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

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:

Sheikh Bassam Qabalan
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Khaled Mohammad Mobarak “al-Shakhtour”
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
Official source

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
Official source

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)

Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult male named by VDC killed
Mohammad Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult male named by VDC killed
Ahmad Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult male named by VDC killed
Saleh Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult male named by VDC killed
Ibraheem al-Dehesh
Adult male named by VDC killed
Iyman Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Fatemah Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Safeiah Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC
Muna Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Yusra Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Hanan Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Ayah Ammash al-Dehesh
Adult female named by VDC killed

Family members (3)

Hanan al-Merghel
Adult female named by VDC killed
Nadia al-Merghel
Adult female named by VDC killed
Shadiah al-Merghel
Adult female named by VDC killed

Family members (5)

Son of Hassan al-Mezel 1
Adult male named by VDC killed
Son of Hassan al-Mezel 2
Adult male named by VDC killed
Son of Abdullah al-Hlal 1
Adult male named by VDC killed
Son of Abdullah al-Hlal 2
Adult male named by VDC killed
Son of Abdullah al-Hlal 3
Adult male named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Husaynah
Adult female named by VDC killed
Hassan al-Merghel
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Dallah al-Hamad al-Hussain
Adult female named by VDC killed
Amshyeh al-Theiban
Adult female named by VDC killed
Majed Morei Hassan al-Abdulaziz
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
Official source

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
Amirah Muheisen al-Elkeh
Adult female named by VDC killed
Belal Aboud Hadeed al-Elkeh
Adult male named by VDC injured

The victims were named as:

Abdulwahed Shams al-Rahhal
Adult male named by VDC killed
Bassel Ahmad Souileh al-Melhem
Adult male named by VDC killed
Remal Basheir al-Sattam
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
Official source

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:

Yasin Khaled al Nour
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]

Incident Code

RS177

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadeen, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.01982, 40.45154 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Violations Documentation Center one adult male civilian and one woman or girl were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Mayadeen.

Local media activist Hussein al Ahmad reported that “One of them targeted Al Quds mosque in the town which led to its destruction.” Photos show a severely damaged building.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manhal al-Badawi
Adult male named by VDC killed
Areej al-Najem
Adult female named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (0–1 children0–1 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A picture of the aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on Mayadeen, Nov 20th (via Syria 24)
  • The body of a man killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mayadeen Nov 20th (via All4Syria)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mayadeen, Nov 2oth (via All 4 Syria)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    2
  • (0–1 children0–1 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS178

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

مرعيان, Mareian, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.74032, 36.56406 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four children were among up to five civilians reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mareian, according to the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The Network stated that two rockets fell on the town and that two houses were completely destroyed. Jisr TV placed the death toll at five, blaming the attack on Russian missiles fired from Lattakia.

Smart News interviewed an unnamed resident shortly after the attack, who stated: “Since this morning the regime, or Russia and the Assad regime, started targeting various villages in al-Zawiya mountain and according to residents they were ballistic missiles. Whether fired from boats or by planes we don’t know. In our village, two missiles fell which led to the complete destruction of three houses and caused a number of martyrs and injured. Everyone watched the missile flying 200 meters overhead before it fell.“

The VDC has named the victims.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Lamyaa Ahmad Khuzam
Child female Named by VDC killed
Abdo Hsain Khuzam
Child male Named by VDC killed
Ahmad Mohammad Khuzam
Child male Named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Hsain Ahmad
Child male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The Syrian Network for Human Rights gathered fragments from missiles allegedly fired by alleged Russian warplanes on Mareian, November 20th (via SNHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    4 – 5
  • (4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS149 RS175

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.32887, 40.12997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center listed five non-combatants, including two women and one child, as killed in an alleged Russian or Coalition airstrike near Al Bukamal. At least two of those killed were said to work for the local electricity company, who died when an oil tank was targeted.

VDC named two male victims and additionally they listed three unidentified victims – 2 women and a male child.

The Syrian Observatory also reported a man and child killed.

The United States later said it was responsible, noting a year later that “near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that five civilians were killed and three individuals were injured after the civilians entered the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Marwan Ali al-Hamed
Adult male VDC lists him as having died following a 'heart attack caused by the Russian air forces shelling' killed
Kheder Dahham al-Hamdan
Adult male VDC lists him as having been killed in Sukarieh: Al Bukamal due to 'Russian air forces shelling' killed
The wife of Abdul Qader Ibrahim Alkadawi
Adult female pregnant listed as having been killed along with her twin fetuses killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • @DeirEzzor24 tweets a photo of the alleged Russian raids on al Mayadeen on 20/11/2015
  • tweet reporting death of two employees of the electricity company following an air raid that targeted a fuel tank near the company. [Via: ahraralmayadein]
  • Tweet reporting dead and wounded among employees in the electricity company in the town of al Boukamal following alleged coalition raids. [Via: @JisrTV]
  • Tweet reporting Russian raids on al Sukariya neighbourhood in al Boukamal and on the town of Hatla Tahtani. [Via: @Syria_Rebels]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 34.466049, 40.907593

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV027101
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • November 20, 2015, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that five civilians were killed and three individuals were injured after the civilians entered the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed in its November 20th-21st reports to attacking the city that day: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike struck an ISIL crude oil collection point.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    5
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]