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

RS139

Incident date

November 10, 2015

Location

خان طومان, Khan Tomam, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.118889, 37.051111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the VDC, one adult male civilian was killed in an alleged strike by Russian warplanes. The victim name has been published by local media activist.

A major battle appears to have taken place in the town, with the FSA reporting that one of its commanders was killed. And almost all sources blamed Russia for Mr Al A’had’s death. However Russia Today said that “Syrian warplanes launched raids on the towns of Khan Tuman and Hamima in the countryside of Aleppo.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hani al-Shaikh Abu Al A’had
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The photo of the victim (Hani Al-Shaikh) who was killed by a Russian strike. Published by VDC

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Khan Tuman (خان طومان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.118889, 37.051111. 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

Strikes in Aleppo governorate were confirmed by Russia in its published November 9th-11th report.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS140

Incident date

November 10, 2015

Location

الرحيبة, Al Rahiba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.74424, 36.70394 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The White Helmets reported that one adult male civilian was killed, and several others injured in an alleged bombing by Russian warplanes. However, the VDC blamed the Assad regime for the death.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets remove a body from ruins, following an alleged Russian airstrike in Al Rahiba, November 10th (via The White Helmets)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Rahiba (الرحيبة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.74424, 36.70394. 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

Strikes in Damascus governorate were confirmed by Russia in its published November 9th-11th report.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS141

Incident date

November 10, 2015

Location

حي الحلوانية, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that one 13-year-old child was killed – and five other non-combatants injured – when Russian warplanes allegedly launched rockets on the Tareeq Al Bab neighbourhood in Aleppo. According to the Network, relief warehouses for the Muslim Youth Commission were destroyed in the raid.

The Aleppo Media Centre reported that “one civilian was killed and others were wounded after an [unspecified] air strike targeted Tareeq al Bab neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo.“

The Damascus Centre for Human Rights additionally published another victim name who killed during the same incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Khaled Ibrahim
Child male killed
Tareeq al bab
Age unknown male killed following the alleged Russian air raids killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • the video published by Aleppo News shows the effects of the destruction caused by the bombing of the air traffic to the neighbourhood of the door of the door on 10-11-2015

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Strikes in Aleppo governorate were confirmed by Russia in its published November 9th-11th report: “In the Syrian province Aleppo, local inhabitants actively support the Syrian governmental troops. Thus, Near Tel Mamo, a severe battle took place between the local inhabitants and the militants of the Ahrar ash-Sham grouping. Terrorists suffered significant losses.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS137

Incident date

November 9, 2015

Location

مخيم أوبين, Ubin IDP Camp, Lattakia, Syria

Geolocation

35.800556, 36.155278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major airstrike on an IDP camp close to the Turkish border killed up to eight civilians and injured a further ten, according to reports. While most blamed the Assad regime, JBC News claimed Russia was responsible. All said powerful Russian-made munitions were used in the attack.

The camp – home to 5,000 internally displaced Syrians – was reportedly struck by a massive 2,000lb bomb or missile. Survivor ‘Ahmed’ told Alaan TV: “While I was preparing some firewood to ward off the chill in my tent, we heard whistling, and a huge rocket exploded in the air. Hundreds of bomblets littered the camp carrying destruction and death.”

the VDC has named one victim who died by the regime strike.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Abd al Aziz al Ahmad
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    the aftermath of the airstrike in the camp - by JBC news
  • the aftermath of the airstrike in the camp - by JBC news

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    the aftermath of the airstrike in the camp - by JBC news
  • the aftermath of the airstrike in the camp - by JBC news

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    one of the victim photo - after the airstrike in the camp - by JBC news

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A photo was taken by one of the residents of the camp and given to Syria direct website.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    the aftermath of the airstrike in the camp - by JBC news

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of wounded kid from camp

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ubin IDP Camp (مخيم أوبين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.800556, 36.155278. 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 confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Lattakia governorate: “In the course of the last three days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 137 combat sorties engaging 448 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia, Raqqah, Hama and Homs provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS136

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

مهين, Mahin, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.24168, 37.05843 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center reported the death of four non-combatants, including three children, following alleged shelling by Russian warplanes, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three civilians including two children died in the strike.

VDC has published the four victims by names.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Son of Tayseer Mohammad al-Atwa al-Zarqa 1
Child male killed
Son of Tayseer Mohammad al-Atwa al-Zarqa 2
Child male killed
Son of Tayseer Mohammad al-Atwa al-Zarqa 3
Child male injured

The victims were named as:

Mansour Mosa al-Ziab
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Homs governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS131

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

أم صحريج, Umm Sahrij, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.320510, 37.342140 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One female non-combatant was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on a mosque in Umm Sahrij, according to the Coordination of Syrian Revolution in Eastern Hama, and The Union of Hama Revolutionaries [links presently disabled.]

All4Syria also reported that “The village of Umm Sahreej in the eastern Hama countryside suffered a Russian airstrike which led to the death of one woman and the injury of others.”

 

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Umm Sahrij (أم صحريج), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.320510, 37.342140. 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 confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Hama governorate : “Near Kafer Nbuda (Hama province), a strike was made against a workshop used for repairing of armoured vehicles of the Jabhat al-Nusra. The airstrike of a Su-24M bomber eliminated a hangar with 4 tanks and 1 infantry fighting vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS132

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple sources, at least ten non-combatants died, and 30 were injured by alleged Russian warplanes struck the popular market in the centre of Ma’arat Al Numan.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the alleged raids, but a member of The White Helmets, who came to the scene, told SN4HR Russian jets were responsible: “On Sunday in the afternoon, alleged Russian warplanes launched two rockets on the market in Abi’ Alaa Street. We directly went there. One rocket targeted Al Ma’ara Pharmacy which flattened it to the ground, and the other rocket fell to the east of the first location. The region is completely free of any armed opposition groups or ISIL.”

The Violations Documentation Center named seven victims as having been killed alleged Russian strikes.

Additionally, on November 18th, the VDC also listed Mostafa Mohammad Khair al Thikra as having died from wounds sustained in the bombing. Ibraheem al Ekel described as having died from injuries sustained in a strike on Maasaran. However, a list compiled by the Syrian Center suggests that while he is from Maasaran, Mr al-Ekel killed on November 8th in the Ma’arat al-Numan market bombing.

Moreover, The Syrian Network for Human Rights named Alaa Zarzour and Hasan Ahmad Ja’afar Al Shardoub as having died in the attack. And according to Syrian Center News, a young man from the Sheroot family was also killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Kareem al-Shardoub
Adult male killed
Yasin al-Dergam
Adult male killed
Jamal Mohammad Mendel
Adult male killed
Hosain al-Sobaih
Adult male killed
Abd la-Khaleq al-Baik
Adult male killed
Mostafa al-Sherawi
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mostafa al-Sherawi
Adult male killed
Mostafa Mohammad Khair al Thikra
Age unknown male killed
Ibraheem al Ekel
Age unknown male killed
Alaa Zarzour
Age unknown male killed
Hasan Ahmad Ja’afar Al Shardoub
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (10–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Maarah Network Report A new massacre committed by Russian aircraft with their hateful missiles, which targeted the commercial market in the city of Maarat al-Nu'man in the countryside of Idlib
  • Abd al Kareem Hardoub
  • Jamal al Mendeel

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate: “In the suburbs of al-Zerba (Idlib province), a large command center of Jabhat al-Nusra illegal armed group was destroyed. The object had been arranged in the course of the last three weeks as well as well-camouflaged. The command center coordinated terrorists’ actions at the Idlib-Aleppo direction. After additional reconnaissance of the object by means of unmanned aerial vehicles, a Su-34 aircraft made a strike with a guided bomb KAB-500. As a result, the object was destroyed with all its contents.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (10–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS133

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

البوابية, Bawabiyah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.012468, 36.890289 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple sources, one man was killed and at least five non-combatants were injured by alleged Russian warplanes targeted the village of Buwaybiyah in southern Aleppo countryside.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Bawabiyah (البوابية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.012468, 36.890289. 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

Summary

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