as:

Kassem Hamdan

Khaled Ghassan

Both were civilian residents of Babis.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kassem Hamdan
Age unknown male civilian residents of Babis killed
Khaled Ghassan
Age unknown male civilian residents of Babis killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Two martyrs and 7 wounded in warplane shelling in Babis (via ShehabPress)

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 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

RS796

Incident date

May 11, 2016

Location

Ibn Khaldoun (Ar Raqqahh), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Four or five civilians including three children and one women died in airstrikes on the Ibn Khaldoun neighborhood of Ar Raqqa, according to local sources which also said that a school was targeted – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes killed three children when they carried out raids which targeted the Ibn Khaldoun neighborhood and Zee Kaar school.

An initial post by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said three children died in Russian strikes, however, subsequent reports only mentioned “warplanes” and did not say who they belonged to.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “government warplanes” killed three people including a child and a woman when they fired missiles on the neighborhood, targeting Zee Kaar school. It reported that the school was partially destroyed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Mohammad Shawha
Adult male killed
Fatima Baha’a Al Deen
four-years-old years old Fatima was also named as killed in “warplane shelling” by the VDC and multiple other sources, including Alamawi and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed
Marwa Mahmoud Al Nawri
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of raids on Zee Kaar school and the Ibn Khaldoun of the city of Raqqa, May 12th 2016 (via RBSS)
  • Fatima Baha’a Al Deen, four years old, killed in a strike on Ibn Khaldoun (Ar Raqqahh), May 12th (via RBSS)
  • A photo of the young man Mahmoud Mohammad Shawha who was martyred after raids by warplanes on Ibn Khaldoun area last night. (via RBSS)
  • - the signs of destruction resulting from the air raids last night near Zee Kaar school and Ibn Khaldoun area. (via RBSS)
  • Government warplanes targeted Thei Qar School in Ibn Khaldoun neighborhood in Raqqa city, partially damaging it, May 11. (via SNHR)

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 May 1st – 31st

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 – 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS795

Incident date

May 11, 2016

Location

الشحيل, Al Shaheel, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0865, 40.45232 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians including four children died and up to 20 were injured in an airstrike on a health facility at Al Shaheel town, 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 reported that amid intensive raids on several areas in Deir ez-Zor, Russia carried out strikes targeting a clinic in Al Shaheel, leading to the death of 12 civilians.

LCCSY also believed the planes responsible to be Russian. It put the death toll at 11, naming the same victims as VDC (below) and one unidentified person.

Alaraby and All4Syria news also blamed Russia, but said that 15 people were killed and 20 others wounded. All4Syria also said that the raids had “destroyed the medical points in the village.”

In confused reporting, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently published a number of posts which referred to unidentified warplanes, then attributed the attack to Russia and finally said that the regime was responsible. It said that 11 non-combatants were killed – mostly women and children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not say who the planes belonged to, putting the number of fatalities at seven or more and 11 injured. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that government missiles were fired on a “dispensary” in the town, severely damaging it and rendering it inoperable.

The Violations Documentation Center named 12 victims of “warplane” shelling a

Alsharq Alarabi News also named Hasan Al-Mukhlaf Al-Halloum.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult male killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Child female killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Hasan Al-Mukhlaf Al-Halloum
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (4 children7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–20
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The death of the village of Deir al-Zour following a Russian raid and the bombing continues on Aleppo. (via akhbaralaan)
  • Warplanes target the medical centre in the city. (via Deir Ezzor)

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 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
    12 – 15
  • (4 children7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–20
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]