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

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:

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

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]

Incident Code

RS315

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52815, 37.95495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Manbij, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

It named one adult male, Osama al-Halak, as killed due to “Russian airforce shelling in Manbij.” An additional male child, Mustafa Ghazal, is also listed as a victim of a Russian strike in Aleppo on December 25th, though no specific location is given.

The SHRC also named 27-year old Khalid Asaad Hussein from Al Saffira, noting “He died from his injuries from bombing by the Russian offensive on the city of Manbij.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child male killed
Khalid Asaad Hussein
27 years old male The SHRC named Hussein, who was from Al Saffira, “He died from his injuries from bombing by the Russian offensive on the city of Manbij.” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

Incident Code

RS316

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

حلب, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19949, 37.134479 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Islamic State-linked agency Al A’maq reported that 100 civilian trucks were destroyed in Russian airstrikes on the northern countryside – but did not give any details of casualties.

With no additional reports of such an attack for this date, this may instead relate to the December 24th event at Ihress.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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)

Child female likely to be brother and sister killed
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

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

RS311

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52777, 36.38582 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

20 civilians were reported killed and 50 injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hamouriya, according to the White Helmets and the Shaam News Network.

Activists told SNN that four Russian missiles caused severe explosions in residential neighbourhoods in the the town, causing widespread destruction. They put the initial death toll at more than 20 with more than 50 wounded.

SNN posted a White Helmets video showing the team evacuating survivors as fires blazed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets rescuing civilians from a burning building after an alleged Russian raid in Hamouriya. (via, White Helmets)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hamouriya (حمورية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.52777, 36.38582. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS312

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including three children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

The White Helmets published a number of videos showing them attending the scene, fighting a fire and rescuing an injured person from under the rubble.

One unidentified victim was also accounted for:

Unidentified – adult, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Child female killed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 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
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hassan Usama Ataya, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Provided by the VDC of Bushra Ahmad Ataya, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image provided by the VDC of Fatme Aadel al-Naem, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rabea Basheer al-Hashash, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yara al-Hasan, female child, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Arbeen, for which the generic coordinates are: 33.538143, 36.364331. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 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
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS308

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

الديرونة, Daironeh, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9452092, 36.2151003 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, Staif al-Wahban, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Daironeh, Hama, according to the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Human Rights Campaign.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Daironeh (الديرونة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.9452092, 36.2151003. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS309

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

احرص, Ahras, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4077699, 37.1453087 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven or more civilians including two children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Ihress.

Al Safira News reported “the death of two children and the injuring of more than 15 others, after more than 15 cars and trucks were bombed with cluster bombs which targeted a convoy of vehicles at a checkpoint between the rebel zones and other areas.”

While most reports only cited one child death, a video issued by Shaam News shows multiple strikes and a second unnamed child victim (pictured.) Halab News placed the death toll as high as 15, which it said included members of the al-Akhras family.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Child female killed
49 years old male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A video to show convoy trucks burning after being targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, Al Safria News Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Batoul Ahmad Hamida, a deceased baby, killed on 24th December 2015 by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • Ahmad Ali Yehya al-Shami, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ibraheem Asi, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of a raids as they fell onto buildings, and graphic images of deceased children almost immediately after. (via, SNN)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that airstrikes targeted several vehicles between Ahras and Harbul, Syria. After investigating visual material from sources, we narrowed this location down to a stretch of land near a checkpoint just north of Ahras, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4077699, 37.1453087. The strikes targeted at least four locations within this strip of land.

  • The first strike targeted a vehicle located between the two berms or soil barriers (features A and B)

    Imagery:
    Hussien Khatab

  • Note that feature E refers to a mosque south of the town of Harbul, while feature D refers to a dirt staging area for trucks preparing to enter a checkpoint, and feature C refers to the green field between the photographer and the trucks.

    Imagery:
    Hussien Khatab

  • Satellite imagery showing the features in the witness media.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite imagery showing exact locations of vehicles targeted in airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]