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

RS326 CS160

Incident date

December 27, 2015

Location

أخترين, Akhtarin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511585, 37.336593 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was reportedly killed by alleged Russian and Coalition warplanes in the residential neighbourhood of Akhtarin, Aleppo. However, there are disputed claims as to whether the raids were carried out by Russia or the Coalition.

LCCSY and Quasion News Agency both blamed the Coalition for the airstrikes – with Quasion noting that Russia was shelling parts of Aleppo in the same vicinity with vacuum missiles around the same time. They also claimed this was an IS controlled area and that there were “reports of deaths and injuries amongst Daash as a result of the international raids”. The Syrian News Press and multiple local sources do however blame Russia.

According to local sources –The village of Turkman Bareh, Akhtreen Facebook Page – dozens of women and children were also injured in the raid on residential homes. 

In their January 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Akhtarin (أخترين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511585, 37.336593. 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

Unknown Assessment:

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

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
    37SCA510420
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 27, 2015, in Akhtarin, 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. 2886/CS160 37SCA510420

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 26th-27th, the Colaition reported: "Near Manbij, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL weapons cache, and wounded ISIL fighters."

For December 27th-28th: "Near Manbij, eleven strikes struck seven separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL building, cratered two ISIL-used roads, and damaged an ISIL fighting position."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS318

Incident date

December 26, 2015

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including a child were reported killed in major alleged Russian air raids on Palmyra.

Revolution Palmyra reported as many as 60 strikes on the city by Russia, including with cluster munitions. It said the raids were concentrated as follows:

“- 10 air strikes on the city hospital which led to massive destruction

– 10 Raids on the Dr. Umayya building and surrounding homes in the central area.

– 12 airstrikes targeted a cultural center and the home of Dr. Mahmoud Bout which led to its almost complete collapse

– More Than 30 raids with cluster bombs on groves led to the outbreak of massive fires.

This led to the martyrdom of three people from the Aaborah family and the injuring of dozens.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mezyed al-Hasan al-Berri
Adult male killed
Khaleel Fnaikh al-Dwaish
Adult male killed
Mefleh Saad al-Radi
Adult male killed
Musab al-Ali Asaad Batman
Child named by Revolution Palmyra killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Musab al-Ali Asaad Batman, who was killed in an alleged Russian raid on 25th December 2015. (via, Palmyra Palmyra Today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS319 CS159

Incident date

December 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

The IS-linked agency Al A’maq posted a video showing destruction in the city following reported airstrikes

Local monitoring group Raqaa is Being Slaughtered suggested the attack may have been the work of the US-led Coalition: “Warplanes targeted with seven missiles on Friday night the area of February 23rd Street in Raqqa city center. This resulted in injuries and the loss of a number of civilians, as well as the destruction of shops. The strike coincided with intensive reconnaissance flights, and the sound of explosions in the northern rural areas were likely to have been raids by the international Coalition.”

Photos published on IS media showing the destruction caused in the area blames Russian ‘crusader’ planes for the strikes.

In its July 2017 report the Coalition said it had not conducted any strikes in the near vicinity, and classed the event as non credible: “Dec. 26, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Wife of Taj Khattab al Mattar
Adult female killed
Daughter of Taj Khattab al Mattar
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Massive damage to Raqqa's February 23rd Street following a Coalition or Russian airstrike. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered)
  • A photograph of some destroyed buildings in Raqqa. (via, Raqqa Post)
  • Destruction in the streets of Raqqa in the aftermath of the contested raid. (via, Raqqa Post)
  • Damaged infrastructure in Raqqa after a raid. (via, Raqqa Post)
  • A view of the aftermath of the raid. (via, Raqqa Post)
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
    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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m

Civilian casualty statements

Unknown
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • "Dec. 26, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties."

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For Dec 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, one strike [British] wounded an ISIL fighter."

For 26th-27th: " Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed three ISIL excavators, two ISIL bulldozers, and damaged an ISIL excavator."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Incident Code

RS320

Incident date

December 26, 2015

Location

الصناعية الشيخ نجار, Sheikh Najjar (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2691894, 37.2561836 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians including an 85-year old man were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sheikh Najjar.

SDU Syria said that “Russian warplanes have launched air strikes targeting residential neighborhoods in Sheikh Najjar City, which resulted in the deaths of five martyrs and dozens wounded.” The Syrian Observatory put the death toll at seven.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Faysal Nahhas Dibo
40 years old male killed
Mohammad Shokeh
85 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS321

Incident date

December 26, 2015

Location

الحيدرية, Haidariya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2372814, 37.1923256 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, a woman and child, were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the northern roundabout area in Al Haidariya .

The Syrian Observatory reported a number of unspecified casualties, while Halab News named the same woman and child killed as VDC, attributing their deaths to “a Russian Air Force bombing attack on Alhaidariya neighborhood in Aleppo.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Layla al-Mohammad
Adult female killed
Fares
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS322

Incident date

December 26, 2015

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.617076, 36.783132 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including four children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on a school in Jarjanaz, according to the Shaam News Network.

SNN reported that a Russian warplane launched four vacuum missiles on the gate of the Thee Qar school while students were leaving the premises to return to their homes. The Network said that there were a number of people at the gate at the time and that this led to the death of four students, four other non-combatants and the wounding of dozens more.

Activists told SNN the the death toll was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries.

Three victims including 2 unidentified male children were listed by the Violations Documentation Center.

Unidentified 1 – child, male

Unidentified 2 – child, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulla Khaled al-Yousef
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS313

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

حي باب قنسرين, Bab Qansreen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19432, 37.15575 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bab Qansreen, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Russian warplanes shelled the Bab Qansreen neighbourhood on December 25th, while the Shaam News Network posted a video by Aleppo Media Center showing the body of a child and a father crying over the dead body of his daughter.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Israa Mays
Child female likely to be brother and sister killed
Sameer Mays
Child male likely to be brother and sister killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a family grieving over the bodies of two children, likely to be brother and sister, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS314

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on A’zaz, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network reported that four Russian airstrikes struck the city.

Activists told SNN that the raids targeted a field hospital and a women’s and children’s hospital, causing severe damage and huge fires which the White Helmets attempted to extinguish. They stated that three civilians were killed, that the hospitals were put out of service and that there were other raids on non-combatants’ homes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named one young man, Nasser Abd Al H’alia, from the village of Dibssi Afnan, as killed in a Russian air raid that targeted the Aleppo countryside as he traveled to A’zaz and Bab Al Salama on business.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nasser Abd Al H’alia
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • A video of a children's hospital burning down after it was targeted by alleged Russians raids. (via, SNN)
  • The White Helmets extinguishing flames at a children's hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • 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]