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

RS608

Incident date

February 14, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.252649, 37.079115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Hamra, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Mohammad al Mostafa
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS609

Incident date

February 14, 2016

Location

الحراك, Herak, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.7511, 36.3053 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including two children and one woman were killed and several others injured in airstrikes on Herak – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that five non-combatants – mostly children – died when Russian warplanes launched missiles on the town. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also put the death toll at five. According to both Al Jisr TV and Syria Sky, five people from the same family were killed in a Russian strike.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, regime warplanes killed five civilians from the same family including two children and a woman. And Al Jisr added that “a woman and others were wounded by artillery fire and explosive barrels from Regime forces“.

Five victims of Russian shelling were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

Daraa Martys named one further victim as Sayej Awdah Fayyad though didn’t say who the warplanes responsible belonged to. This may be the same victim as Sayeh Oudeh al-Rweidan, named as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Herak according to the Violations Documentation Center.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Ali al-Faraj
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Elwan al-Faraj
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Durzeih Elwan al-Faraj
Adult female Listed by VDC killed
Khadeijeh Mohammad Elwan al-Faraj
Child female Listed by VDC killed
Hajar Mohammad Elwan al-Faraj
Child female Listed by VDC killed
Sayej Awdah Fayyad
Adult male Listed by Daraa Martyrs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman3 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 (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    6
  • (2 children1 woman3 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS610

Incident date

February 14, 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

Three civilians were killed and several others wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Douma, according to a single source.

Shaam News Network said that “Russian aggression targeted several placed in the city several raids and then artillery targeted markets and public roads.” It added that “the bombardment also targeted one of the Central Ambulance cars with a vacuum missile in eastern Ghouta while it was carrying out its duties rescuing the wounded. The driver was lightly injured.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 makes no public mention of having carried out strikes in Damascus from February 10th – February 16th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS602

Incident date

February 13, 2016

Location

صيدا, Saida, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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

The victim was also named by We All Horan, which blamed Russia. According to Qasioun, one civilian died and dozens more were injured in Russian strikes on the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fahed Ali Zattam Daeibes
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS603

Incident date

February 13, 2016

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died in airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that multiple Russian warplanes targeted Aleppo on February 13th, adding that there were 20 strikes on Tel Rifa’at, but they did not report any casualties. Shahba Press also blamed Russia for carrying out more than 20 strikes, and put the death toll at five.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights at least five victims died when regime warplanes missiles fired on Tel Rifa’at. Step News Agency referred to strikes by both Russian warplanes and Syrian military helicopters.

One victim was named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The VDC later named five other victims killed in a Russian strike.

According to a tweet by Sharafabood, an “Emir of Jabhat el Nusra, Abdul Salam el Sun“, was also killed. Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also named him as killed in a Russian strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bassam Hamadeh
Adult male Listed by VDC, also known as Abo Jameel killed
Ahmad al-Khateeb
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Ahmad al-Khateeb
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abd al-Salam Walid Saloum al-San
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abdo Omer Hamida
Adult male Listed by VDC, possibly same as Hassam Hamadeh killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4–5 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 (13) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    4 – 5
  • (4–5 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 (13) [ collapse]

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
Official source

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
Official source

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

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:

Taher Zakarya Sweis
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Abdullah Rabeah
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Suleiman Abdulrahman Rabeah
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Abdulrahman Rabeah
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Najeib Hajwani
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Zakarya Fayez al-KhZakarya Fayez al-Khateebateeb
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Salah Abdulhameed Othman
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mahmoud Salah Othman
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Khaled al-Najeib
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hassan Yahya Othman
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Ali Hilal
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Ahmad Ali Hilal
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Shadi al-Ahmad
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
Official source

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]