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

RS732

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Location

كفرنبل‎, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6152326, 36.560955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian may have died in an airstrike on Kafr Nabil, according to two local sources.

The VDC listed Jameel al Ekel as a victim of a Russian strike but says the victim is from Kafr Nabil, and doesn’t state where he was killed. Fresh News reports the same victim killed  “in warplane shelling“, but does not say who was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jameel al Ekel
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS733

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between seven and eight civilians including three children and one or two women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sukhna, according to local sources.

Shaam News reported that eight civilians including were killed and more than 10 others injured on alleged Russian raids on Sukhna. SNN added: “The co-ordinating city of Palmyra said that in addition to the martyrs and the wounded, there are dozens of civilians stuck under the rubble because of the large scale of the destruction.“

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that  “seven civilians, a man and two of his sons and a man and his wife and another man and a female civilian were killed, and others injured by the air strikes carried out by warplanes believed to be Russian’s targeted areas in Sukhna town of East countryside of Homs.”

Enab Baladi also put the death toll at eight but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "8 martyrs in the Russian air force massacre in Al-Sukhna" (Via Jisrtv twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS734

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one child was killed in Douma according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was a Russian airstrike or the result of regime artillery.

Shaam News, reported: “Russian planes carried out raids on Douma neighbourhoods which was preceeded by artillery shelling. One civilian was killed and others were injured and that was in clear breach of the truce.”

But Step News Agency blamed the regime, reporting that “Regime forces stationed in the eastern Ghouta overlooking the mountains aimed at the road between Misraba and Douma which killed two people”. News_Ajil also blamed the regime, as did Dr-khaled6.

According to Hani Al-Sulyman, regime artillery killed the child Yousef Qadeesh.

SMO also published a video which showed six-year-old Nour Al-deen in hospital after losing his legs following a strike by an alleged Russian missile which hit his house while he was playing. The child’s father talks to the camera and shows the remains of his son’s shoes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nour al-Deen
6 years old male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video shows Nour al-Deen, 6 years old, in hospital after losing his legs to an alleged Russian missile targeting his house. His father talks to the camera and shows the remains of his shoes.(via SMO Syria)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS190 RS734a

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Location

أبو قلقل, Abu Qalqal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.434629, 38.091094 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the town of Abu Kalkal. Opinion was split as to whether the attack was Russian, Coalition or Syrian regime in origin.

Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Media, the Syrian Observatory, the Syrian Network, the Syrian Human Rights Committee, Shaam News and al Hall Media all said the attack was by the Coalition.

Free Syria TV, Baladi News and Qasioun described the event as the work of Russia. And al Souria insisted that “warplanes belonging to the regime carried out raids on the two villages of Abu Kalkal and Al A’rima… which led to the death of 4 people and the injury of others.”

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.43462, 38.09109

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Abu Qalqal
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA1853332540
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • March 13, 2016, near Abu Qalqal, Syria, via Airwars report (previously closed, but reopened due to new information). After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 151/CS190 37SDA1853332540

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 12th-13th 2016,the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, three ISIL vehicles, an ISIL mortar position, and an ISIL fighting position.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS731

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and ten civilians died and 10 more were injured in an airstrike on Al Salheen which violated a ceasefire, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Janobia reported that Russian raids on Al Salheen killed 10 civilians and wounded a “large number” more. Al Jazeera, citing Shaam News, also said Russia was to blame, as did Jisr TV.

However Mobtata said the regime was responsible: “The regime bombarded the Al-Salheen neighbourhood in Aleppo.” Syriannews – citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – also said that this was a regime incident. It quoted Observatory director, Rami Abdel Rahman, “who explained that the death toll ‘is the highest within the city of Aleppo, since in start of the ceasefire in February 27′”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Mobtada News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Mobtada News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Mobtada News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Civilians in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Civilian in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Civilian in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Salheen, Aleppo (via Shaam News)
  • Footages of the shelling on Al-Ma’adi and Al-Salheen (via al-Jazeera twitter)
  • "Al-salheen: a new air raid targets civilians in breach of ceasefire yesterday 3/11" (via Mustafa51202403 twitter)
  • "Aleppo: 10 martyrs in Al-Salheen in a russian warplanes’ massacre" (via Jisrtv twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS729

Incident date

March 12, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center listed one unidentified woman as a victim of an alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS730

Incident date

March 12, 2016

Location

ماضي, Maadi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.135086, 37.889174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maadi, Aleppo, according to local sources.

Ana Press reported that a Russian strike “resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians and massive destruction of the residential buildings”.

The victims were also named by Syrian Human Rights Committee and other sources.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yasmeen Abo Dan
20 years old female Named by VDC killed
Yousef Abo Dan
20 years old male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (7) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS721

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her teenage son died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local sources.

The victims were named by Halab News – who blamed Russia – as Anas Ahmad Khatib and Fatima Khatib. Two additional sources, Allairamon Today and Anas Naif, also named them and said that Russia was responsible for their deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatima Khatib
Adult female killed
Anas Ahmad Khatib
Child male Son of Fatima Khatib killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "God's mercy be upon you cousins. Martyrdom of Anas Ahmad Khatib and his mother due to Russian pounding (...) (via Anas Naif Facebook page)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]