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

RS604

Incident date

February 13, 2016

Location

ضاحية الكهرباء, Dahiat al Kharaba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1682296, 37.0184326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported two children killed in alleged Russian airstrikes: “Russian planes continued their raids on the town of Khan Al A’ssal and Dahiat al Kahraba neighbourhood which led to the dead of two children [girls] in the latter.”

Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also said that two unidentified civilians died in a Russian strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS605

Incident date

February 13, 2016

Location

حلب, Castello-Kafr Hamra Road, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19949, 37.134479 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five non-combatants including three to four women died when a civilian car was targeted  on Castello-Kafr Hamra Road in Aleppo, according to local sources. All but one said this was an attack by the Assad regime – while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights does not specify who was responsible.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed regime warplanes, putting the death toll at five. Huraytan City, also said the regime was responsible, reporting that five individuals died  when their car was targeted.

Step News Agency  put the death toll at five (four women and one man) and said that the regime fired a “thermal rocket” on a civilian car. Two other sources: Aksalser News and Al Jisr TV, also attributed the incident to regime militia.

However in a report on Russian strikes in northern Aleppo on February 13th, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that five were killed when a thermal missile targeted the road, but did not say whether the victims were killed as a result of a Russian strike in this case.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3–4 women)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • A car supposedly targeted in the strike. (via, Huraytan City)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3–4 women)
  • 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

RS598

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

el Na'aymeh, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.6330753, 36.1593956 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians died and three or more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on el Na’aymeh, according to two local sources.

Alyakeen Media published a number of videos showing destruction of the town and the removal of dead and wounded bodies from the rubble. Voiceovers in videos said that the strikes were carried out by Russia.

At 2.59 in one video, airstrikes are taking place while they are filming, and the ‘reporter’ says that Russian warplanes had not left the sky over the area for two days.

Step News Agency reported that Russia carried out “nearly seven airstrikes” on Na’aymeh, while the town was also subjected to “violent artillery and missile bombardment from regime forces in the town stadium.

Further research is required to provide casualty numbers.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • People pulling the wounded from under the rubble after the bombing of the Russian aviation.
  • Continuation of the video above chronologically; shows civil defense carrying and evacuating the dead from the debris.
  • Video shows result of destruction on civilian homes in Na’aymeh.
  • Video shows airstrikes as they are happening on el Na’aymeh, V.O. claims Russian airstrikes.
  • A video tour of the town of el Na’aymeh, ‘reporter’ showing damage and destruction of homes. (Town appears totally deserted). At 2.59’ airstrikes take place while they are filming, ‘reporter’ says it’s Russian airplanes which have not left the sky over this area for two days.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS599

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

الدار الكبيره, Dayr al Kabira, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.7857347, 36.6818047 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one woman were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Dayr al Kabira, according to two local sources.

Shaam News Network reported on the incident in Al Ghantu (listed above) and added that “The town of Al Dar al Kabir suffered a similar air raid which led to the fall of two martyrs and a number of injuries and destruction of targeted houses.”

Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult female Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS600

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

مارع, Mare', Shaikh Isa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.482582, 37.195931 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to four civilians including one woman and one to three children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Sheikh Eisa village in Mare’, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that two civilians – a woman and a child – died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on the village.

According to the White Helmets, “warplanes” (they did not say who they belonged to) targeted Al Sheikh Issa, leading to the death of “two girls” as well as “many injuries“.

One male child victim was named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The victim was also named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, which blamed Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–3 children1 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrikes by "warplanes" on Mare', Feb 12th (via White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–3 children1 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS601

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians including two to four children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that three non-combatants including two children died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Al Bab city in Aleppo.

Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies also blamed Russia and listed four victims, including two unidentified civilian children.

Mohammed Naseem al Nasr also listed additional victims as killed in a Russian raid, including one unidentified baby and two unidentified children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ma’amoun Sukkar
Age unknown male Listed by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Ali Sukkar
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Mohamed Tarabichi
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Abdullah Sukkar
Age unknown male Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2–4 children0–3 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2–4 children0–3 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS596

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 14 and 16 civilians died including one woman and up to four children in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Ghantu, according to local sources.

The Shaam News Network reported “an appalling massacre” in Al Ghantu, which killed 16 non-combatants including members of the civil defence who rushed to the location of the first raid when a second was launched in the same place, killing more people. It added that dozens were wounded, including some in critical condition, meaning the death toll was likely to rise. Activists told SNN that “the Russian air force targeted civilian houses in the town of Al-Ghantu with high explosive missiles leading to the fall of the buildings on the residents heads“.

However, according to initial reports by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, warplanes of the Assad regime carried out the attacks, killing at least 12. It published a graphic video showing bodies on the ground and men trying to identify them. Family members then arrived to find their dead.

According to another SN4HR report, one of the dead was Osama Al Khatteib, a member of the civil defence who “died in regime warplanes shelling on Al Ghanto town causing massacre, February 12.” This victim was also named by the White Helmets.

But in a later report by SN4HR, it appeared to change position and attribute the incident to Russia: “On 12 Feb 2016 alleged Russian warplanes shelled 3 rockets on the residential neighborhoods in Al Ghanto town in Homs suburbs that is under the control of armed opposition .which killed 16 individuals including 4 children and a woman.”

The Violations Documentation Center named 14 victims as being killed by Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (4 children1 woman13 men)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Bodies are covered following an alleged Russian raid on Al Ghantu, February 12th (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies are covered following an alleged Russian raid on Al Ghantu, February 12th (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (4 children1 woman13 men)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS597

Incident date

February 12, 2016

Location

داعل, Da'el, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.756529, 36.138453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and several more were injured in an airstrike on Da’el, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

According to Step News Agency, Russian warplanes carried out a raid on Da’el, killing one civilian and injuring a number more. Smart News Agency and Alaa Dael also said that Russia was responsible.

Daraa Martyrs named Mohammed Khamis Al-Masri and Badria Mohamed al-Hariri as killed in a Russian strike. These victims were also named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, however they blamed the regime, as did the VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Khamis Al-Masri
Age unknown male Listed by Daraa Martyrs killed
Badria Mohamed al-Hariri
Age unknown female Listed by Daraa Martyrs killed

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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A dead body following an airstrike on Da’el, Feb 12th.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

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 (7) [ collapse]