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

RS661

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 8 and 15 civilians including one woman and one to two children died – and dozens more were injured – in airstrikes on a market in Ariha, according to multiple local sources. Reports are conflicted as to whether the attacks were carried out by Russia or the Assad regime, with one source saying that both parties were responsible.

In an initial report, Shaam News Network said the regime was to blame. It put the death toll at 12 with dozens more wounded. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed the incident to the regime, although said seven died including a woman and a child.

However, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – which published a video showing destruction on Ariha and 19 images – suspected Russian warplanes were responsible. It put the death toll at seven including two children and one woman.

A subsequent Syrian Observatory report put the death toll higher at eight, adding that it was likely to rise because 30 people were injured, some in critical condition. It also said that “some information reported 2 other casualties“.

In a later report, Shaam News Network appeared to change position and blame Moscow: “Russian aircraft raided on the city of Ariha causing the fall of 10 martyrs and several wounded after being targeted for market popular downtown.”

Orient News instead blamed the regime for shelling a market, and put the death toll at eight including one woman. According to Akhbar Alaan, “The Syria regime used a MiG-23 plane to carry out three air strikes on Ariha”. They said that “nearly ten” died, including women and children and 25 others were injured, some critically, adding that there had been widespread destruction and damage to the shops in the market.  Muslim2day put the death toll as high as 15 with up to 50 wounded.

Sin also said eight died – and that the regime was responsible – and put the number of wounded at 24. It named several victims, including a woman and a child who could not be identified.

SHRC – who blamed Russia – named an additional victim.

But according to Chamtime, both Russia and the regime were responsible: “nine were killed and tens were wounded in three raids by warplanes in Ariha. The first two were Russian and the third was regime.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Abdulkarim Najjar
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Mahmood Badawi
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Mohammed Ahmad Naddaf
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Khaled Subhi Tamer
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Ahmad Abdul Karim Al-Beik
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Ahmad Mohammed Kheir Sa’ado
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Ali Abdel Karim Haddad
Age unknown male Named by SHRC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (1–2 children1 woman0–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (54) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the incident
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Idlibchannel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Idlib Reservation Channel)
  • More footage of the aftermath. (via SNN)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)

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 from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (1–2 children1 woman0–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (54) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS660

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two to three children died in airstrikes on Zamalka according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes carried out intense strikes on the clash areas and on the towns of Douma, A’arbeen and Zamalka causing the fall of one martyr and several wounded.“

Radio Akul also said a Russian raid killed a female child, while So-ria 98 reported that there had been four Russian strikes.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed missiles fired by the regime. Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also said the regime was responsible and named several victims, including an unidentified man.

Other sources, including Nabd Syria, Smart and Qasioun also said the regime was responsible.

A number of reports referred to raids on Zamalka but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aysha Nuh
Child female Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, died in regime random shelling killed
Duha Ibrahim Al-Khuli
Child female Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Ali Abu Al-Qa’a Qa’a
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Ahmad Abd al Rahman Al Tabhi
Age unknown male Named by Syrian Human Rights Center killed
Radwan Abdel Wahab Karnabeh
Age unknown male Named by Syrian Human Rights Center killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2–3 children)
  • 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 (24) [ 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 from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2–3 children)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS659

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.864249, 36.804977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to three civilians were killed and several more injured in airstrikes on Saqaib according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Shaam News Network posted photos in which it said Russia was responsible. Other sources, including Alsouria and Al Jazeera also blamed Russian and put the death toll at three.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights and a later report by the Shaam News Network, regime warplanes were responsible. SN4HR named a victim as killed.

Additional sources, including Damascus Center for Human Rights, FS_Muslim, LCCSY and Radio Al Kul, also attributed the incident to the regime.

A second victim was later named by DCHRS. Idlib EMC said that one woman was killed. A number of other sources referred to raids by “warplanes”, but didn’t identify the culprit.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Khaled Abbas
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Hussien Razzor
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman0–1 men)
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the attack. (via SNN)
  • One of the victims of the contested Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (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 published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman0–1 men)
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS658

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in an airstrike on Ltamenah according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible.

A citizen journalist, Mohammad Hamaoui, posted a video showing a missile reportedly dropped by a Russian warplane. And according to Zaman Masdar, “Russian warplanes launched an attack on Latamna with explosive missiles which destroyed seven houses, but there were no reports about casualties because civilians were in an underground shelter.”

All4Syria reported that Russia had carried out “tens of raids”.

The Violations Documentation Centre named one victim as killed in a Russian strike. Syrian Human Rights Center also named Musa Abdullah Shaheen and said that he was killed in a Russian strike.

Some other sources, however, did not say who was responsible for his death, referring only to “warplanes”. A tweet by LCCSY blamed the regime, reporting that it had conducted “several raids” on Ltamenah that day.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mosa al Shaheen
44 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mosa al Shaheen, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid, (via VDC)
  • The exact moment the raid hit. (via Mohammad Hamaoui)
  • The exact moment the raid hit. (via Mohammad Hamaoui)

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 from February 17th – February 29th.

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)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS657

Incident date

February 22, 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

Two adult male civilians died in a raid on Palymra according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Syria Mirror mentioned Russian shelling on the city, but didn’t provide any further details.

The Syrian Human Rights Center named two victims.

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, Mohammed Al-Ghrayib died from injuries sustained in “regime shelling”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hassan Fawaz el Qayem
Age unknown male from Palmyra – he died from wounds “sustained two days ago by the shelling of the city”
Mohamed Mahmoud el Ghareeb
Age unknown male from Palmyra – killed “by the Russian bombing of the city some days ago”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

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 from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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

RS655

Incident date

February 22, 2016

Location

ابطع, Ibta', Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.7899783, 36.152792 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult female was killed in an airstrike on Ibta’, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

The VDC named the victim and said she died “in a Jordanian hospital due to her wounds sustained by the regime air forces’ shelling” – though the source does not say which day she died on. LCCSY, Muslim Forum and Syria2011 also named the victim but said she died in a Russian strike.

Other sources including Syria 2011 and Syraifree 339 listed the victim but did not identify who was responsible for the raid in which she was killed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamida Mosa al-Nsairat
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (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 from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS656

Incident date

February 22, 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

According to the Violations Documentation Center one adult male, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Douma.

The VDC linked to a video by the media activist Yasser al Fawal al Doumani which includes a voiceover saying that the victim was killed by Russian warplanes. Abobian said there had been three raids by warplanes, but didn’t identify the culprit.

However, the majority of sources said Douma had been targeted by heavy artillery, resulting in the deaths of a “number of civilians”.

Syriapc and Syria Mubashar blamed the regime for the shelling.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Abd al Rahman al Tobaji
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmad Abd al Rahman al Tobaji, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Yasser al Fawal al Doumani)

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 from February 17th – February 29th.

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
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS654

Incident date

February 22, 2016

Location

حتلا, Hatla, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and six civilians including one or two children and one woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hatla, according to multiple local sources – with some reporting that all six victims were from the same family.

According to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently, Russian warplanes carried out two raids. LCCSY put the death toll at two including one woman, killed in strikes “believed to be Russian”. Deirezzor and Deir Free said three non-combatants died in a Russian strike, while Al Jazeera said two civilians died in a Russian strike – one of whom was a child. Other sources, including Halab Today, put the death toll higher, at four – including two children – and also attributed the incident to Russia. Zamanmasdar reported that four civilians from the same family died and six others were wounded.

RFS said that “about six” were killed, while Najwa Alqusir and Jisr TV said that a family of six died – both sources blamed Russia.

One victim (a child) was named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rami Jameel al Awad
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (27) [ 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 from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]