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
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Incident Code

RS1753

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

Aguil, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.208889, 37.165833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 12 civilians were killed, and others were wounded, in alleged Russian raids on Aguil, Aleppo. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged raids. 

Only one source put the death toll as high as 12, one other putting it at two and most others four.

According to sources, vacuum missiles were used in the alleged raid.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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]

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 December 1st – 31st 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

RS196 CS151

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to eight civilians including four children were reported killed, and 10 injured, when Russian warplanes allegedly launched several rockets on Hetten School in Raqqa, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Ara News also blamed Russia.

Syria Press Report (citing the Syrian Observatory) placed the death toll at 12 and said the attack was by ‘warplanes unknown.’ Eldorar blamed the regime. And BBC Arabic said only that ‘international air strikes’ hit Raqqa, noting that “It is not yet known who carried out the air strikes on the capital of the “Islamic state”, which is exposed to a campaign of international airstrikes, particularly after Paris and the bombing of a Russian aircraft in the Egyptian Sinai attack.”

Monitors later named two victims and 3-6 victims unnamed, including four children

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they may have been responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Okay Mahmoud
Child named by SNHR killed
Mohammad Al Ma’ayouf /Raqqa
Adult named by SNHR killed
unnamed child 1
Child killed
unnamed child 2
Child killed
unnamed child 3
Child killed
unnamed child 4
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar Raqqah, November 26th (via SN4HR)
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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV007784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 26, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2882/CS151 37SEV007784

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1770

Incident date

December 7, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة , Al Kalassa neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Kalassa neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “12 victims died in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Al Kalasa neighborhood in Aleppo city, December 7, 2016.”

LCCSY also put the death toll at 12 and blamed Russia.

Halab News named victim (below), adding that 12 further unidentified civilians had been killed by Russian warplanes.

Halabtoday reported that “two civilians were wounded after an aerial bombardment and artillery attack on Al-Kalasah and Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhoods in Aleppo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Radwan al Issa
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

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 December 1st – 31st 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS048 CS443 RS1834

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 12 civilians were killed, and as many as 22 were wounded, in an air and artillery strike which hit the Daesh controlled area of Tadef, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with two sources blaming the International US led Coalition, two blaming Syrian regime helicopters, and many more blaming Turkish and Russian warplanes, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the Coalition was responsible, putting the death toll, at six civilians including one woman. The Shaam News Network also reported that six died, including women and children, at the hands of the Coalition.

According to Al Raed La Yakzub Ahlahu (an IS propaganda source), three non-combatants died and 22 others were injured in “Russian and Syrian raids”.

LCCSY said that Russia had carried out strikes, as did the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

However, Euphrates Post attributed the incident to “regime warplanes and helicopters”, putting the death toll as high as 12. “According to civilian sources speaking to Euphrates Post  regime warplanes targeted residential sites near the Cultural Center building, east of the city, with two raids.”

Additionally, it was reported that helicopters struck residential buildings with explosives barrels near the coach station.

Al Zanlooki reported that eight civilians died and more were injured in raids by “planes believed to be Turkish”. Manbij mother of all the world also said Turkey was responsible, as did the activist Al Zanlooki.

Albab23 named the following victims: “Mohammad Khalil Abdan, members of the al Masri family and members of the Kariz family.”

Some sources said the death toll was likely to rise due to the severity of the wounds.

Allegedly members of the Civil Defence were also killed in the raids.

One source reported that two buildings of three stories each, were completely destroyed in the raid, as was other civilian housing.

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Khalil Abdan
Age unknown male killed
Ali Ahmad al Shanani
Age unknown male killed
Najah Mohammad al Shanani
Age unknown killed
Abd al Hamid Yunis al Hazzouri
Age unknown male killed
Members of the al Masri family
Age unknown killed
Members from the Kariz family
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • (0–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish, Russian, Coalition and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 13th January 2017. (via Syria news desk)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadef, Aleppo ( تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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 January 1st – 31st 2017.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA682236
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • Jan. 13, 2017, in Tadef, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3082/CS443 37SCA682236

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 12th-13th and January 13th-14th the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in or near Tadef.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • (0–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS475

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

الحسينية, Hussainiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.35905, 40.15113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine to 12 civilians including up to six women and four children were killed and ten others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hussainiya, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Russian aircraft launches two rockets on the town, killing nine non-combatants.

According to Deir Ezzor is Being Silently Slaughtered, Russian warplanes “bombed the house of Hussein al Faraj in the village of Husseiniya ‘Al Shahabat’ near the grain stores killing civilians.”

Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Shaam News Network put the death toll at 10 – with SOHR saying that this included six women and one child. Syrian News Desk cited local Mohamed Hussein as saying that “the Russian air force targeted areas where civilians were present in the town which led to the deaths, including members of an entire family. Dozens were wounded, some critically, including children. A number of residential houses were destroyed, with material damage to shops.”

Three unnamed children were also found.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhssein Al Faraj
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed
Hussein Al Faraj
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed

Family members (3)

Muri’i Hassan al Ali
Age unknown male named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed
Son of Muri’i Hassan al Ali 1
Age unknown male named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed
Son of Muri’i Hassan al Ali 2
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed

The victims were named as:

Fardos Khalifa Al Salman
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed
Fatoom Farhan Khalaf
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is being slaughtered silently killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (4–5 children4–6 women)
  • 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 (11) [ 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 military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district…The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (4–5 children4–6 women)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2576 CS1561

Incident date

October 1, 2017

Location

حي النختب بقرص فوقاني, Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0573579, 40.4155234 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians were killed – including an entire family – and up to 30 were injured, following airstrikes on Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to the Coalition, others to Russia and SOHR to the Syrian regime. A handful of sources blamed “unknown warplanes”. Airwars understands that the Coalition was not bombing in this territory at the time, while Russia and the regime reportedly were.

In what was described as a “massacre” by Radio Realz Free Radio, dozens were reported wounded, as well as the death of as many as three children, two women and a man. There were many critical cases of wounded civilians, meaning the death toll was likely to rise. 

@EatingMyPeaz reported on the death of a “mother and her 12-hour old newborn” due to Russian airstrikes. 

@MOAZALSHAMY reported that the military aircraft “targeted residential areas of the town”. Photographic evidence shows the destruction of properties, including the death of a cow near a home. Additionally, one source reported that four homes were totally destroyed, leaving nothing left. 

Alhal reported that “The Russian warplane targeted for the second day in a row the village of Bqaras, with more than 13 raids, which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, including a whole family, and injuring more than 30 others”.

Euphrates Post reported that two of the casualties were displaced peoples, but did not specify who. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hussein al-Hassan al-Mallah
male killed
Khalid al-Hussein
Child male son of Hussein al-Hassan al-Mallah killed
Asaad al-Hussein al-Mallah
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Ali al-Jassim al-Hammadi al-Faraj-Abu Hussein
Adult male killed
Akab Awad al-Jawer
Adult male killed
Marwan Mahmoud Farhan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ali al-Jassim al-Hammadi al-Faraj-Abu Hussein was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes in al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017. (via Hamwdi Ab Al Qasim)
  • Footage from the incident in Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via @SalamaAlhussein)
  • Akab Awwad Al-Jawer was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes in al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Mohammad Al Juair)
  • Footage from the incident in Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via @4oCBJSVN8E9VJev)
  • News bulletin reporting on the incident in Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel)
  • Civilian homes in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Alhal)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel)
  • The death of a cow in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)
  • The death of a cow in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Buqrus (بقرص), for which the coordinates are: 35.0573579, 40.4155234

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 Borqas, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 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 September 30th-October 1st the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed an ISIS well head and engaged two tactical units. Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS tactical vehicle.”

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
    8 – 12
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS132

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple sources, at least ten non-combatants died, and 30 were injured by alleged Russian warplanes struck the popular market in the centre of Ma’arat Al Numan.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the alleged raids, but a member of The White Helmets, who came to the scene, told SN4HR Russian jets were responsible: “On Sunday in the afternoon, alleged Russian warplanes launched two rockets on the market in Abi’ Alaa Street. We directly went there. One rocket targeted Al Ma’ara Pharmacy which flattened it to the ground, and the other rocket fell to the east of the first location. The region is completely free of any armed opposition groups or ISIL.”

The Violations Documentation Center named seven victims as having been killed alleged Russian strikes.

Additionally, on November 18th, the VDC also listed Mostafa Mohammad Khair al Thikra as having died from wounds sustained in the bombing. Ibraheem al Ekel described as having died from injuries sustained in a strike on Maasaran. However, a list compiled by the Syrian Center suggests that while he is from Maasaran, Mr al-Ekel killed on November 8th in the Ma’arat al-Numan market bombing.

Moreover, The Syrian Network for Human Rights named Alaa Zarzour and Hasan Ahmad Ja’afar Al Shardoub as having died in the attack. And according to Syrian Center News, a young man from the Sheroot family was also killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Kareem al-Shardoub
Adult male killed
Yasin al-Dergam
Adult male killed
Jamal Mohammad Mendel
Adult male killed
Hosain al-Sobaih
Adult male killed
Abd la-Khaleq al-Baik
Adult male killed
Mostafa al-Sherawi
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mostafa al-Sherawi
Adult male killed
Mostafa Mohammad Khair al Thikra
Age unknown male killed
Ibraheem al Ekel
Age unknown male killed
Alaa Zarzour
Age unknown male killed
Hasan Ahmad Ja’afar Al Shardoub
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Maarah Network Report A new massacre committed by Russian aircraft with their hateful missiles, which targeted the commercial market in the city of Maarat al-Nu'man in the countryside of Idlib
  • Abd al Kareem Hardoub
  • Jamal al Mendeel

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate: “In the suburbs of al-Zerba (Idlib province), a large command center of Jabhat al-Nusra illegal armed group was destroyed. The object had been arranged in the course of the last three weeks as well as well-camouflaged. The command center coordinated terrorists’ actions at the Idlib-Aleppo direction. After additional reconnaissance of the object by means of unmanned aerial vehicles, a Su-34 aircraft made a strike with a guided bomb KAB-500. As a result, the object was destroyed with all its contents.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1555 RS2574

Incident date

September 30, 2017

Location

بقرص فوقاني, Bokros Foqani, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.090833, 40.398056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians were killed, including at least three children and two women, in airstrikes on Bokro Foqani, situated in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. Sources were contested with blame attributed to Russia, the Syrian regime and the US-led Coalition. Most reports were unable to identify the culprit.

The news agency Baladi believed the “warplanes” to be US-led Coalition. According to Baladi mosques in the area “launched a distress call” for blood donations due to large numbers wounded and the area suffering for lack of medical resources.

Syrianpc suspected “dozens” wounded and provided an initial list of victims.

The airstrikes reportedly targeted civilian homes. Euphrates Post published a series of photographs of the material damage. The Post did not apportion blame.

Assad’s regime was attributed blame by Horrya, with the source reporting that three raids took place on the village.

Step News Agency blamed Moscow and said the strikes occurred whilst people of the town fled towards “the Badia and Euphrates River”.

Syriandays documented a lower death count at seven. It attributed blame to “the aggression of the “coalition””.

In contrast to this the Syrian Network for Human Rights held the regime responsible, it gave a lower figure of “at least 3” and did not name victims.

Smart referred to “unknown fighters” as culprit whilst Smart blamed Russia, as did Jisirtv.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Awad Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie “Gaddafi”
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie
Adult male killed
Rokaya Jalal Al-Olayan
Adult female wife of Khalil Ibrahim Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie killed
Maha Mohammed Al-Khalif Al-Jaileh
Adult female wife of Mahmoud Hawala killed
Daughter of Maha al-Mohammad al-Khlaif al-Jeileh
Child female killed
Son of Rokaia al-Elian 1
Child male killed
Son of Rokaia al-Elian 2
Child male killed
Yusuf Mahmoud al-Hawala
Age unknown male Possibly the same as Saad Al-Yousef Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie killed
Saad Al-Yousef Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie
Adult male killed
Omar Khaled Al Khalaf Al Hammadi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (3 children3 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Awwad Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie and Ibrahim Al-Ahmad Al-Jedaie victims of alleged airstrikes on the town on Bokro Foqani, Sept 30th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes that allegedly hit Baqrs Foqani and cost the lives of nine civilians on September 30th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes that allegedly hit Baqrs Foqani and cost the lives of nine civilians on September 30th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes that allegedly hit Baqrs Foqani and cost the lives of nine civilians on September 30th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes that allegedly hit Baqrs Foqani and cost the lives of nine civilians on September 30th (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bokros Foqani (بقرص فوقاني), eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, for which the coordinates are: 35.090833, 40.398056.

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 Bokros Foqani, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 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 September 29th – 30th the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, 3 strikes engaged four ISIS units and destroyed three vehicles.”

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (3 children3 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]