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

RS593

Incident date

February 10, 2016

Location

كفر لاها, Kafr Laha, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.89469, 36.49582 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult female civilian, Amineh Mesheal, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Laha, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amineh Mesheal
Adult female Listed by VDC killed

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

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “During air duty mission, Su-25 attack aircraft detected 3 hardware columns transporting militants, armament and munitions along the highway Al-Qaryatayn – Homs. The strike resulted in elimination of 9 heavy trucks with munitions and more than 40 militants.”

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

RS590

Incident date

February 10, 2016

Location

الصالحين, el Salheen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, three civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the Salheen neighborhood of Aleppo. The victims were named by the Center.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Khalid Al A’araj
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for H killed
Abdullah Mohammed Khair Merhi
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for H killed
Ibrahim Mohammed Kanjo
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for H killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–3 men)
  • 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 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS591

Incident date

February 10, 2016

Location

ضهرة عبد ربه, Dara abd Rabbo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.240452, 37.112712 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were killed and three others injured in alleged Russian strikes on Dara abd Rabbo, according to local sources.

The White Helmets reported that Russian warplanes carried out four raids, while the Shaam News Network also alleged this was a Russian strike.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Dara abd Rabbo, feb 10th (via White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS592

Incident date

February 10, 2016

Location

Liramon, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2386486, 37.0941782 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians (two women and two children) died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Liramon, according to the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also said Russia was responsible.

According to Halab News, Russian warplanes launched “several raids” on Liramon, resulting in the death of a woman and her daughter.

Four victims were named by the VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Thunoub Yaseen Khateib
Adult female Listed by VDC killed
Alaa Abdullah Weisi Khateib
Adult female Listed by VDC killed
Bara Nour Abdullah al-Khateib
Child male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Nour Abdullah al-Khateib
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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

RS586

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

داعل, Dael, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.75466, 36.12958 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman, named as Sawsan Fakhri al Hariri, was killed in an airstrike on Dael, according to local sources – though reports are contested as to whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

The Violations Documentation and Syria2011 said the victim was killed in a Russian strike. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed regime warplanes. Daraa Martyrs also named the victim but did not say who carried out the attack, referring only to “warplanes“.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sawsan Fakhri al Hariri
Adult female 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 (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 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.”

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS587

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

النعيمة‎, Naemah, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.6317313, 36.1592245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center named one civilian man, Morad Hasan al Aboud, as killed in an alleged Russian raid on Naemah.

However, it linked to a video in which the voiceover says the victim is a ‘hero from the Free Army.’ Daraa Martyrs also published a video in which the voiceover says that “the martyr Murad Hassan Aboud was one of the heroes of FSA martyred by airstrike from Russian planes in Na’aymah.“

All4Syria also attributed the incident to Russia, reporting that “Russian warplanes targeted the towns and cities (Naemeh – East Ghariyah – West Ghariyah – Alma – elSoura – elHerak) with more than 40 raid cluster bombs internationally forbidden, which led to the fall of a number of the victims were civilians, specifically in the east of Gharriyahl.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Morad Hasan al Aboud
Adult male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video by Daraa Martyrs showing the alleged body of Morad Hasan al Aboud

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS588

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

الغارية, Al Gariya, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.6854754, 36.2402058 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman and one child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Gariya, according to local sources.

The VDC named one adult male victim of a Russian strike as  Khaled Ayed al Mefrej. All4Syria also attributed the incident to Russia, reporting that “Russian warplanes targeted the towns and cities (Naemeh – East Ghariyah – West Ghariyah – Alma – elSoura – elHerak) with more than 40 raid cluster bombs internationally forbidden, which led to the fall of a number of the victims were civilians, specifically in the east of Gharriyahl.“

According to Daraa Martyrs, Khaled Ayed el Mffarej died in a strike by “warplanes”, though didn’t identify the planes. Syria 2011 named an additional two victims of a Russian raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yazan Ibrahim Harouni
Child male Named by Syria2011 killed
Fatima Mahmoud al-Ghazali
Adult female Named by Syria2011 killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Near al-Ghariyah al-Gharbiyah (Daraa province), a Su-34 bomber made a strike on an ISIS strong point. The direct hit of a guided munition caused complete destruction of the terrorists’ fortifications. Objective monitoring data confirmed elimination of 2 pieces of militants’ armored hardware.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (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]

Incident Code

RS589

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

تلمنس, Talmanas, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.63726, 36.73746 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including two children and three women died in airstrikes on Talmanas, according to local sources – though they are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime, and there is also some confusion on the date of the incident.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 17 civilians died as a result of “raids by warplanes believed to be Russian on Talmanas, al-Ftirah and Aafes“. It put the death toll in Talmanas at six, including one child and three women.

Three victims of a Russian strike were named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies.

Three further victims (from an alleged Russian strike) were named by Syrian Press Center.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights regime shelling killed at least three civilians – though they gave the date for this as a day earlier, February 9th, meaning that this could be a separate incident.

Al Souria also blamed the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Safa Abdul Kafi A’awad
Age unknown female Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Iman Abdul Kafi A’awad
Age unknown female Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Maryam Abdul Kafi A’awad
Age unknown female Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Mustafa Nidal Al Shawirdi
Child male displaced from the city of Mork in Hama, named by Syrian Press Center killed
Abdalkarim Nidal Al Shawirdi
Age unknown male displaced from the city of Mork in Hama, named by Syrian Press Center killed
Malak Kafi el Awad
Age unknown male from Talmanas, named by Syrian Press Center killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children3 women2 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 (6) [ 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 Idlib for the period of February 10th – February 15th and published the following in response to civilian casualty allegations in the governorate during these dates:

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 children3 women2 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 (6) [ collapse]