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

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

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
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 – 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:

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

RS169

Incident date

November 19, 2015

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fourteen or more non-combatants were killed and dozens injured in the shelling of Eastern Ghouta.

Since the attack reportedly involved both airstrikes including cluster munitions (by either Russian or Assad regime aircraft), as well as ground artillery fire from pro-government forces, attribution for the deaths remains unclear.

According to SNN, the “‘Sharia public body’ in eastern Ghouta announced the cancellation of Friday prayers in all the mosques of the city due to the violent bombardment the city is suffering and to preserve the lives of Muslims.

“Despite news of the agreement of a truce between Assad forces and rebels in eastern Ghouta as a goodwill gesture, the city suffered heavy shelling with all types of weapons, rockets from Assad forces on Thursday, in addition to several raids by  Russian aircraft.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghaleb al-Baghdadi
Adult male killed
Yousef Smoad
Adult male killed
Baraa Hasaba
Child female killed
Mohammad Taha al-Lamdani
Adult male killed
Yasser Hasan Abdul Aal
Adult male killed
Abo Khaled Nsair
Adult male killed
Lukman al-Sleek
Adult female killed
Mohammad Jamal Basheir al-Derra
Adult male killed
Qamar Killis
Adult female killed
Rabea Killis
Adult female killed
Rayan Yehya Merjan
Child female young girl who died from injuries sustained a few days previously “due to the Russian air forces shelling.” killed
Bashar Krenbe
Adult male killed
Mohammad Nour al-Sayed Hasan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (3 children2 women7–9 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Rayan Yehya Merjan (via VDC)
  • A video shows the victim Ryan Yahya Morgan (via YASER ALDOUMANI2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another photo of Rayan Yehya Merjan (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

No mention of strikes in Damascus governorate were made by Russia in its report for November 19th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (3 children2 women7–9 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS168 CS146

Incident date

November 18, 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

Reports indicated that Coalition aircraft had killed up to ten civilians in Raqqa in an evening strike.

According to local monitors Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently, seven were killed and eight injured after a civilian fuel facility was bombed in the Brigade 17 area of the city. A graphic video by Daesh propagandists Al A’maq shows ten corpses.

However, Russia had also reported destroying more than 500 oil tankers in strikes in the region.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: " Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes [2 French] struck three ISIL headquarters and an ISIL bivouac."

For November 18th-19th: "Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL storage facility."

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS166

Incident date

November 18, 2015

Location

تل هادية, Tal Hadya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.99595, 36.93908 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Union of Hamas Rebels, one adult civilian male was killed and two or more people injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Tal Hadya.

The Violations Documentation Center also named the victim, It also identifies him as a civilian but has published an image of him wearing a militant bandana. His combatant status remains unclear.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah al-Saleh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Saleh al-Saleh (via VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Hadya (تل هادية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.99595, 36.93908. 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 has confirmed carrying out cruise missile strikes in Aleppo governorate on November 18th 2015: “From 9:00 to 9:10 Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying aircraft launched 12 air-based cruise missiles against ISIS facilities in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib.”

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
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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

RS167 CS147

Incident date

November 18, 2015

Location

البوكمال, Al Bukamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4561111, 40.9190941 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Violations Documentation Center and others, six civilian males were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in the vicinity of the Aisha hospital in Al Bukamal. According to Deir Ezzor 24, eight rockets or missiles were launched on the town. However, the Syrian Observatory has attributed the attack to the US-led Coalition.

No further information is available at the present time.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, 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:

Tarek Thabet al-Nouri
Child male killed
Mhaidi Osama al-Hebini
Child male killed
Usama Mhaidi al-Matroud
Adult male killed
Alayan Aboud al-Ghani
Adult male killed
Huthaifa Tareq al-Thabet
Adult male killed
Omar Hmaid al-Mayouf
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Hathifa Tarek Thabet Al Hawiya (via Free Deir Ezzor Broadcaster)
  • The video shows the moment an airstrike hit Al Bukamal, Nov 18th.
  • Mahidi Osama al Matroud (via Free Deir Ezzor)
  • another video in Deralzur Albuqmal shows the bombing of Russian airliners on the city today
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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Dayr ez Zawr governorate on November 18th 2015: “From 5:00 to 5:50 a squadron of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers made airstrikes against 6 ISIS facilities in the provinces of Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor. They engaged depots with weapons and ammunition, mass concentrations of military hardware, training camps and workshops producing explosives.”

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
    37SFU763144
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 18, 2015, in Al Bukamal, 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. 2880/CS147 37SFU763144

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: "Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck two ISIL oil and gas separation plants."

For November 18th-19th: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]