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

RS3588

Incident date

February 16, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A continuation of artillery shelling on the residential neighbourhood of Khan Sheikhoun meant that between two and 16 civilians were killed, and six or more were wounded, following another “massacre” on the 15th of February.

Sources were conflicted as too who was to blame. Most attributed blame the Syrian regime, however, some also blamed Russia.

Smart News reported the lowest death toll of two civilians, they also attributed blame to Russian warplanes. LCCSY later reported that the death toll had risen to six. The highest death toll was reported by Alaray who claimed there were 16 civilian deaths including eight children.

JisirTV reported that cluster bombs were used in the artillery strikes. Local media also reported that up tp 25 rockets, and three cluster bombs were used in the raids, causing much material damage. Syrian Civil Defence reported that the vicinity was struck with “30 rocket-propelled grenades”.

Shells marked “made with Egypt” were once again discovered in the vicinity in the aftermath of the raid.

One source reported that in both Khan Sheikhoun and Maara al-Nu’man, “A new massacre today in the countryside of Idlib killed 10 martyrs, four women, three children and two men, and 33 injured, 11 children and four women and 19 men”.

White Helmets worked to rescue the injured, recover the bodies of the dead, and inspect the target sites and secure them. Some of the wounded had to be amputated due to the severity of the artillery injures.

According to France24, 18 civilians were killed in the 48 hour period.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Lina Khaled Sarmani لينا خالد السرماني
Adult female Wife of Mohammad Abdalla killed
Bakri Ahmed Sarmeni بكري احمد السرماني
Child killed
Ahmed Adnan Al Mouhsen احمد عدنان المحسن
Child male killed
Iyad al-Mulhim إياد الملحم‬⁩
Child killed
Mustafa Junaid Al - Rahmon مصطفى جنيد الرحمون
Adult male killed
Wife of Mustafa Junaid Al - Rahmon زوجة مصطفى جنيد الرحمون
Adult female killed
Rawda Al Rahmon روضة الرحمون
Age unknown killed
Aisha Al Rahmon عائشة الرحمون
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 16
  • (3–8 children4–7 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–17
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmad Adnan al Muhsen, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • Children injured in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • Iyad al-Mulhim, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via Hamah Now)
  • Bakri Ahmad Al Sarmini, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_ )

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_ )

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is buried in tehe aftermath of an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • An artillery bombardement on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via Lens khan Sheikhoun)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the female victims of the artillery bombardement on Khan Sheikhoun (possibly Lina Khaled Al Sirmani), 16th February 2019. (via Lens khan Sheikhoun)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SyriaCivilDefense)
  • Remnants of a shell fired onto Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. Writing reads, "made in Egypt". (via Al Sharq News)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via YeniSafakArabic)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via YeniSafakArabic)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • Translation: "#Khan_Sheikhoun" (via @mahmoudalbakor1).
  • Children were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Khan Sheikhoun on February 15th, 2019 (via @mahmoudalbakor1).

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 16
  • (3–8 children4–7 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–17
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS225

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

كقر بطنا, Kafr Batnah, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.513015, 36.374424 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 non-combatants including 3 to 6 children were reported killed, and dozens injured, in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Kafr Batnah according to reports by the Shaam News Network and others.

SNN said Russian warplanes launched rockets on the main square in the town. It added that the planes returned to carry out more strikes when paramedics arrived on the scene.

A graphic video posted by SNN shows a burning car, and a voice off camera said that there were six children in the vehicle.

While most sources blamed Russia, the VDC said the Assad regime was responsible for 15 deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Firas Abdulhay
Child male killed
From Abdulhay Family
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Kheir Ashoush
Adult male killed
Omar Ghuzlani
Adult male killed
Muhi al-Dein Antar
Adult male killed
Muhi al-Dein Makawi
Adult male killed
Subhi Sadeih
Adult male killed
Ahmad Balour
Adult male killed
Abdulrahman Mando
Adult male killed
Ahmad Saqan
Adult male killed
Layla al-Aqad
Adult female killed
Ola Haytham Darweish
Child female killed
Mohammad Ali Tah
Adult male killed
Rafiqah Dabaan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (3–6 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic video showing a burning car with children trapped inside. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in a medical facility following a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Injured child following an airstrike in Kafr Batnah. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Some victims of a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More victims of Kafr Batnah. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young boy injured after an airstrike on his neighbourhood. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child in a medial facility in Kafr Batnah. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim. The image also shows the scale of damage to the local infrastructure. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim still in the rubble of a destroyed building. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More images documenting the destruction to the local infrastructure. (via, SNN)
  • A man carrying an injured child. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the airstrikes on 4th December 2015. (via,SNN)
  • Local civilians carrying an injured child into an ambulance. (via, SNN)
  • A local market destroyed. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (3–6 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2087

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

حيش, Heesh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.549065, 36.644537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 civilians were killed and six others wounded following an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, according to local media sources – though it is not clear who was responsible for the event. Whilst most sources attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes, some mentioned Assad’s regime and others didn’t positively identify a belligerent.

Smart News, who placed the death toll at 16, blamed Russia for the attack, reporting: “Sixteen civilians, including children and women, were killed and wounded Friday [April 7th] when a Russian air force bombed the town of Heesh, 55 km south of Idlib, north Syria”.

Idlib Media Centre, however, had a more conservative figure and placed the death toll at nine civilian casualties. It also attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes who had used vacuum missiles.

The only health centre that provides free care in the town was struck in the raid, according to a correspondent for RFS Media, who also attributed responsibility for the event to Assad’s regime.

Anatolia News Agency were quoted in many of our sources saying that many of those killed and injured in this attack were displaced from other towns in Idlib and Hama.

The Civil Defence reported that of the six wounded in the attack, there were two women and one child.

There was some confusion over the time of the attack. Of the sources that suggested a time of day, those who placed responsibility for the event with Russia reported that it happened at dawn, whilst those who said that it was Assad’s regime reported that it was a night-time attack. It was therefore not clear whether these were two separate incidents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Hamdou Ibrahim
Adult male killed
Hamdo Ibrahim Abu Abdo
Adult male killed
Mohammed Nasser
Child male killed
Manar Nasser
Adult female Wife of Basil Nasser killed
Makiya Hussein
Adult female killed
Majd al-Hassoun
Adult female Wife of Hamdu Abu Abu killed
Sarah Hamsho
Adult female killed
Talin Basil Nasser
Child female killed
Mohammed Taym Basel al-Merei
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • (2 children5 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7 April 2017 (Via: Smo-sy)
  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7th April 2017. (Via: Shaam News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: The Syrian Civil Defense in Heesh, Idlib rescued the children from the rubble of their homes.
  • Translation: A warplane commits a massacre in the town of Heesh in Idlib
  • Jisr TV.
  • The aftermath of an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017 (Via: All4Syria)
  • Up to 16 civilians were killed in a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7th April 2017. (Via:All4Syria)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The rescue operations after a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017 (Via: SyrianPC)
  • The damage from an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017. (Via: RFS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Al-Assad and Putin planes kill more civilians, killing 9 civilians, including children, in the town of Heesh
  • Translation: A renewed Russian shelling on the countryside of Idlib - signs of a massacre in Heesh

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 April 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
    9 – 16
  • (2 children5 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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

R2475

Incident date

October 12, 2017

Location

صبيخان, Sabikhan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.85305, 40.59987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between nine and 16 civilians, possibly including a child and women, were killed and as many as “dozens” more were left wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes striking in Sabikhan, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

@olay6663 reported that the village had been subject to “intensive raids since early morning,” and most sources reported that the raids had caused the death of nine civilians, while several put the death toll as high as 12 or 16.

Also, Jsirtv described how “16 civilians, including a whole family, were killed by two air raids by the Russian occupation forces in the town of Sabikhan and the river crossing in the village of Abbas.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (9) [ 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 strikes between October 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3872

Incident date

July 5, 2019

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

14 to 17 civilians were reported killed, and 20 to 24 injured, in airstrikes on Mhambel, Idlib, on July 5th.

Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that “at least 16 civilians, including ten children and four women, were killed in an intensive aerial attack by Syrian regime forces using missiles and barrel bombs on several areas in Mhambel town in Idlib governorate western suburbs, on July 5th.”

Meanwhile, Step News Agency cited “more than seven civilians killed and a number wounded, including children and women.” A number of sources referred to “dozens wounded,” while @SyrianCoaliton documented 20 injured.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the children Arij, Saher and Samer Abdul Qader Abdul Aal were killed, along with their father and their mother Yasmin Taher Hafyan, as Syrian regime forces dropped barrel bombs on west of Mhambel town in Idlib governorate western suburbs, causing a massacre, on July 5th.”

According to this source, a doctor was also killed the airstrike, named ‘Mohammad Badr Abdul Baqi’, who succumbed to his wounds on July 8th.

@SyrianCoalition also reported that “the shelling caused fires and the destruction of homes and property, forcing large numbers of people to flee.”

Eleven sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, while seven others did not positively attribute blame. Two sources named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident.

Local resources identified 14 of the victims while there are four unidentified yet. Resala post said they are “Unidentified woman lives in the house of Mohammad Adel Al-Sa’eed and her two children, in addition to a child from Morek who lives in the house of Malek Rahhal.”

@so_ria98 said that two of the families killed are IDPs from Eastern Ghouta.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Samer Abdul Qader Abdul Aal سامر محمد عبد العال
Child male killed
Saher Abdul Qader Abdul Aal ساهر محمد عبد العال
Child male killed
Arij Abdul Qader Abdul Aal أريج محمد عبد العال
Child female killed
Yasmin Taher Hafyan ياسمين طاهر حفيان
Adult female Wife of Mohammad Abdel Aal and mother of the children killed
Abdel Qader Mahmoud Abd Al Al عبد القادر محمود عبد العال
male killed
Anwar Mustafa Abd Al Al أنور مصطفى عبد العال
male killed

Family members (4)

Mohammad Badr Abdul Baqi محمد بدر عبد الباقي
male Doctor killed
Nuzha Abdel-Baqi نزهة عبد الباقي
Abd Al-Hafiz Abd Al-Baqi عبد الحافظ عبد الباقي
Child male killed
Mustafa Abdel-Baqi مصطفى عبد الباقي
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Bashira Taher Hfyan بشيرة طاهرحفيان
Adult male Wife of Hazem Al-Khaled killed
Abd al-Rahman Hazim al-Khaled عبد الرحمن حازم الخالد
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Hamada Ragheed Al-Ibrahim حمادة رغيد الإبراهيم
Child male killed
Ahmad Ragheed Al-Ibrahim أحمد رغيد الإبراهيم
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 17
  • (9–10 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (46) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image Caption translation: "A man presents his relatives, including his mother, with a last look after the planes of the Assad regime carried out a massacre that left 14 people dead in the town of Mhambel in the western suburb of Idlib last night." (via Step News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption: "The ascension of 13 martyrs in the massacre of Mhambal yesterday, mostly children" (via @abuhuzaifa_)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption Translation: "13 martyrs, including seven children and three women and wounding 20 others, after warplanes and helicopters bombard the neighborhoods of Mhambel in the village of Idlib yesterday evening. The victims are displaced from the countryside of Hama and forcibly displaced from Damascus, in addition to the people of the town." (via Syria Civil Defense) ,

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption: "at least 16 civilians, including ten children and four women, were killed in an intensive aerial attack by Syrian regime forces using missiles and barrel bombs on several areas in Mhambel town in Idlib governorate western suburbs, on July 5th" (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The children Arij, Saher and Samer Abdul Qader Abdul Aal were killed along with their father and their mother Yasmin Taher Hafyan(via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • A man visiting his house after the regime's warplanes bombed the town of Muhambel, west of Idlib - July 6, 2019 (Via Enab Baladi)
  • Destruction in Muhambel after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 5th, 2019. (via SHRC)
  • Destruction in Muhambel after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 5th, 2019. (via SHRC)
  • A man from Muhambel looking at the bodies of his family members killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 5th, 2019. (via SCD).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of civilians inside a field hospital with ice blocks on Saturday, July 6, 2019, where 15 civilians were killed, including children and women, and 20 others were injured by the bombing of warplanes and helicopters of the Syrian regime on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)
  • A family stands in front of the destruction of civilian homes as a result of the bombing where 15 civilians, including children and women, were killed and 20 others were injured by the bombing of warplanes and helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country on July 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest).
  • A woman stands in front of a destroyed house as a result of shelling by warplanes and helicopters of the Syrian regime on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man with special needs is standing in a field hospital front of the corpses of civilians killed as a result of Syrian regime warplanes and helicopters on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country on July 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 17
  • (9–10 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (46) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1080

Incident date

August 1, 2016

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than 10 civilians were killed in alleged airstrikes in Abu al Duhur, close to the location of a downed Russian warplane, according to multiple sources. Reports are conflicted as to whether Russian or Assad regime forces were responsible for the deaths.

Syria Newsdesk reported that “Russian warplanes targeted with more than 30 raids the location where a Russian helicopter was downed in eastern Idlib and the villages of southern Aleppo, which led to the deaths of civilians and wounding of others, amid attempts by civil defence to remove victims trapped under the rubble.”

Halab Today also blamed Russia for the incident, but reported “more than three raids.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also spoke of “intensive raids carried out by a Russian warplane in the Abu al-Duhur area in the eastern countryside of Idlib.” It reported that at least 12 citizens were killed, including two children and two female citizens, one of them an old woman, with others injured.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian aggression planes poured their anger on civilians”. It spoke of “many violent air strikes” in the villages close to the crash site of the Russian helicopter. Activists told the network that the raids killed at least ten people and left dozens wounded.

The LCCSY also put the death toll at ten and said that “more than 20 were injured due to Russian airstrikes with vacuum missiles and cluster bombs”. In a later post it stated that 16 people were “killed in the battle breaking the siege on Aleppo and by the Russian airstrikes on the village of ‪#‎abu_zohour‬”. In a third post, the LCCSY restated that the raids were carried out by Russia in the area where a Russian helicopter was downed and the five-member crew was killed.

Syria News Desk also reported the incident and spoke of “more than 30 raids killing at least nine civilians and wounding more than 25 others”.

The Violations Documentation Center listed five civilians and said they were killed by ‘Russian troops’, including an unnamed female child, and an unidentified male child.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights mentioned the incident, however blaming“government warplanes and its allies”. It reported “government forces shelling on Tal Al Toqan town and its neighbouring villages in the suburbs of Idlib governorate” and put the death toll at 13.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Eid Elaiwi al-Hamadi
Adult male killed
Abd al-Naser al-Assaf
Adult male killed
Baeir Ibraheem al-Mohammad
Adult male killed
Daughter of Riad Makeen
Child female named by VDC killed
Jassim Mohammed Khalif
28 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Bair Ibrahim Al-Mohammad
65 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Riad Makain Almthan
5 years old female named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Hassan Hussein Seikho
30 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
An anonymous martyr
15 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Anwar Mohammed Juma
70 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Muhammad Ali Owaid
70 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Fateem Mohammed Al Jassim
60 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Ayat Mohammed Ghajar Fateem
Child female named by abu.adduhur.mc killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (4 children2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Abu Adh Dhuhur, Aug 1st (via Orient)
  • An injured man is rescued from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Ara News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Deceased civilians are covered. (via, Smart News)
  • The exact moment the raids hit. (via, All4Syria)
  • The immediate aftermath of the incident in Abu al Dahur. (via, Alaraby News)

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (4 children2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS759 RS2209

Incident date

April 30, 2017

Location

عويجل, Oweijal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.179537, 36.952987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 16 civilians died and four were injured in an “unexplained” explosion in the village of Oweijal, local media said – though it was unclear whether the Coalition, the Syrian regime or Russia were to blame. Most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the strikes.

An unspecific numbers of civilians were wounded, however it was reported that the number of civilians were likely to rise due to the types of injuries.

According to the Smart News Agency, “the head of the Civil Defence in the western Aleppo countryside, Mohamed Halaq, said that the blast caused the collapse of a three-storey building on Sunday evening, killing 16 civilians, including nine children and four women, in addition to wounding for more, who rushed to a nearby field hospital.

“Halaq pointed out that they could not determine the cause of the explosion, but that it was likely the result of an international coalition raid or a missile explosion from a previous bombardment of the village.”

However, a subsequent report by Smart pointed towards the Assad regime and Russia, saying that “the Civil Defence thinks the explosion could have resulted from the remnants of previous raids by the regime and Russia.”

Radio Allkul blamed a regime surface to surface missile citing Abu al-Leith, the director of the local Civil Defence. Shaam News Network and Baladi also attributed the event to the regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that “information about the reasons of the explosion was conflicted as to whether it was caused by the explosion of an ammunition dump, or by shelling by regime forces using what was believed to be a ground-to-ground missile.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 16
  • (4–9 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a victim is pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of an airstrike on Oweijel, 30th April 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Oweijel, 30th April 2017. (via Shaam)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Oweijel, 30th April 2017. (via Halabtoday)
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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has not publicly reported any strikes in Aleppo governorate for April 30th-May 2nd.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 16
  • (4–9 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2427

Incident date

September 11, 2017

Location

مخيم الحوادي, al-Hawadi Camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.501347, 40.021305 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian warplanes allegedly bombed the al-Hawadi camp for displaced persons in the town of Zaghir Shamiya in Deir Ezzor, killing between eight and 16 civilians on September 11th 2017. Women and children were among the slain.

The initial bombs struck the tent of the Jassem al-Ahdi family, killing all members of the family, including four children and a woman, reported Deir Ezzor 24. A Horrya correspondent added that ‘one person from another family’ was also killed as part of this massacre.

Nine of the victims were identified by name by both Euphrates Post and Deir Ezzor 24. Other sources, including the Syrian Obsrevatory for Human Rights, claimed that 16 people had been killed in total. Reporters pointed out that that death toll increased after the initial strikes because of the seriousness of injuries caused by the bombing and the poor medical services in the region.

Alquds reported that Deir Ezzor was simultaneuously the scene of two military operations – ‘the first led by the Syrian regime forces with Russian support in the city of Deir Ezzor and western villages, and the second launched by the forces of Syria’s democratic Kurdish and Arab factions supported by the International Coalition against jihadis in the eastern countryside.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Jassem Al-Hadi
Age unknown male killed
Hassan al-Jassim Al Hadi
Age unknown male killed
Bushra Al Jassem al Hadi
Age unknown female killed
Abdullah Al-Jassim Al-Hadi
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Nour Al - Jassim Al -Hadi
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Atallah Al-Jassim
Age unknown male killed
Ammar Al-Hussein Al-Mousa Al Hadi
Age unknown male killed
Fatumah al-Ahmad
Age unknown female killed
Hussein Mousa al-Hadi
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Turki Mahmood Al-Mushahada
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 16
  • (4–5 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Russian air strikes in support of a separate Syrian government offensive against IS killed 16 civilians, including five children, northwest of Deir Ezzor. (via The Peninsula)
  • Hussein Mousa al-Hadi died of wounds sustained in the airstrikes on the town of Zaghir Shamiya. (via Euphrates Post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 16
  • (4–5 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]