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

RS1713

Incident date

November 28, 2016

Location

الشعار , Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2085139, 37.1855771 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 12 civilians including children and women died and dozens more were wounded in air or artillery strikes on Aleppo’s Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime caused the civilian harm, though multiple reports mentioned the use of cluster bombs and missiles. Additionally, there were claims that explosive barrels had been dropped from helicopters.

The lowest death count was given as seven by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who blamed “government warplanes and its allies”.

@Mamoun_sy R said that both Russia and Assad were to blame, while Al Jazeera said that the area was subjected to “heavy artillery shelling” but didn’t identify the culprit.

However, the majority of other sources attributed the event to Russia.

According to Qasioun, “10 civilians were killed and more than 20 were wounded, some of them seriously wounded in air strikes by Russian air force fighter jets on residential buildings in the Al-Sha’ar district of Aleppo. Civil defense teams are still removing survivors from the rubble”.

Ara, also pointing to Moscow, said that “Russian warplanes targeted the neighbourhood with a number of concussion rockets which hit civilian houses…several buildings collapsed over the heads of their inhabitants.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

a male corpse in his 5th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a female corpse in her 5th decade, unidentified
Adult female killed
a male corpse in his 4th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a male corpse in his 4th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a male corpse in his 7th decade, unidentified
Adult female killed
a child corpse in his 2nd decade, unidentified
Child killed
a young man in his 3rd decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a child corpse in his 1st decade, unidentified
Child killed
a child corpse in his 1st decade, unidentified
Child killed
a child
Child killed
a child corpse in his 1st decade, unidentified
Child killed
a male corpse in his 4th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (5 children2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A man carries a child to safety following a strike on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Nov 28th 2016.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man following a strike on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Nov 28th 2016.
  • A member of the civil defense searches for bodies following a strike on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Nov 28th 2016.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (5 children2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1571

Incident date

November 13, 2016

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.510833, 36.86975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 12 civilians were killed, and up to 50 more were wounded in an airstrike which struck a food convoy in Afrin, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raids. Some held Russia accountable, others reported the warplane was unidentifiable, and one source blamed Turkey.

Images showed that cars and lorries were burned in the raid, additionally some video evidence showed the wounded in a field hospital in the aftermath of the alleged airstrike.

One source reported that 10 rockets were launched on the vicinity, which is why the number of wounded was so high.

The Violations Documentation Center was among the majority of sources in attributing the event to Russia.

DW News reported that there were claims that Turkey was responsible. Citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, it said that “at least 12 people died and 50 were wounded in an explosion in the village of Ghazawiya, part of the Kurdish region of Afrin. The cause of the blast remains unclear. While pro-opposition websites have accused Russian planes of responsibility, Kurdish sources said the warplanes were Turkish. Neither of the allegations could be verified.”

Pukmedia noted that a military offier, Ahmed Tubal, was killed. The source said: “The martyr Ahmed Tubal, was born in Afrin, in the village of Ma’arska in 1961, and was demobilized in the Syrian army. He was then a rank of leader, on charges of belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party, continued his political activity and joined the Kurdish front and then joined the Asayish forces, and received the humanitarian crossing of Gaza until his death.”

The incident occured at approximately 8:15 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Nazeem
Adult male killed
Atia Mohammad Allawi
Adult male killed
Marwan Deeb al-Mostafa
Adult male killed
Naz Gazal
Adult female killed
Yasin Khlil
Adult male killed
Unidentified 1
Adult male killed
Unidentified 2
Adult male killed
Unidentified 3
Adult male killed
Unidentified 4
Adult male killed
Unidentified 5
Adult male killed
Unidentified 6
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (1 woman10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the alleged airstrikes on Afrin, 13th November 2016. Wounded civilians can also be seen be treated in a field hospital. (via reveberiya efrin)
  • The aftermath of the alleged airstrikes on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Ahmed Tubal, a military leader who was killed in the raid. (via Pukmedia)
  • The missile which was dropped on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via @SyrianRevolutin)
  • The missile which was dropped on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via @SyrianRevolutin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged raid on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via News of the Kurdesh daily)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged raid on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via News of the Kurdesh daily)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged raid on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via News of the Kurdesh daily)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged raid on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via News of the Kurdesh daily)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged raid on Afrin, 13th November 2016. (via News of the Kurdesh daily)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (1 woman10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS780

Incident date

April 29, 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

Between six and 12 civilians died in airstrikes on Fardous according to local sources. While most reports said this was the work of the regime, others also alleged possible Russian involvement.

Baladi News published a video showing the first scenes of what they said was a strike by the regime. At 1:55 into the video, an eyewitness says he pulled two people from the rubble but that they died later. He adds that he counted seven or eight people dead on the scene but then lost count. There were many more injured and killed, he continued.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least 2 victims died in government helicopters barrel bombs”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed all strikes in the previous eight days on the Assad regime.

According to Shaam News Network, 12 civilians died, though it blamed Russian and regime warplanes. The White Helmets did not identify the planes responsible, but said that there were “several raids by warplanes and more than 10 barrel bombs” targeting several Aleppo neighborhoods. They put the initial death toll at 10.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via Baladi News Network)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescuing mission after the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via Buraq Media)
  • Footages during and after the aerial shelling of al Fardous (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting al Fardous (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

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

RS2820

Incident date

December 26, 2017

Location

التمانعة, Taman'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians were killed, and dozens more wounded, in air and artillery strikes which struck the residential neighbourhood of Taman’a. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes for the strikes.

The Violations Documentation Centre reported that there were two incidents which occurred on the same day in Taman’a, however they do not give any further details. No other sources made this claim.

Despite high casualty figures across most sources, some local media only reported one death. @mohamed1aldaher was amongst them, who reported that there were 19 dead civilians were distributed over Al Sarman (2), Al Taman’a (1), Al – Mushrifah (4), Skeet farms (3), – Sahihan (3), Badama (1), Om Jalal, Al Sayad Ali Al Taman’a Farms.

It is possible that both @mohamed1aldaher and Al Etihad press were reporting on the second incident of the day.

According to Step News Agency, as many as 100 rockets were fired on the vicinity. Syrian Human Rights Committee was the only source which included artillery shelling in their report.

Members of the Syrian Civil Defence were photographed pulling victims from the rubble, and according to their own Twitter account, they took many wounded civilians to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

They added that an entire family were trapped under the rubble – they did not give information as to who was wounded and who died.

A local source tweeted that “Al Sarman, Al Taman’a and farms, Almshirifa and Babolin” were all targeted in the raids. They attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Razzaq al-Sousi
Adult male killed
Rawda al-Sousi
Adult female killed
Hamid al-Sousi
Adult male killed
Mohammad Hamid al-Sousi
Child male killed
Maher Abd al-Razzaq al-Bakri
Adult male killed
Abd al-Salam al-Sousi
Adult male killed
Son of Abd al-Salam al-Sousi 1
Child male killed
Son of Abd al-Salam al-Sousi 2
Child male killed
Fatima al-Saleh
Adult female killed
Wife of Mohammad Askar al-Naji
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child who was killed in air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @sakrr121)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child who was killed in air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @sakrr121)
  • Air and artillery strikes the moment they struck Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @Muslims2018)
  • Air and artillery strikes the moment they struck Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @Muslims2018)
  • A victim of the air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Maher Abd al-Razzaq al-Bakri, killed in air and artillery strikes on Taman'a, 28th December 2017. (via VDC-SY)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS268

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.53366, 40.95819 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians – most of which were women and children – were killed and several injured in an airstrike on Al Soussa – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. One source also blames the Coalition.

The Shaam News Network initially reported that 10 non-combatants – most of them from the same family – died when Russian warplanes struck. But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed regime warplanes, and put the death toll at nine.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Samirah al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Son of Samiraal-Turky
Child male Named by VDC killed
Sara al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Son of Sara al-Turky
Child male Named by VDC killed
Fatima al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Khawla al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Daughter of Khawla al-Turky
Child female Named by VDC killed
Amira al-Turky
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Daughter of Faysal al-Turky
Child female Named by VDC killed
Tahani al Turki
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
The wife of Faisal Al Turki
Age unknown female Listed by Syria2011 injured
Mubarak al Turki
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured

The victims were named as:

Joza al-Thani
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Daughter of Khawla al-Obaid
Child female Named by VDC killed
Abdullah al-Mohammad al-Ewaid
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Manar al Ibrahim al Mheissan
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Abd al Aziz al Hamed
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Abir al Hamed
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Shaimaa al Khaled al Hussein
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
Jamila al Ibrahim
Age unknown Listed by Syria2011 injured
The son of Rifa’at al Thani.
Child male Listed by Syria2011 injured
Son of Omar al Hussein 1
Child male Listed by Syria2011, one of them in a critical condition injured
Son of Omar al Hussein 2
Child male Listed by Syria2011, one of them in a critical condition injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (5 children6 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A house targeted by airstrikes has been destroyed. (via, Syrian revolution forum)
  • Part of the damaged infrastructure in Al Soussa village. (via Syrian Revolution Forum)
  • An image taken almost immediately after the airstrike fell. (via, Deir Ezzor is slaughtered silently)
  • Although this video is no longer available, this screengrab shows part of the aftermath of the airstrike. (via, Syrialander)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (5 children6 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1234 RS2351

Incident date

July 18, 2017

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians died and dozens were injured in airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on Ma’adan, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia or event the Syrian regime were responsible.

Baladi blamed artillery for the injury of “a number of civilians”, however, other sources – including Sharqiya Voice said that Coalition airstrikes had injured three non-combatants.

However, according to Shaam News, Russia carried out strikes on Ma’adan, killing 12 civilians and wounding many more.

RBSS reported that highs of “22 people were killed by Russian air strikes on the town of Ma’dan and the village of Zour Shamar in the eastern Raqqa countryside.” Similarly, Step News Agency reported that overall, “More than twenty-two civilians have been killed and dozens wounded in a new massacre by the International Coalition in the eastern Rifqa countryside.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported a raid “on the house of Mr. Ahmad Al-Taha in front of Maadan hospital, which resulted in the martyrdom of Miss Laila Nawaf Al-Hassani, one of her daughters and the injury of the rest of the family, and the martyrdom of Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Issa Al-Zanuba (Ibrahim Al-Ta’mas) from the village of al Bu Ramadan.”RBSS later published images of the aftermath of the event – including graphic pictures of child casualties – which it said had been carried out by Russia.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, pointed towards the Assad regime, reporting “the death of a girl and her mother in Syrian regime forces shelling”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Miss Laila Nawaf Al-Hassani
Adult female killed
Daughter of Miss Laila Nawaf Al-Hassani
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Issa Al-Zanuba (Ibrahim Al-Ta’mas)
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Photo showing the destruction in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured child in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured man in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of an inured man in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of dead children in the town of Maadan as a result of alleged Coalition and Russian airstrikes on 18th July 2017. (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ma’adan, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 18th-19th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two vehicles and a tactical vehicle.” It additionally reported that “On July 18, near Raqqah, Syria, 18 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 18 fighting positions, an anti-aircraft artillery system, a weapons cache, and a sniper position; and damaged a fighting position and a supply route.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah désormais encerclée, Daech défend fermement les quartiers sous son contrôle en s’appuyant sur un usage intensif de pièges dont le terrain est littéralement saturé pour ralentir la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS). Cette stratégie impose aux FDS de déminer, pas à pas, chaque rue et chaque maison, sous la menace permanente de tireurs isolés entre autres tactiques adverses. Leur progression reste donc très lente. En Irak, Alors que les opérations de sécurisation de Mossoul se poursuivent, la principale zone de combat se situe désormais à l’Ouest de la ville dans le secteur de Tall Afar. Depuis cette localité, Daech mène des actions de harcèlement par des tirs directs et indirects contre les positions des Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes (FSI) à proximité. L’effort aérien de la coalition s’y porte donc tout en s’accompagnant d’un engagement plus large sur l’ensemble des autres territoires encore sous le contrôle de l’organisation terroriste. Daech poursuit notamment ses actions de harcèlement depuis la poche de Hawijah et dans l’Anbar, région dans laquelle elle dispose de nombreux camps et caches d’armes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 37 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 02 de ravitaillement en vol après le déploiement récent d’un C135. La moitié des frappes françaises (6 sur les 11 frappes) a été réalisée dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, les missions de reconnaissance française ou alliée permettant d’en réaliser autant sur le reste du théâtre afin de préparer les manœuvres futures ou de peser sur les réseaux terroristes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 26 missions de tir dont 17 de harcèlement et 09 d’éclairement. Le bilan global de CHAMMAL depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1322 frappes, 2090 objectifs détruits et 6812 sorties aériennes réalisées. 1310 missions d’artillerie complètent cet engagement cinétique de la France au Levant.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2862

Incident date

January 7, 2018

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

Between one and 12 civilians were killed – including three children, a woman and a man – and as many as 30 others were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Douma. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, while some attributed blame to Russia and others to the Syrian regime.

One source, Alghad, reported that as many as 12 civilians were killed and 30 others were wounded. All other sources reported that only one man died, and he was also named.

All sources agree that a residential neighbourhood and popular vegetable market were “targeted” in the raids.

Yaqeen Network specified that “warplanes targeted three airstrikes, one of which was carrying an umbrella rocket, in addition to targeting the outskirts of the city with five surface-to-surface missiles”. They also named the male victim.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Akram Omar Al - Hanash
Adult male married killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid struck Douma, 7th January 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The exact moment after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid struck Douma, 7th January 2018. (via IBN Doma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 7th January 2018. (via Barada News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3865

Incident date

July 2, 2019

Location

مدايا, Madaya, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Seven to 30 people were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Madaya, Idlib governorate, on July 2nd, 2019, according to local sources. Sources are conflicted about the number of civilians among the victims.

While Step News Agency reported “news of a massacre of civilians in the town of Madaya, south of Idlib, after a raid carried out by Russian warplanes” – later citing seven dead – the same source also reported that “seven soldiers of the opposition forces died, and five others were wounded, when Russian airstrikes targeted their headquarters south of Idlib.”

@NagiNajjar tweeted that “the Russian occupation air force commits a massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed more than 20 martyrs and dozens of wounded.” According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, two civilians from the same family were killed in the attack.

@syrian191124 shared a video of the aftermath of the strikes, writing: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian forces “targeted a military headquarters of Jaysh al-Nukhba of the National Liberation Front in Madaya village in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed at least 15 members and injured 10 others, some of them were critically injured which may raise the death toll.” A later source, Step News, alleged that “the number of people killed as a result of the Russian attack on the headquarters of the Syrian Free Army rose to 30.”

@M25hLAkKS2ra6WD later tweeted that “the number of victims of the massacre in the town of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, due to its bombing by the regime’s warplanes, has risen to 30.”

Meanwhile, Shahba Press tweeted that “dozens of civilians were killed and wounded by heavy air raids on the town of Madaya in rural Idlib.” According to Fresh Syria, the incident occured in the evening.

While most sources attributed the strikes to Russia, a few sources, including Fresh Syria, blamed the Syrian regime, whereas @anwaralnhar blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment” (via @syrian191124).
  • Translation: “#Idlib: A horrific massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed 16 martyrs as a preliminary result, and a number of civilians were wounded as a result of the targeting of the village with several air strikes with vacuum missiles by the Russian occupation forces and the Assad regime” (via @anwaralnhar).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim on the scene after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Madaya, July 2nd, 2019 (via @anwaralnhar).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]