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

RS584

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

آفس, Afes, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.906798, 36.80421 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including four children were killed in airstrikes on Afes – though sources are unclear or conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that five non-combatants were killed when warplanes raided the Afes area, though did not say who the planes belonged to. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at five.

But Halab News blamed Russia, as did Al Souria, which put the death toll at six, including two children, with 20 more injured (some critically). It added that the area accommodated hundreds of displaced people. Syrian Press Center also attributed the incident to Russia and said that three non-combatants died.

Seven victims (including four children) were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Azeez Haj Musa
Child male killed
Faysal Haj Musa
Adult male killed
Shaymaa Slaiman Hmaidi
Child female killed
Ibraheem Slaiman Hmaidi
Child male killed
Kerdi Slaiman Hmaidi
Adult male killed
Aya Ahmad Rhayem
Child female killed
Fawaz Haj Musa
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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

For February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported that a “Su-24 bomber destroyed the ISIS commabd center in the Idlib province.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS585

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

الشميطية, Shmaitieh, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.4713655, 39.9352598 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and three other civilians injured in airstrikes on Shmaitieh, according to local sources – though they are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Both the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights named a nine-year-old victim as Mohammad Abdul Kareem al-Jadia.

Baladi, LCCSY and Qasioun all reported that one child was killed bin a Russian strike. The citizen journalist Mohamad Hassan also blamed Russia for Mohammad’s death and reported that three other civilians were wounded.

However, while the VDC and Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said this was a Russian incident, SN4HR blamed regime missiles.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Abdul Kareem al-Jadia
9 years old male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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]

  • The martyrdom of Mohammed Abdulkarim El-Jad’ou, 9 years, and three civilians were wounded by shelling of Russian air aggression on Al Shmaytiyah Deir Ezzor western countryside

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 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS575

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807607, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, Abo Yousef Skaif, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Salheen.

The victim was also named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, which blamed Russia. Halab News also listed him as killed, but did not say who carried out the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abo Yousef Skaif
Adult male killed

Summary

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

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

RS566

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807607, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians including four to five children and three women were killed – and between 20 and 30 others injured – in alleged Russian airstrikes on Salheen according to local sources.

Shaam News Network initially reported that Russian warplanes “carried out a massacre” in the Salheen neighbourhood, killing 10 civilians and injuring many others. Activists told SNN that Russian forces fired two missiles, one of which hit a bus. A later report put the death toll higher at 16.

According to Orient News, a Russian raid targeted “transport buses, carrying civilians, resulting in the burning of the vehicles and the martyrdom of the inside, and seriously  injuring passers-by“. It said 20 non-combatants died.

Smart reported: “Our correspondent says that the warplanes are believed to be Russian, and bombed a main street in the neighborhood, featuring a market for street vendors, killing 16 civilians and wounding seven others, including children, leaving devastation in buildings, shops and property of civilians.”

LCCSY, Baladi, Shahba Press and Step News agency also attributed the incident to Russia.

The White Helmets said 10 died, most of them women and childred – and 20 others were wounded –  in a raid that targeted a passing car, but did not say who the “warplane” responsible belonged to.

An initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime, saying that at least seven non-combatants died. However, in a subsequent report it changed  position: “alleged Russian warplanes shelled Al Saleheen neighborhood in Aleppo city which killed 16 individuals including 5 children and a woman. Thirty others were injured.“

Eight victims were named by the Violations Documentation Cente.

Plus one unidentified female child – Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (who said Russia was responsible) also named an unidentified female child and said that she was two months old.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shakra
Child female Named by VDC killed
Hasan Khaled Aaraj
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Abdullah Mohammad Kheir Moraei
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Ibraheem Mohammad Kanjo
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Abdullah Hussain Debes
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Siba Hussain Debes
Child female Named by VDC killed
Hala Hussain Debes
Child female Named by VDC killed
Mohammad Hussain Debes
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Joud Hussein Debs
Adult female Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (4–5 children3 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The body of a man in a street in Salheen following alleged Russian airstrikes, feb 8th (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a child stuck under rubble following an alleged Russian raid on Salheen, February 8th (via SN4HR)
  • White Helmets after the attack (from a deleted White Helmet Facebook page)
  • Baladi News Network shows the aftermath of the strike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the attack under the rubble (via SN4HR)
  • White helmets carrying a victims of the attack (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim from the attack. (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 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
    10 – 20
  • (4–5 children3 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS567

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

الهلك, Huluk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.237367, 37.171512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on the neighbourhoods of Al Halak, Al Salheen and al Kalassa and Ain Al Tall which led to the fall of martyrs – 16 in Salheen, 2 in Halak and wounded in Al Kalassa and many other wounded.”

According to LCCSY a woman and a child were killed in a Russian strike on the neighborhood.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (3) [ 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
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS568

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A media activist named as Zakariya Orfalli was reported killed by a single source.

According to the Syrian Network, “Monday 8th February 2016 media activist Zakariya Orfalli was killed by a missile shrapnel that went into different parts of his body as he was covering the bombing by fixed wing warplanes we believe are Russian in Hraitan city localed in the northern suburbs of Aleppo governorate which is under the control of the armed opposition factions.

Zakariya, also known as al Nesir al Souri or Mazen al Hur, worked previously as a media activist for Aleppo Media Center and Aleppo News Network. He recently joined Fajr Movement, an armed opposition faction, as a media activist. From Aleppo city, he was born in 1991, and had been a second year student at the politiical scienes institute in Damascus [prior to the uprising].”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zakariya Orfalli
Adult male reportedly a media activist 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Zakaria Orfali (via Almodon)

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
    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

RS569

Incident date

February 8, 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

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network alleged that Russian warplanes launched “intense air raids using cluster bombs on the towns of Anadan, Hraytan, al Tamoura, Mang, Tal Mssibain, Ma’arat al Arteek,Hayan, Bayanoun, Kafr Hamra, Kafr Naya, Miskan and the area of Qabr al Inglisi [the english tomb]. The raids led to the fall of martyrs and wounded in particular in Kafr Hamra and Ma’arat al Arteek.”

Orient News also reported a Russian strike on Kafr Hamra but didn’t say how many civilians died. According to Enab Baladi, “warplanes targeted the neighborhoods of Al Rashideen and Amiriyah and Sukkari in the city, in addition to the village of Kafr Hamra, in the countryside of northern Aleppo, killing one person and injuring dozens of others.” It didn’t provide specific casualties figures for Kafr Hamra, nor did it identify the warplanes responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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
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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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]