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

RS261

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian air raid on the village of al Baghouz in eastern Deir Ezzor led to at least three deaths including a child.

According to area blogger al Hussein al Hashimi “a raid on the village of al Baghouz targeting the home of Raheel al Majoul led to the death of Ibrahim al Majoul. His brother is in a serious condition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim al Majoul
Age unknown killed
Abu Kamal Majid Ibrahim or Majid Ibrahim al Raheel
13 years old male killed
Saber al Raheel
Age unknown killed
Raheel al Majoul
Age unknown male Brother of Ibrahim al Majoul, in a serious condition. injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abu Kamal Majid Ibrahim or Majid Ibrahim al Raheel, a child killed on 11th December 2015. (via, Deir ezzor is being slaughtered silently)
  • Moments after the village of al Baghouz is placed under attack. (via, Sheitat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the sheep market in the village of Al Baghouz (الباغوز), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.4641667, 40.9452778. 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

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS262

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed and another civilian injured in an alleged Russian airstrike at Hajeen.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News report on the event. (via, Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS260

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

الناجية, Najieh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7894815, 36.2177181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Violations Documentation Centre alleged that Russian warplanes carried out dawn airstrikes on Najieh village.

One adult male victim has been named by the VDC as Nabeil Shawa, who died “due to his wounds sustained by Russian air forces shelling of the town with cluster bombs.”

The village mosque was also badly damaged in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nabeil Shawa
Adult male "died due to his wounds sustained by Russian air forces shelling of the town with cluster bombs." killed

Summary

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

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Photographic evidence of the destruction caused. (via, Haroun al Zeir)
  • Images taken as the airstrike fell through the sky. (via, Jable News)
  • The inside of a Mosque after an airstrike in Najieh. (via, Al Najiegh Town)
  • This is the main square in Al Najieh village. (via, Sema tweet)
  • Nabil Shawwar, adult male, killed on December 11th 2015. (via, Al Najieh Town)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

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

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS258

Incident date

December 11, 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

Two adult male civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No additional details are presently known.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Mohammad Dabbag
Adult male One victim was ages 55 and the other 56. It is unclear as to which victim was what age. Named by VDC. killed
Waleed Masri
Adult male One victim was ages 55 and the other 56. It is unclear as to which victim was what age. Named by VDC. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS259

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

زغير, Zughayr, Deir Ez Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.503800, 40.015890 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven non-combatants were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Zughayr, according to the Shaam News Network and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the civilians died when an oil field was targeted by Russian warplanes. SNN put the death toll higher, at seven.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al-Wais
Age unknown Named by the VDC killed
Khodr al-Dahham
Age unknown Named by the VDC killed
Ameer al-Smayel
Age unknown Named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Zughayr (زغير), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.503800, 40.015890. 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

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS256

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.37425, 36.6033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One male child, Khaled Nihad al-Nuna , was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Zita, according to the Union of Hama Rebels and the Violations Documentation Centre.

Reporting remains confused, with multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita between December 9th and 12th which resulted in a likely total of six civilian deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Nihad al-Nuna
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A video showing the moment the alleged Russian airstrikes fell on Kafr Zita. (via, The Media Office for the revolution in Hama)
  • Image of the deceased Khaled Nihad al-Nuna. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS257

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

القصابية, Al Qassabiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4654453, 36.4964532 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and eight civilians including three children were killed and more than 20 injured in an airstrike on Al Qassabiya – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes struck a centre for bread distribution in the town and that survivors feared a repeat attack because warplanes were “still circling the skies of the town.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime.

Three victims were named by the VDC. They also reported one Unidentified male child.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Abdo al-Sheik
Child male killed
ٍSami Abdo al-Sami al-Sayed
Child male killed
Hussain Aamer Efarah
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of children killed by the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrikes. (via, The Youth of the Syrian Revolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic images of children killed in the airstrikes. (via, Baladi Media Network)
  • A graphic video of a decapitated casualty in Al Qassabiya. Was originally a video but it has now been removed. Only a screenshot remains. (via, Ala’ al Deen al Hamwi tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of a wounded child in a medical facility following a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Qassabiya (القصابية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.4654453, 36.4964532. 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

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS255

Incident date

December 10, 2015

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.383201, 37.565723 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman and her two children were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Violations Documentation Centre listed three unidentified non-combatants as killed in Russian shelling.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, however, blamed the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Baza’a, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.383201, 37.565723. 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

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]