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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS579

Incident date

February 9, 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 civilian was killed and 10 others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Hamra, according to local sources.

Syrian Press Center reported that Russia carried out four raids, killing one non-combatant and injuring 10 more – adding that the death toll was expected to rise due to the severity of some of the injuries. All4Syria also said Russia was responsible for the death of one non-combatant and wounding of another ten.

According to an initial report by the White Helmets “warplanes” (they did not say who they belonged to” targeted Kafr Hamra with several raids.

However, a second report by the White Helmets, appeared to blame Russia, the title of a video showing the aftermath of the attack reading: “The signs of destruction left by Russian bombardment a short while ago on the town of Kafr Hamra that led to the death of one person and the injury of five others.9/2/2016.“

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network said there had been one death from a strike, but did not specifically say that Russia carried it out.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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]

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
    10
  • 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

RS580

Incident date

February 9, 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

Two civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local media.

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, 62-year-old Abdul Jabbar Mohammad Mraimini, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on tel Rifa’at. Shaam News Network also reported one death, however it did not specifically say this was caused by a Russian raid.

A video published by Tal Refaat Information Office showed repeated strikes on “civilian houses” in the area. The source said that they were conducted by Russia. According to Shahba Press, there were more than 20 Russian strikes launched on the Tuesday on Tel Rifa’at, killing one non-combatant and injuring dozens more.

Smart published a video showing child casualties from raids which they said were Russian.

Two victims of an alleged Russian strike were named by Halab News.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Osman Hussein Nehmeh
Age unknown male Listed by Halab News killed
Abdul-Jabbar Mohammed Mariamna
62 years old male Listed by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing an airstrike on Tel Rifa’at, Feb 9th.

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
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS576

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child died and five others were injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous in Aleppo according to local sources.

The Violations Documentation Center named a seven-year-old child, Ahmad Mustafa Koja, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous. The VDC also linked to an extremely graphic video posted by the Shaam News Network entitled ‘Shaam- Aleppo, Ferdos, Wounded children following Russian strikes 9/2/2016‘. It is not clear from the footage whether the children are dead.

According to the White Helmets, there were “several raids by warplanes on several Aleppo neighbourhoods targeting Al Ferdos, Al Sukkari, Al Amiyriya and Al Sheikh Said.” They added that members of the team pulled two dead bodies from the rubble, while five people were taken to field hospitals. The White Helmets did not say who the “warplanes” belonged to.

Halab News, Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, LCCSY and All4Syria also named Ahmad Mustafa Koja as a victim. All sources blamed Russia. Halab News and All4Syria said that another unidentified person was additionally killed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mustafa Koja
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of strikes on Fardous, Feb 9th (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
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

RS577

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

كفر كلبين‎, Kafr Kalbeen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.556067, 37.089434 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 20 civilians including one child died in airstrikes on Kafr Kalbeen, according to local sources – though they are conflicted or unclear as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Shaam News Network said there had been “a systematic campaign of shelling Aleppo, where aircraft Russian aggression continue to be implemented to support Assad’s forces and Shi’ite militias supporting them and which is now leading the military operations in the countryside of Aleppo.”

It reported “dozens of raids today launched by Russian aggression on northern towns of Aleppo which left more than thirty martyrs in a number of areas Kfar Kheshr and Kafrkalbeen in violent raids and rocket spatial cluster in addition to dozens of air raids on Tal Rifa’at, Mare’ and Ain Da’na.” SNN added that “the towns of Kafr Kalbeen and Ain Da’na and Kafr Shakher have seen a  large migration towards the Syrian border with Turkey after air escalation today to increase the numbers of displaced people and increase the suffering of thousands of families that have become stretched out roads and agricultural lands.”

However, in confused reporting, the Syrian Network for Human Rights published a headline that said a child had been killed by regime shelling, but went on to say that the child died in an alleged Russian strike: “The child Sha’aban Swaidan, age 13, died in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Kafr Kalbein village in Aleppo governorate, February 9, 2016.“

According to the White Helmets, “warplanes” (they did not say who they belonged to) carried out five raids targeting the villages of Kafr Kalbeen and Kafr Khasher, leading to the death of 20 people, most of whom were women and children. They added that there had been “great destruction of buildings“. Their report was also dated February 10, one day off the alleged incident.

Smart reported that Russian carried out raids on “Tal Rifaat and the villages of Kafr Kalbeen and Kafr Hasher Ayn Degnah, killing seven civilians and wounding 30 others“.

Ahrar A’zaz published footage is a five-year-old girl, Mayssam, being treated after she was hit in the head by shrapnel after an alleged Russian strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahrar A'zaz showing Mayssam being treated after having been hit by shrapnel

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.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS578

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

مارع, Mare', Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.482582, 37.19593 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman died and ten others were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mare’ according to local sources.

The Violations Documentation Center named two adult males and one adult female as killed in a Russian airstrike on Mare’.

The White Helmets said warplanes targeted the town with a vacuum missile, injuring several people who were taken to field hospitals. They reported “great destruction of builidings“, but they did not say who the warplanes belonged to, nor provide numbers of deaths.

Shaam News also reported three deaths in the town, but did not say that Russia was responsible.

Both the citizen journalist Ali Ahmad Alnajjar and Shahba Press posted videos showing widespread destruction of what looks to be a civilian neighborhood. Shahba said Russian planes struck with a “parachute-carried rocket“, adding that six homes were destroyed and three civilians killed, with more than ten wounded.

All4Syria, Damascus Center for Human Rights, Halab News and Syrian Press Center also attributed the incident to Russia.

The three victims were named by the VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jomaa Eido al-Najjar
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hiyam Abdul Majeed al-Najjar
Adult female Listed by VDC killed
Othman Hsain al-Nemeh
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Witness: the destruction of six houses fully and considerable material damage caused by the air strikes of Russian occupation planes with a parachute-carried rocket on the city of Mare` in the countryside of Aleppo which led to the martyrdom of three civilians and wounding more than 10 others. Testimony by Civil Defense member: At 10.30 a.m today the Russian warplanes targeted this area, as you can see, which led to three martyrs and 10 wounded. May God help us.

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
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (9) [ 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

RS573

Incident date

February 8, 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 adult male civilian, Samer Ali al-Manajrah, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Naemah. It linked to a Yaqeen Media Foundation video of the man’s funeral. The voiceover says he was killed after Russian raids targeted the town of Naemah.

All4Syria also said Russia had carried out a raid on the town, while Syria 2011 named Samer Ali Almnajerh as killed in a Russian strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Ali al-Manajrah
Age unknown 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from 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.”

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS574

Incident date

February 8, 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

One woman and one child were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Gariya, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

All4Syria and  Shams Houran reported that Russia had used cluster bombs on the town.

A local video also reports that “el Gharbiyah was targeted by Russian warplanes for secind week running with vacuum and cluster bombs“.

The two victims were named by the VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yazan Ibraheem al-Hawari “al-Badawi”
Child male killed
Fatima Mahmoud al-Gazali
Adult female killed

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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Al Gariya, Feb 8th.

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
    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 (5) [ collapse]