Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS1755

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

حي الجلوم , Al Jalloum neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196817, 37.154326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians, including six children and two women, were killed in an airstrike on Al Jalloum, Aleppo – whilst a “number” were wounded, according to local media.

All of the known sources attributed responsibility for the event to Russian jets.

Syrian Press Center reported that “the warplanes launched intensive airstrikes on Monday [6th] evening on the neighbourhood of Jalom, east of the city of Aleppo, killing 15 civilians and wounding others.”

It should be noted that the only source that identifies women and children as dying in this incident, is the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who date the incident as December 4th.

Youm7, who placed the death toll at “at least six and a number wounded”, also attributed responsibility to Russian “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 15
  • (0–6 children0–2 women)
  • 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

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
    6 – 15
  • (0–6 children0–2 women)
  • 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

RS1995

Incident date

March 20, 2017

Location

eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51388889, 36.49861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was among at least two civilians killed by alleged Russian or Syrian air or artillery strikes in the besieged eastern towns of eastern Ghouta, according to sources on the ground.

Al Jazeera reported 15 dead.

Schools in the area closed due the proximity of the strikes, according to SMART News, who blamed both Russia and the regime for the strikes.

@alikrarrkar  attributed the civilian harm to artillery strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

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
    2 – 15
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2768

Incident date

November 28, 2017

Location

البقعان, Baq'an, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.62772, 40.861717 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 15 civilians were killed, and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Baq’an, local media reported. Sources attributed the blamed to both Russian and Syrian regime raids.

The raids struck the Al-Baka`an river crossing, according to sources.

A source reported that “the aircraft bombed a passageway on the West Bank of the Euphrates River near the village of Ramadi (Baka’an) of Albuqmal district (120 km east of the city of Deir al-Zour) on Tuesday, as residents tried to move to the eastern bank of the” Islamic State ” killing ten civilians and injuring dozens of others, amid acute shortage of medical staff and medicines.”

One list of victims has over 100 names, therefore it is almost impossible to tell which victims belong to this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hashem Hsain al-Affas al-Hake
Adult male killed
Burjus Hmood Asman al-Hake
Adult male killed
Obaida Amer Maouloud al-Najm
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Abd al-Ameer
Adult male killed
Hawas Hsain al-Affas al-Hake
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (5 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A victim of a raid on Baq'an, 28th Nov 2017. (via News Mari)
  • A victim of a raid on Baq'an, 28th Nov 2017. (via Albukamalcry)

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
    10 – 15
  • (5 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS232

Incident date

December 6, 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

15 civilians including eight children and five women were reportedly killed and 25 injured when Russian warplanes allegedly bombed the city of Raqqa, according to multiple sources.

Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered said non-combatants were killed in the agricultural fields west of the city in Al Kahtaniya farm and at the crossroads of Hitteen farm.

The Daesh-linked news agency Al A’maq reported the same casualty figures as Raqqa is Being Slaughtered and said the Russian raids targeted the edge of the city. Shaam News Network also reported on the alleged incident, but referred to the Al A’maq report.

The Network stated: “After a lull for a few days, Raqqa is again facing all sorts of planes. The Russian enemy started a new series of raids on the city, targeting a number of areas within the city, causing extensive damage to residential buildings and killing 15 martyrs among civilians, while Daesh did not announce targeted places or those killed in the ranks of the organization. Activists said that the targeting was on various locations, Al Ta’la’e camp and Al Fouroussiya on the edges of town, areas used by IS in the past.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (8 children5 women)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on farmland on the outskirts of Raqqa, Dec 6th (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (8 children5 women)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS489

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

كفر تخاريم, Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.1168, 36.51522 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

15 civilians including two to three women and one to three children were killed and 20 others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Takharim, according to two local sources.

Activists told the Shaam News Network that more than 15 were killed and 20 wounded when Russian warplanes targeted a nearby mosque. They added that residential neighbourhoods were targeted and that members of the White Helmets worked to dig victims out from the rubble.

According to SNN, one of the victims was an unborn child killed in its mother’s womb: “Before he sees his mother, a glimmer of hope in the eye of her child who’s been in her womb for nine months, and before that his eyes opens to the dawn of life, which withheld its sun Russian treachery aircraft rays and marred its air smell of gunpowder and the sounds of shells and drums and various missiles forms and sizes died goodbye to meet his Lord.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Russia. They initially put the death toll at ten, but then reported that it had risen to at least 15, including at least three unidentified people, a woman and two of her daughters, two other citizen women and a boy under the age of 18.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (1–3 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child following an alleged Russian strike on Kafr Takharim, January 28th 2016. (via SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An inured child following an alleged Russian raid on Kafr Takharim, 28th January 2016. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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,” but makes no mention of carrying out strikes in Idlib.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (1–3 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3153

Incident date

March 3, 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

As many as 15 civilians were killed and others were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Douma, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime helicopters and Russian warplanes for the strikes.

As well as the seven named victims below, the Violations Documentation Centre listed four unidentified adult males.

It must however be noted that one of the victims named was listed as a non-civilian. VDC are however the only source to make this claim.

Four of the victims were members of the Syrian Civil Defence.

The area targeted was mostly residential.

A source reported that “more than 40 air raids and intensive artillery shelling, the rescue teams worked on the urgent response to recover the martyrs and evacuate the injured to medical centres.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Ayoub
Adult male killed
Mohammad Idris
Adult male killed
Khaled Mahmoud al-Daas
Adult male down by VDC as a non-civilian, howeveer this is the only source to report this killed
Hatem Khaled al-Terk
Adult male killed
Hlal al-Obeid
Adult male killed
Reslan Ammar Sheikh al-Qaseer
Adult male killed
Hasan Masarweh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (4 children1 woman11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The victims of airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via @MOAZALSHAMY)
  • Yasir, injured due to airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via @starevictory1)
  • Wounded civilians in the aftermath of airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via @SyriaCivlDefe)
  • Al Ghouta Hospital, which is soaked with blood in the aftermath of airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via @Molhamteam)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • A member of the Civil Defence is wounded in the aftermath of airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via NGO Syria)
  • A member of the Civil Defence is wounded in the aftermath of airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via NGO Syria)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Allah Hatem Khalid Turk, killed in airstrikes on Douma, 3rd March 2018. (via Mohammad Abo Ryad)

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
    7 – 15
  • (4 children1 woman11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS447

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, 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 10 and 15 non-combatants died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dallou neighbourhood of Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network reported on a “new massacre in addition to the daily massacres committed by Russian aircraft against civilians in the countryside of Deir al-Zour and areas under the control of IS“, adding that after an attack carried out by Daesh against Assad’s forces Russia had responded by bombing civilians on a daily basis.

They said that the incident in Al Buliyal was the third “massacre” and the second in this town within the last few days. According to the Network, Russian aviation targeted civilians’ homes in the town with several high-explosive rockets. They put the initial death toll at 10, with dozens more wounded.

But a subsequent report by SNN said that even more people had been killed – “more than 15” – when Russian vacuum missiles hit residential buildings in “Al dilou street“. Many more, they added, were injured, with most of them being children.

Deir Ezzor is Being Silently Slaughtered put the number killed at 10, also blaming Russia.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that 12 people were killed, including one child and two women, in an attack by “alleged Russian warplanes“.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights provided a backgrounder explaining several incidents in Al Buliyal, reporting on violent clashes between Daesh and regime forces.

Nine victims were named by the Violations Documentation Centre including one Unidentified adult male.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (1 child2 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Clouds of smoke over the Dallou neighbourhood in Al Buliya, following an alleged Russian raid, Jan 22nd (via Deir Ezzor is Being Silently Slaughtered)
  • Image showing the moment of an alleged Russian strike on Al Buliyal, January 22nd 2016. (via, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Taher Mohammad al-Ahmad, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Buliyal, 22nd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Mustafa Mohammad al-Ahmad, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Buliyal, 22nd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hussain Hamdan al-Khalaf, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Buliyal, 22nd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • An alleged Russian airstrike falls near a residential building in Al Buliyal. (via, Deir ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (1 child2 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3148

Incident date

March 3, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 15 civilians were killed, and several others were wounded, in airstrikes on Hamouriya, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the raids.

As many as “30 Syrian shells” were fired on the vicinity, according to Sky News. Rockets and barrel bombs coming from helicopters targeted the residential neighbourhood.

A mother, child and a man were included in the death toll. Graphic images published show the child receiving medical treatment right before its death.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Ataya
Child male killed
Samar Ataya
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Rahman Ataya, killed in airstrikes on Hamouriya, 3rd March 2018. (via @70R00)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child whose injuries were fatal, due to airstrikes in Hamouriya, 3rd March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child whose injuries were fatal, due to airstrikes in Hamouriya, 3rd March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child whose injuries were fatal, due to airstrikes in Hamouriya, 3rd March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child whose injuries were fatal, due to airstrikes in Hamouriya, 3rd March 2018. (via Tamer turkmani)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child whose injuries were fatal, due to airstrikes in Hamouriya, 3rd March 2018. (via Tamer turkmani)

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
    2 – 15
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]