Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

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

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS410

Incident date

January 16, 2016

Location

بغيلية, Al Baghiliya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.37768, 40.09224 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

15 civilians including one woman and nine children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Baghiliya, according to local sources.

The Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the strikes, reporting: “Activists have denied the news published by Assad’s media that IS had committed a massacre against civilians in Al Baghiliya district.  The regime said that IS killed 280 civilians. Activists noted that civilian victims, numbering around 15, fell in the area as a result of Russian strikes.“

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported 15 civilians were killed in Russian strikes when Daesh took control of most of Al Baghiliya, and that they had executed “several of the miilitia of the civil defence and arrests others“, adding that members of Daesh had taken “civilian homes as bases for themselves“, which were then bombed “violently” by Russian warplanes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Khalaf Al A’lloush Al Salem
Adult male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Child of Khalaf Al A’lloush Al Salem 1
Child named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Child of Khalaf Al A’lloush Al Salem 2
Child named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Child of Khalaf Al A’lloush Al Salem 3
Child named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Child of Khalaf Al A’lloush Al Salem 4
Child named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Family members (3)

Abd Al Ali al Saleh
Adult male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Child of Abd Al Ali al Saleh 1
Child named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Child of Abd Al Ali al Saleh 2
Child named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Family members (5)

Abd Al ali Al Saleh
Adult male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Wife of Abd Al ali Al Saleh
Adult female named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Maryam
Child female named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Saheeb
Child male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Adnan
Child male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Abboud Al Khaleef
Age unknown male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Subha Al Fanash
65 years old named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Hilwa al Jada’an
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (9 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Abd Al Ali al Saleh with his children who were killed yesterday evening in Russian strikes' (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
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (9 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS099

Incident date

October 30, 2015

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

Up to 15 civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the Aleppo district of Fardous.

According to Shaam News, “A further 15 civilians were killed in Al Ferdous neighborhood after a Russian plane targeted it with several vacuum missiles – in addition to about five martyrs in Salah al-Din neighborhood.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammad Qoja
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Qoja
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Ridah Ziyad Assi
9 years years old male killed
Mohammad Assi
9 years years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Younes
12 years years old male killed
http://www.vdc-sy.info/index.php/en/details/martyrs/159644#.W5u6nqZKiUk
10 years years old female
Abdullah Ahmad Shuheiber
10 or 16 years old years old male killed
Mohammad Yousef Aboud
28 years years old male killed
Mohammad Shamali
24 years years old male killed
Mohammad Abd al-Halim Deeb
Adult male killed
Unnamed boy from Kadek family
Child male killed
Founoun Radwan
Age unknown female killed
Samiha Halabia
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (6 children4 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: a video showing the aftermath of Russian raids on Al Ferdous neighbourhood the evening of Friday 30/10/2015 which led to the death of 4 people and the wounding of 10 others. (via Halab News Network)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (6 children4 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS838

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

الهلك, Huluk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.237367, 37.171512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians died in an incident in Huluk, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The Shaam News Network reported on alleged Russian raids with warplanes and helicopters across Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. It said that this coincided with “violent artillery shelling“, killing two civilians in the Huluk neighborhood.

Baladi also blamed Russia, putting the death toll at two with four injured.

Alsouria reported eight civilians killed.

However, other sources blamed the regime.

Sky News was among other news outlets who said the regime had shelled “Al-Hulluk, Al-Sakhour, Shikh Khoudur and Hanano”, killing 14 non-combatants.

Smart News did not report any deaths, but said that an unspecified number of civilians were killed by “regime artillery”.

According to a tweet by LCCSY, “regime helicopters threw explosive barrels on Al-Hulluk neighbourhood in Aleppo.”

In a video, a White Helmets worker said that “an explosive barrel was thrown and caused the death of over 15 civilians and wounded tens of people.” They did not say who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Al-Hulluk massacre which caused by two explosive barrels and killed more than 10 civilians" (Youtube via AMC)

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 strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1809

Incident date

December 29, 2016

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 – including six children, two women and four adult males – and dozens were wounded, in alleged air and artillery strikes on Douma. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some sources attributed blame to Russian warplanes, while others blamed the Syrian regime.

Reportedly, the raids struck a residential area including a school and the city square. Photographic evidence shows the extensive destruction to the buildings, civilian homes and the inside of the school.

One sources reported that the heavy shelling, which began in the morning and reoccurred throughout the day, included the use of both ground artillery and missiles.

Video evidence shows an ambulance taking wounded civilians to a medical facility in the immediate aftermath of the raid.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Saeed Emad Abdul Azeez
Adult male killed
Yaseen Anees
Adult male killed
Samah Mohammad al-Shahrour
Adult female killed
Usama Ameen
Adult male killed
Raneem Mohammad al-Shahrour
Child female killed
Sama Emad Abdul Azeez
Child female killed
Abdo Ahmad al-Baale
Adult male killed
Basheer Bashar al-Toum
Child male killed
Naseem Bashar al-Toum
Child female killed
Jina Bashar al-Toum
Child female killed
Safaa Bakoura
Adult female killed
Hiba al-Derra
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (6 children2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A dead child pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 29th December 2016. (via @ousamamedia)
  • A news bulletin documenting the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 29th December 2016. (via yaser alfawwal)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian is put into an ambulance before being carried to a medical facility in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 29th December 2016. (via Syrian Civil Defense center Damascus countryside)
  • The exact moment an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid targeted Douma, 29th December 2016. (via @islamnedaa3)
  • The exact moment an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid targeted Douma, 29th December 2016. (via @islamnedaa3)
  • The outside of the school which was targeted in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 29th December 2016. (via Rasd-sy)
  • Saeed Emad Abdul Azeez, killed in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 29th December 2016. (via VDC)
  • Yassen Anees, killed in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Douma, 29th December 2016. (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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.”

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
    12 – 15
  • (6 children2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3266

Incident date

March 14, 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

In a major incident, between 12 and 15 civilians including multiple members from several families were reported killed in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Hamourya. There were also reports of the use of “toxic gases” in the attacks.

@Baraa_Abdul tweeted: The regime is targeting the town of Hamourya with toxic gases now and there are civilian victims

Helicopters committed a massacre in Hamourya and civilian victims are under the rubble. No one pulls them out or rescues the wounded among them”.

According to, @abazeid89: “The situation in Hamourya since yesterday is that Russia has burned and destroyed the city almost completely. Families remained under the basements and could not flee under the shelling towards the rest of Ghouta, some of them came out and were killed. A major assault to storm the city by Russian aviation continues, 5,000 civilians under cellars are threatened with extermination”.

@SiegeWatch noted: “Reports that a convoy of fleeing civilians was directly targeted by an airstrike. New chemical attack, chlorine suspected

“2/ For many in #Hamouriya #حمورية, today is quite literally doomsday. The SCD rescuers are overwhelmed and cannot reach the dead and dying. The town is being demolished.

“3/ Rough estimates that the Syrian government and its allies have bombed Hamouriya today w/ 200+ airstrikes, 100+ barrel bombs, and hundreds of other missiles and mortars. Chemical weapons (chlorine likely), incendiary weapons, and cluster munitions all used. Annihilation”.

Smart added that “One of the strikes targeted the Civil Defense Center in the town directly, which led to his departure from service due to the heavy damage to equipment and mechanisms. We were told that  teams were unable to document all the victims as a result of the destruction of the center”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Ibraheem al-Erbini
Adult male killed
Haytham Ibraheem al-Erbini
Child male killed
Safa Ibraheem al-Erbini
Child female
Khajo al-Erbini
Adult female killed
Amineh al-Erbini
Adult female

Family members (2)

Mohammad al-Naddaf
Adult male killed
Ammar al-Naddaf
Adult male killed

Family members (3)

Mohammad Mostafa Yasin
Child male killed
Obada Mostafa Yasin
Child male killed
Dania Zeno (mother of the two former children)
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Hamdan
Adult male "Media activist and rebel"/ "reporter for Ghouta Media Center". killed
Mohammad al-Rihani
Adult male killed
Ahmad Issa
Adult male killed
Mohammad Khair Tomeh
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Gemayel
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 15
  • (4 children3 women8 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two children, killed in airstrikes on Hamouriya, 14th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Ahmad Hamdan, killed in airstrikes on Hamouriya, 14th March 2018. (via Euphrates)
  • Ahmed Hamdan, killed in airstrikes on Hamouriya, 14th March 2018. (via Euphrates)
  • Translation: "Media activist and rebel Sadeq Ahmed Hamdan is a martyr today following the Russian bombardment on Hamourya city in Ghouta."
  • Translation: "Martyrdom of the Media (Ahmad Hamdan) As a result of air strikes that targeted residential neighborhoods in the town of # Hammourya"
  • Translation: "Ahmad al-Gemayel is a martyr in an air strike targeting Hamourya in Eastern Ghouta"

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
    14 – 15
  • (4 children3 women8 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2241

Incident date

May 16, 2017

Location

سوحا, Soha , Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.000015, 37.401581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 15 civilians were killed – and as many as 30 were wounded – following an airstrike on a bakery in Soha. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. All sources blamed Russia, except Syrian News Desk, which blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Sources reported that ten out of the 15 casualties were civilians who were working at the bakery early in the morning. 7al news added that the bakery alone was hit by two raids. However, overall up to seven strikes were reported in the vicinity.

@HamahNow reported that the causalities were “mostly women and children”. 

Tustar news calls the building that was struck by the raids Almayawimin, which out researchers believe was the name given to the bakery. 

Smart news reported that few other details were discovered from the incident.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

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

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between May 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS795

Incident date

May 11, 2016

Location

الشحيل, Al Shaheel, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0865, 40.45232 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians including four children died and up to 20 were injured in an airstrike on a health facility at Al Shaheel town, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that amid intensive raids on several areas in Deir ez-Zor, Russia carried out strikes targeting a clinic in Al Shaheel, leading to the death of 12 civilians.

LCCSY also believed the planes responsible to be Russian. It put the death toll at 11, naming the same victims as VDC (below) and one unidentified person.

Alaraby and All4Syria news also blamed Russia, but said that 15 people were killed and 20 others wounded. All4Syria also said that the raids had “destroyed the medical points in the village.”

In confused reporting, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently published a number of posts which referred to unidentified warplanes, then attributed the attack to Russia and finally said that the regime was responsible. It said that 11 non-combatants were killed – mostly women and children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not say who the planes belonged to, putting the number of fatalities at seven or more and 11 injured. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that government missiles were fired on a “dispensary” in the town, severely damaging it and rendering it inoperable.

The Violations Documentation Center named 12 victims of “warplane” shelling a

Alsharq Alarabi News also named Hasan Al-Mukhlaf Al-Halloum.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Krout al-Ahwal
Adult male killed
Atouseh Awad al-Khalaf al-Ahwal
Child female killed
Khalil Khalaf al-Ahwal
Child male killed
Awdeh Mohaisen al-Ahwal
Adult male killed
Majed Hasan al-Ahwal
Child male killed
Hasan al-Ahwal
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Samira Awad Hasan al-Khalaf
Child female killed
Mohammad Hosain al-Mekhlef al-Haloum
Adult male killed
Rifea al-Nizam
Adult female killed
Ahmad Aboud Hosain al-Hafi
Adult male killed
Ramadan Ahmad al-Baei
Adult male killed
Hasan al-Mor
Adult male killed
Hasan Al-Mukhlaf Al-Halloum
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (4 children7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–20
  • 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

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The death of the village of Deir al-Zour following a Russian raid and the bombing continues on Aleppo. (via akhbaralaan)
  • Warplanes target the medical centre in the city. (via Deir Ezzor)

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 strikes between May 1st – 31st

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (4 children7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–20
  • 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

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1263

Incident date

September 12, 2016

Location

معرة مصرين, Maarat Misreen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians (10 of whom were named) died and as many as 35 more were wounded in airstrikes on Maarat Misreen, local media reported. The majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the event – though there were also allegations against Russia.

Syria News Desk – who blamed Moscow – provided the most detail on the incident. It reported: “The death toll from Russian strikes on Maaret Misreen – which is under the control of the opposition – rose to 15 people, including children, with more than 35 wounded.

“The media opposition activist Ammar Hashim told Syria News Desk that the two raids targeted Corniche Road and the fuel market in the town. Bodies were burnt and there were amputations. The injured were taken to hospitals and medical points in the region by the civil defence. There was significant damage to property and the burning of dozens of cars”.

Sadaltwhed also blamed Russia, though put the death count at 11.

However, the majority of sources – including Alsouria, CDS, SMO and RFS – attributed the incident to the regime. Cluster bombs were reportedly used in the attacks.

There was some confused reporting from the Syrian Network for Human Rights: in an initial tweet, it alleged that Russia was responsible – but went on to accuse “government forces”.

A number of other sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, didn’t identify the culprit. The Observatory also put the death toll at 15, including”three from one family and four others from another family”.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee – who blamed “warplanes” – put the number killed at 13, and named 10 victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Al-Absi Badleh
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Bitar
Age unknown male killed
Taghreed Badleh
Age unknown killed
Hala Al-Khaled
Age unknown killed
Khiro Alolo
Age unknown killed
Samer Hamwi
Age unknown killed
Mahroos Al-Khaled
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Abdullah Nadaf Ibrahim Abdullah
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Mahroos Khaled
Age unknown male killed
Wasim Bitar
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–35
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets retrieve a body from the rubble in Maaret Misreen following alleged Regime or Russian shelling, Sept 12th (Youtube via CDS)
  • Footage of civilian casualties arriving at the Centre for Victim Rehabilitation in Maaret Misreen (Youtube via CDS)
  • A news report of the scene in Idlib city following destruction caused by suspected Russian or Regime warplanes, Sept 12th (Youtube via Jisrtv)
  • Dust and smoke rise above a street in Idlib city following the suspected Russian or Regime shelling on the area (Youtube via UAR)
  • Firefighters at work on the streets of Idlib city, local people look on at blazes. The impact of alleged Russian or Regime warplane shelling (Tweet via @syrian191124)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat Misreen (معرة مصرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.012172,36.673049. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–35
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]