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

RS180

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

العشارة‎, Ashara, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.92, 40.56 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian girl died “as a result of Russian bombing” at Ashara, according to Deir Ezzor Is Being Slaughtered and others.

The Violations Documentation Center named one woman or child as a victim of alleged shelling by Russian warplanes. It lists her as killed in Ashara, Deir Ezzor. Maha had previously been injured in an Assad regime strike on the town in September 2014.

Reporting for the event is confused, with Halab Today TV linking Maha’s death to another strike in Maskaneh in eastern Aleppo. According to the caption for that video, six people were killed in this second event. Additionally, more five fatalities published by names.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmed Khalaf Al-Melhem
Adult male killed
Bilal Aboud Hdid al A’kla
female Ahmed Khalaf Al-Melhem wife killed
Bassel Ahmed Sweileh Melhem
Adult male killed
Rimal Bashir Mohammed Alsatam 
female Bassel Ahmed Sweileh Melhem wife killed

The victims were named as:

Adult female named by VDC killed
Abdul Wahid al Shams al Saleh Al Sabti
Age unknown male a young male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (0–1 children2–3 women2–3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Ashara, NOv 20th (via The martyrs of the town of Al A’shara facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (0–1 children2–3 women2–3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS181

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

جب القبة, Jib al Qiba (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196949, 37.166987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Violations Documentation, one adult male civilian (listed as a 25-year-old teacher) was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Jeb el Kibba.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Alleged Russian warplanes launched a rocket on residential houses on Joub Al Kibba neighbourhood which killed an individual and injured not less than 6 others in addition to causing to destruction to several houses and buildings.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing a casualty following an alleged Russian airstrike on Jeb el Kibba, Nov 20th (via abo taim Alhalabi)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Jeb el Kibba, Nov 20th (via SNHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS170

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

ميدان الغزال, Maydan al Ghazal, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.4716451, 36.40131 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed when missiles were allegedly fired from Russian warships, hitting the village of Maydan Al Ghazal. One eyewitness filmed in the aftermath insists “this was caused by Russian ballistic missiles hitting shepherds and farmers living here. They are not terrorists and they’re not armed.”

The Syrian News Desk cited an FSA spokesman as sayng that the attack “caused the deaths of four civilians and wounding 10 others were taken to the nearby village medical point for treatment, in addition to the destruction of more than three houses.” Others placed the death toll at two.

Al Jazeera also reported that “the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its Caspian Sea fleet ships launched 18 ballistic missile on ‘sites for terrorists’ in Syria, and struck seven targets in the provinces of Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo. But opposition sources confirmed that they had killed and wounded civilians in Hama.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • a video the moment of the alleged Russian ballistic missile strikes on the village of Medan al-Ghazal in Jabal Shshabo in the northern countryside of Hama 20-11-2015 (via Mustafa Aburab)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit… 29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea.” No mention was made of Hama governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS171

Incident date

November 20, 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

Two civilians were killed in an alleged Russian bombing of the town of Kafr Zita, according to multiple sources.

Syria News Desk cited local media activist Abdel-Rahman al-Ali was saying that “Russian jets targeted three raids north side of Kafr Zita, killing two people and destroyed four houses.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Named by VDC killed
Adult male Named by VDC killed

Summary

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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A video: Russian warplanes bombard the town of Kfar Zeita in the countryside of Hama (via Mahmoud Hamwi)
  • One of the people reportedly killed in the strike (via VDC)
  • One of the people reportedly killed in the strike (via VDC)
  • an image at the moment of the airstrike (The Syrian Revolution in Kafr Zita facebook post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit… 29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea.” No mention was made of Hama governorate.

Summary

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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS172

Incident date

November 20, 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

Up to four children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Najieh, according to the Violations Documentation Center. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two children died.

the Violations Documentation Center (VDC) named two children victims of the strike and another two as unidentified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Haj Ali
Child male Named by VDC killed
Mustafa Haj Ali
Child male Named by VDC killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Tweet image of the children Ahmad & Mustafa Haj Ali died in regime warplanes missiles fired on Al Najiyeh in Idlib (via @france7776 tweet)
  • an image of Ahmad Haj Ali (via VDC)
  • Mustafa Haj Ali
  • an image of an unidentified child (via VDC)

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 reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit… 29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea.”

Media
from belligerent (3) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Haj Ali (via VDC)
  • Mustafa Haj Ali (via VDC)
  • Unidentified child (via VDC)

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS173

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

الزباري, Zubari, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.12003, 40.40713 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center reported that 25 non-combatants, including 13 women and one child, were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Zubari. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently also posted a video showing the moment of the attack which it blamed on ‘Russian aviation.’ Also, Free Deir Ezzor Broadcast claimed the attack involved Russian ballistic missiles, which “left more than 40 people dead and injured, all of them civilians, and the destruction of approximately 20 per cent of the townhouses completely and almost completely.”

However, Smart News and the Syrian Network blamed Assad regime aircraft, while local media activist Ahmad al Horani insisted the attack be by French aircraft working with the Coalition.

The Violations Documentation Center has named the 25 fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed

Family members (3)

Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed

Family members (5)

Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Adult female named by VDC killed
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Child male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25
  • (1 child13 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–40
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Deir al-Zubari: The moment Russian air strikes on the village of Mund Zaman (via Ahmed Ramdan)
  • an image of one of the victim (via All 4 Syria)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25
  • (1 child13 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–40
  • 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

RS174

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including two women and one child were reported killed in an airstrike on Al Buliyal.

While most sources blamed Russia, the Damascus Centre said that both regime attacks and Russian aircraft were responsible.

VDC later named five victims.

An additional male civilian fatality, the husband of Amira Muheisen al-Elkeh, has been died. Moreover, another girl by also named reportedly died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Khalaf al Milhem
Adult male husband of Amira Muheisen killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC injured

The victims were named as:

Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Maha Ghazi al A’bbad
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The second news summary 21/11/2015 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Buliyal (البوليل ), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.20253, 40.37126. 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 reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS176 CS148

Incident date

November 20, 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

A number of sources reported that an adult woman from Soran in Hama governorate was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah.

Violations Documentation has published the name & photo of the victim which as said he was killed due to the coalition air force’s shelling. 

In their January 2020 civilian casualty assessment, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Yasin Khaled al-Nouri (Picture courtesy of VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.949949, 39.007363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV007784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020
  • November 20, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2881/CS148 37SEV007784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition airstrikes were reported for Syria on November 19th-20th 2015.

CJTF-OIR confirmed that for November 20th-21st 2015, “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.“

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]