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

RS239

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

المغيرية, Mughayriyah, Latakia, Syria

Geolocation

35.6774723, 36.1815729 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed and several others injured, including women and children, when Russian warplanes allegedly “launched scores of strikes on residential areas”, according to the Shaam News Network.

No further details are available at the present time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 Mughayriyah (المغيرية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.6774723, 36.1815729. 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 has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS240

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

حي السكري, Al Sukkari, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were reported killed and 10 injured in an airstrike on the Al Sukkari neighbourhood, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes were responsible for the raid after a vacuum missile caused the collapse of an entire building.

The White Helmets also put the death toll at five, and said that they had managed to rescue 10 people from under the rubble. However they did not attribute responsibility for the raid.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that regime missiles were responsible, claiming five lives.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attempt to rescue survivors from an alleged Russian or regime raid on Al Sukkari, December 7th. (via, White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets amidst a rescue operation following a contested airstrike. (via, White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS241

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

الهلك, Huluk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two women and two children were killed – and dozens injured – in an alleged Russian airstrike targeting Al Huluk School, Aleppo, according to the Shaam News Network.

The White Helmets reported that four dead bodies were recovered from the rubble and that 10 injured people were rescued. It said that among the dozens of wounded were many students, as the bombing occurred during school hours. Al Jazeera interviewed witnesses in Aleppo who said an aid station at the school was bombed.

Four victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center. They also noted one Unidentified male child

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Hameed Sultan
Adult male killed
Bilal Mahmoud
Child male killed
Sahar Ghazal al-Hamwi
Adult female killed
Fatme Ahmad al-Jasem
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets work to remove victims from an alleged Russian strike on Al Hulluk, Dec 7th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets reported that they removed four dead bodies and rescued 10 injured civilians following the alleged Russian strike on Al Hulluk, Dec 7th (via White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS238

Incident date

December 7, 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

Three related civilians including two women were killed in a pair of airstrikes on Najieh village, according to the Violations Documentation Centre and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. One source claimed an additional two people died.

The Syrian Network blamed the regime for the attack, while the VDC and Idlib Civil Defence said the civilians died due to attacks by Russian warplanes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Hsain Sami Shawar
Adult male killed
Wife of Hsain Sami Shawar
Adult female killed
Wife of Hasan Shawar
Adult female killed
Nabeil Shawar
Age unknown male VDC claims he died from his wounds.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 women1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Father cries over his injured child who became one of the victims of a contested airstrike. (via, JISRTV tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of Najieh. (via, Event Coast News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Najieh (الناجية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7894815, 36.2177181. 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 has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 women1 man)
  • 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

RS236

Incident date

December 7, 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

The Union of Hama Rebels reported that five people were killed in Hama but did not state whether they were civilians. It added that one of those killed was “documented in secret” and named him as Ahmad Mohammad Al Abboud, who died “as a result of Russian bombing on Kafr Zita in Hama countryside.

No further details are known at the present time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mohammad Al Abboud
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafr Zita (كفر زيتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.37425, 36.6033. 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 has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS237

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.252649, 37.079115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians including three children and one woman were reported killed and nine to 24 wounded in airstrikes on Kafr Hamra, according to multiple sources. According to Shahed Ayan there were two strikes, with both killing civilians.

It remains unclear who was responsible for the raid, with conflicting reports. Some claimed the regime was responsible, others that Russian warplanes targeted the area, or could not positively attribute responsibility.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes claimed the lives of 10 non-combatants and injured dozens more. The network posted an image of three siblings who died in the event. According to SNN: “The neighborhoods and cities and towns of Aleppo and its countryside have had rotten and terrifying days, where Russian aircraft haven’t left the skies, they were seen flying in swarms, ahead of launching hundreds of raids on various areas of the province, especially on the southern and northern countryside.”

Seven victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center, who along with the Media Office for Kafr Humra and Shaam News also stated that the civilians died as a result of Russian strikes on the city.

A number of videos and images were posted by the White Helmets who worked to remove bodies from the rubble and posted several videos showing bodies being salvaged, including an image of a child around 5 months old being removed from the ruins. They reported that seven non-combatants died and 15 others were wounded 15 others, but did not attribute responsibility.

Media activist Ibrahim Omar posted a video depicting the aftermath of the alleged attack, including images of dead bodies and injured adults and children but only stated that Kafr Humra was “targeted by highly explosive missiles“, not who was fired them.

In contrast the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the attack, which it said killed seven civilians including one woman, was allegedly by regime warplanes who fired missiles near a mosque “causing a massacre” and “severely damaging it”.

The seven victims named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdulla Ramadan
Adult male killed
Hamdo Ramadan
Adult male killed
Raed Ramadan
Adult male killed
Aamer Ramadan 
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Mohammad Salem al-Mahmoud
Adult male killed
Mohammad Sami al-Mahmoud
Adult male killed

Family members (3)

Abdul Jaleel
Child Siblings were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed
Hala
Child Siblings were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed
Yasser Yasser Al Mahmoud
Child Siblings were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed

The victims were named as:

Hasan Ahmad al-Khateeb
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Three siblings allegedly killed in the Russian strike on Kafr Hamra, December 7th 2015. (via SNN)
  • Scenes of injured children. (via, Ibrahim Omar)
  • The moment the missiles fell down on Kafr Hamra. (via, Media Office of Kafr Hamra)
  • The scale of the destruction to the local infrastructure following missiles which rained down on Kafr Hamra. (via, Media Office in Kafra Hamra)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS234

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians were reported killed – including 6 to 7 children and 2 women – and about 40 injured in an alleged Russian airstrike with vacuum missiles on Zamalka, according to multiple sources.

Al Jazeera reported that 12 civilians including two children died in the attack, while All4Syria said nearly 50 non-combatants died or were injured when four rockets were fired on Zamalka, stating that most of the casualties were women and children. It also said  activists who documented the alleged attack were unable to identify all of the dead because so many bodies were torn apart in the raid, with parents finding four decapitated children.

An All4Syria.info report added that the White Helmets moved the wounded to medical points in the region, while other medical sources suggested that the death toll increased because of the limited resources of the medical points.

The White Helmets themselves said they had spent nearly four hours attending the site and found the body of a woman under the rubble of buildings in a residential area, while another body was found on one of the roofs of surrounding buildings. They also reported that a child died as a result on injuries, putting the death toll at 16.

The Shaam News Network also put the death toll at 16 after a residential area was targeted. Like All4Syria.info, they stated that many of the bodies were unrecognisable, concluding that “this has always been the city similar to the bombing amid reports targeting popular market and the fall of the martyrs and the wounded.”

The victims have been named by VDC and Syria 2011.

Two unidentified victims were also listed:

Unidentified 1 – adult, male

Unidentified 2 – adult, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Fadi Basel Harata
Child male killed
Saleh Harata
Child male killed
Mohammad Harata
Child male killed
Basel Harata
Adult male killed
Basima Harata
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Samer Nizar al-Baghdadi
Child male killed
Aamer Nizar al-Baghdadi
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Zain Adnan al-Otri
Adult male killed
Adnan Ahmad al-Otri
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Hala al-Rhayem
Child female killed
Bassam al-Rahim
Adult male killed
Hassan Kbara
Adult male killed
Kamel al-Ghosh
Adult male killed
Qamara or Amra al-Ajhar
Adult female killed
Nizar al-Baghdadi
Adult male killed
Kamra Al Ajhar
Age unknown killed
Bassila Hrata
Age unknown female [“Her body was recovered from under the rubble this morning.”] killed
Mohammad Majed Kbara
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 20
  • (7 children3 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets pulling a dead child out of the rubble, 6 December 2015. (via, SNN)
  • The immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike on Zamalka. (via, White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 20
  • (7 children3 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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

RS232

Incident date

December 6, 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

15 civilians including eight children and five women were reportedly killed and 25 injured when Russian warplanes allegedly bombed the city of Raqqa, according to multiple sources.

Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered said non-combatants were killed in the agricultural fields west of the city in Al Kahtaniya farm and at the crossroads of Hitteen farm.

The Daesh-linked news agency Al A’maq reported the same casualty figures as Raqqa is Being Slaughtered and said the Russian raids targeted the edge of the city. Shaam News Network also reported on the alleged incident, but referred to the Al A’maq report.

The Network stated: “After a lull for a few days, Raqqa is again facing all sorts of planes. The Russian enemy started a new series of raids on the city, targeting a number of areas within the city, causing extensive damage to residential buildings and killing 15 martyrs among civilians, while Daesh did not announce targeted places or those killed in the ranks of the organization. Activists said that the targeting was on various locations, Al Ta’la’e camp and Al Fouroussiya on the edges of town, areas used by IS in the past.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (8 children5 women)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on farmland on the outskirts of Raqqa, Dec 6th (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (8 children5 women)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]