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

RS414

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

معردبسة, Ma’ardabssa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7772965, 36.769352 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed and several other civilians injured following an alleged Russian raid on the town of Ma’ardabssa, according to the Shaam News Network.

Fresh Syria reported that “a woman was killed  in the village of Ma’ardebsah Idlib, a result of the Russian aviation targeting the village on Sunday afternoon with three air raids. The raids also resulted in a number of people being wounded, some of them critically”.

Free Syria also reported three Russian strikes but did not mention casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dibeh Mohammad al-Shamali –
Adult female said that she was killed by regime shelling killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin makes no mention of carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate.

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)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS415

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

دير جمال, Dayr al Jamil, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4451, 37.02787 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Dayr Jamal, according to local sources.

One female child,died when “suspected  Russian warplanes” fired missiles on the town of Dayr Jamal on January 17th, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

A third source, Shahed-ayan, also named her as killed as a result of Russian strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nour Mohammad Al Nasser
10 years old female The VDC named her as male killed

Summary

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

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Summary

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

RS1844

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

كفر حلب , Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians from the same family (a man, woman and their child) died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local media.

The White Helmets reported that “three people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Abdulla Mahmoud
Adult male killed
Wife of Abdulla Mahmoud
Adult female killed
Yousef Abdulla Mahmoud
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'The effects of the bombing and destruction caused by massive targeting by Russian air space missiles of the town of Kafr Halab in Aleppo West Aleppo # Syria'
  • Translation: 'Russian planes kill 3 civilians in Kafa Halab.
  • '3 people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017'
  • '3 people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017'
  • '3 people including a child and a woman martyred and others injured in an air raid using two vacuum missiles on a civilian home in Kafr Halab western Aleppo Tuesday evening 17/1/2017'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS416

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

وادي العرايس, Wadi Al A’rayess, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.54654, 36.3946 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network published two videos depicting destruction in the Al Kalassi neighbourhood of Aleppo. The first showed a woman after she became homeless when “the aggressors destroyed her home“; the second depicted wounded civilians “following the strike on the area of Wadi Al A’rayess.”

There are currently no further details  on the alleged strike or who was responsible for it.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A distressed woman crying out after her home was destroyed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded civilians depicted following an alleged airstrike on Wadi al A'rayess. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS417

Incident date

January 17, 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

A single source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that “warplanes believed to be Russian” bombed areas in Al Bab city in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The Observatory said the alleged attack resulted in injuries and casualties, including women and children, but did not provide numbers.

However, Halab Today TV and North Media Institute said that regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS418

Incident date

January 18, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult female civilian, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khawla Mohammad Siraj
Adult female 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

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

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

RS419

Incident date

January 19, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Bulial Rouwaida neighbourhood, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.192087, 40.379369 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 20 civilians including two children were killed, and more than 25 others injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on the Rouwaida neighbourhood in Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at seven including two children, killed by shelling from “alleged Russian warplanes“.

Al Jazeera reported sources that said there were dead and wounded as a result of a Russian strike on Al Buliyal.

The report referenced a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, “who said the strikes killed more than 60 ‘terrorists’ in Deir al-Zour, adding that the Russian air force dropped by parachute food and other shipments in the city of Deir ez-Zor beleaguered areas besieged by DAESH“.

The Shaam News Network also reported that Russia was responsible: “Activists said the Russian Aviation committed a horrible massacre today against dozens of civilians in the village of Albulayl in the eastern province of Deir el Zour, after several strikes with cluster bombs targeted the houses in the ALBUHLAL neighbourhood of the town centre Albohilal“.

Al A’an TV attributed the incident to Russia and said that “about 18” non-combatants died.

But Al Jazira put the death toll as high as 20, including children and also blamed Russia.

They added that Russia had allegedly dropped cluster bombs on residential buildings an “a mosque in Albouhilal and Alajabilh neighbourhoods in the village of Albulial.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammad Ibraheem Mhaimed al-Mansour
Adult male killed
Hsain Ibraheem Mhaimed al-Mansour
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Hannoush Aafat
named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Dangerous injuries‘ injured
Ahmed Alhnoh Aafat
named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Dangerous injuries‘ injured

Family members (4)

Rashid al-Hayes
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Ahmed al-Hayes
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Hassan al-Hayes
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Rushdie Hayes
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured

The victims were named as:

Son of Abo Mohammad al-Asaf
Child male killed
Unidentified 1
Adult male killed
Unidentified 2
Adult male killed
Unidentified 3
Adult male killed
Ghassan Mohammad Hmoud al-Affat
Adult male killed
Mezel al-Shaman
Adult male killed
Mhaidi Saleh al-Hasan al-Shuhaili
Adult male killed
daughter of Ahmad Saleh al-Mahal
Child female killed
Khalil Aljadou’a
Age unknown named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Dangerous injuries‘ injured
Daughter of  Ahmed elMahal.
Child female named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Dangerous injuries‘ injured
Osman Hassan
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Dangerous injuries‘ injured
Khalil Aljadou’a
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Mohammed Hassan
Child male named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Son of Ali Hassan
Child male named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Hamid Hussein
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
"Children" of Eid alJalloud
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured
Mohamed Salah Khalif
Child named by Free Syria TV as having ‘Medium injuries’ injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 20
  • (2 children8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohammad Ibraheem Mhaimed al-Mansour, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 19th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hsain Ibraheem Mhaimed al-Mansour, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 19th January 2016. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Deir ez-Zor governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.” It added: “Near al-Baghiliyah (Deir ez-Zor province), where the ISIS militants performed a massive execution of about 300 civilians in order to frighten citizens a day ago, a Russian Su-34 bomber made a strike on terrorists’ strong points. Direct hits caused elimination of 3 heavy vehicles with ZU-23 systems, 2 off-roaders with heavy weapons and more than 60 terrorists.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 20
  • (2 children8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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

RS420

Incident date

January 19, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal Islah neighbourhood, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 18 civilians including two children were killed – and 15 others injured – in airstrikes on Al Buliyal, according to local sources. Most sources alleged that Russian forces carried out the strikes, though an initial report by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said that regime warplanes were responsible – but subsequent reports by this source then went on to blame Russian aviation. However, a report by Syria2011 appeared to attribute the incident to the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported on “violent clashes between elements of the state regulation and the forces of Assad on the western and southern fronts of the city of Deir ez-Zor“, and the “unprecedented movement of Russian aviation” in the region in support of Assad’s forces.

Activists told SNN that Russian warplanes “committed a horrible massacre…against dozens of civilians in the village of Albuliyal“, with several raids using cluster bombs targeting houses in the city centre.

According to an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “suspected Russian warplanes” killed 11 non-combatants, including two children.

However, a subsequent report by SN4HR put the death toll lower, at six, with 15 others wounded.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently initially said that regime warplanes carried out the raids, killing six people. But further reports all blamed Russian cluster bombs. They added that there was also a raid on a repair shop in Al Buliyal, resulting in several deaths and more injuries.

Smo-sy blamed Russia, and said that according to activists the airstrikes were on “the perimeter of theAl-Nour mosque and the Islah neighbourhood  in the village of Albulayll,” leading to 18 deaths.

But Syria2011 appeared to blame the Assad regime: “sixteen martyrs and dozens wounded as the result of Assad’s military aviation targeting the vicinity of ALNOUR mosque and elSalah“.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmed Sweid
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV killed
Ahmed’s brother, Sweid
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV killed

Family members (2)

Hamdan Tayeh
Adult male named by Free Syria TV killed
Son of Hamdan Tayeh
Child male named by Free Syria TV killed

The victims were named as:

The son of Fathi Al-Ramadan elKhodor
Child male named by Free Syria TV killed
Hassan Alzayb
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV killed
Uladhassan Alzeib
Age unknown amputated leg, named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
"Children" of Khalfan Albgdad
Child named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
"Children" of Ahmed Albesas
Child named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
Debrak el Damen
Age unknown named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
Three martyrs of Alshaiytat
Age unknown named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 18
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Deir ez-Zor governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.” It added: “Near al-Baghiliyah (Deir ez-Zor province), where the ISIS militants performed a massive execution of about 300 civilians in order to frighten citizens a day ago, a Russian Su-34 bomber made a strike on terrorists’ strong points. Direct hits caused elimination of 3 heavy vehicles with ZU-23 systems, 2 off-roaders with heavy weapons and more than 60 terrorists.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 18
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]