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

RS116

Incident date

November 3, 2015

Location

الأنصاري, Al Ansari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1529125, 37.075864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A vacuum missile, allegedly fired by Russian warplanes killed eleven non-combatants and injured about 20 in the Ansari neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to reports. Several homes have destroyed. Four of those killed were brothers and sisters from one family, who died alongside their father.

The raid was one of several in neighbourhoods of Aleppo, including an alleged Russian vacuum missile strike on Bustan Al Qasar (see above) and an attack on Al Mashhad (see above).

The VDC and Syrian Network have named 11 named that killed in Ansari.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sundus Abdul Qader Barkat
Child female 3 years old killed
Ismael Sheikh Mohammad
Age unknown male killed
Mustafa Al Hafyan
Age unknown male killed
Salem Kadro
Child male 15 years old killed
Abdi Kadro
Child 14 years old killed
Ghroud Kadro
Child 8 years old killed
Khaled Kadro
Child 11 years old killed
Mohammad Salem Kadro
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Malek Dunia
Age unknown male killed
Ismael Al Sheikh Yousef
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Al Bab
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Devastation wrought by alleged Russian strikes on a neighbourhood in Aleppo, November 3rd (via Civil Defence Administration in Free Aleppo)
  • Aftermath of alleged shelling by alleged Russian warplanes of the neighbourhood of Ansari, Aleppo, November 3rd

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 strikes in Aleppo governorate between November 3rd-5th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS117

Incident date

November 3, 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

Up to 34 civilians were reported killed including a woman and a child, and 50 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes, according to multiple sources.

Al A’maq [close to Daesh] claimed there were 26 strikes by Russian warplanes which caused 10 deaths, including two women. They claimed that the city’s general hospital was targeted, along with old and new bridges south of the city. At noon, planes continued bombarding the old bridge and a park adjacent to the al Fardous mosque, as well as residential areas.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported heavy casualties: 42 deaths, of which 27 were civilians including a woman. It claimed 15 of these 42 deaths were so-called Islamic State fighters.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, 32 civilians were killed, including one child and one woman. They put the number injured at no less than 50.

30 victims have been named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights as

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Abdul Satar Al Hilal
Age unknown male killed
Basam Aliwi (Al Fara)
Age unknown male killed
Basam Aliwi’s wife
Adult female Aliwi’s wife killed
Faisal Mohammad Al Satttam
Age unknown killed
Abdullah Al Mahmoud
Age unknown male killed
Abd Al Jana’an
Age unknown male killed
Fasel Haji Al Hilal
Age unknown male killed
Hussein Al Sarawi
Age unknown male killed
Turkey Al Eisa
Age unknown male killed
Yasser Turkey Al Eisa
Age unknown child (or adult according to VDC) killed
Khalaf Al Atrouz
Age unknown male killed
Abood Hasan Al Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Wesam Al Musa
Age unknown male killed
Raed Al Shaher
Age unknown male killed
Jaber Ibrahim
Age unknown male killed
Abd Al Mazeed /Al Kasrat
Age unknown male killed
Abd Al Kana’an
Age unknown male killed
Wesam Ismael
Age unknown male killed
Abood Hasan Al Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Abd Ahmad Al Mazeed
Age unknown male killed
Jaber Ibrahim Khalil Al Kraiban
Age unknown male killed
Rami Ismael Al Shaher
Age unknown male killed
Faisel Al Eisawi Abu Fahed
Age unknown killed
Abar Al Dali
Age unknown killed
Ali Ahmad Al Ramo
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Rashed Al Askar
Age unknown Deir Ez-Zour –Hasarat village killed
Hussein
Age unknown A young man called killed
Hasan Ahmad Al Hwaidi
Age unknown killed
Faisel Ahmad Al Hwaidi
Age unknown killed
Fadl Haji al-Hlal
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 34
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named one of the victims on their Facebook page as "Hussein" (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently0
  • Large destruction at the Skik Mosque in the southern suburb of Idlib after being bombed by alleged Russian-Russian planes

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 strikes in Raqqah governorate between November 3rd-5th 2015: “Near Raqqah, Su-34 bombers carried out strikes against two fortified strong points of militants located at the approaches to the city. Direct hits of air bombs destroyed fortified installations of terrorists as well as four automobile and armored vehicles.“

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 34
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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

RS114

Incident date

November 3, 2015

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources that claimed the death of between six and eight civilians including three children and injury of 12 more in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bustan al Qasr.

Several houses were also reportedly destroyed.

VDC released the names of 8 people that killed, including three children as result of the strike.

Additionally, the Violations Documentation Center reported that an adult male, named as Mostafa Assem al-Arki, was killed after an alleged strike by Russian warplanes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al-Bab
Adult male Warplane shellinga killed
Mohammad Dahrouj
Adult male Warplane shellinga killed
Fares Qonbori
Adult male Warplane shellinga killed
Marwa Hasan
Child female Warplane shellinga killed
Amer Hasan
Child male Warplane shellinga killed
Mohammad Zaerour
Child male Warplane shellinga killed
Mahmoud Hawout
Adult male Warplane shellinga killed
Omer Hawout
Adult male Warplane shellinga killed
Mostafa Assem al-Arki,
Adult male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3–4 children1 woman6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath destruction caused by the alleged bombing of Russian air strike to the neighbourhood of Bustan Al-Qasr 3-11-2015
  • the photo shows the destruction left by Russian planes on Bustan al Qasr and Al Mashhad neighbourhoods in Aleppo.
  • The photo shows the destruction left by alleged Russian planes on Bustan al Qasr and Al Mashhad neighbourhoods in Aleppo.
  • The photo shows the destruction left by alleged Russian planes on Bustan al Qasr and Al Mashhad neighbourhoods in Aleppo.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirms carrying out strikes in Homs governorate in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015: “Near Mahin (Homs province), the aviation carried out a strike against a large-sized weapon and ammunition depot of the Jabhat al-Nusra grouping. Militants stored small arms, large-caliber machine guns, grenade launchers, and ammunition in two hangars. These weapons were reserved for militants arrived in Syria from abroad. It is to be mentioned that the information on this object was obtained from representatives of the Syrian opposition. Objective monitoring data confirmed complete destruction of the depots and their contents after the hit of the Russian aviation.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3–4 children1 woman6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS115

Incident date

November 3, 2015

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1834027, 37.1369648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes reportedly killed at least three non-combatants and injured at least ten in the neighbourhood of Al Mashhad, according to the White Helmets. The group said they recovered three bodies from the rubble and rescued ten people, transferring them to nearby field hospitals.

Local media activist Mansour Hussain told Al Araby al Jadeed that “Russian warplanes this afternoon renewed their bombing of the city of Aleppo, which resulted in an initial toll of six civilians were killed in al Mashhad.”

In a video posted by the Aleppo Media centre a rescue worker states: “‘Russian planes bombed Al Mashhad neighbourhood which led to the total destruction of two buildings. Then they targeted other liberated areas like al Ferdous and Bustan al Qasr. There are many dead and wounded. Every day the number is going up. Most of them are civilians. There are no militants. We have now carried out our duty and pulled out all the injured.”

There remains some confusion in casualty recording because of other reported Russian strikes on November 3rd in the nearby Aleppo neighbourhoods of Bustan el-Qasr and Ansari.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A family from Al Mashhad neighbourhood in Aleppo leaving their home after it was bombed by russian planes (Via SNN)
  • The first moments of the Russian air strike that targeted the neighborhood Al Mashad (Aleppo) on Tuesday, 2015/11/3
  • The aftermath destruction caused by the Russian airstrike that targeted the neighborhood scene on 3-11-2015

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 strikes in Aleppo governorate between November 3rd-5th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS113

Incident date

November 2, 2015

Location

سكيك, Sakik, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.428645, 36.770339 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An initial report by the Violations Documentation Center named one adult male as a civilian medical worker who killed in an alleged Russian airstrike but did not specify the location.

However, a later listing by the VDC identified him both as a paramedic and as a non-civilian, killed “during clashes with the regime’s army forces“.

According to the Union of Hama Revolutionaries, the victim age 32 with a wife and children, was a manager of an ambulance service in southern and eastern Hama. It said he was from the village of al Mashraf in eastern Hama, and that he died from injuries sustained two days previously when Russian warplanes struck one of the military facilities he was affiliated with

The Syrian Coordination in Eastern Hama said he died from injuries following a Russian bombardment of a medical facility.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abo al- Reem
Age unknown male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sukayk (سكيك), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.428920, 36.770530. 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

In its report for military actions on October 31st-November 2nd 2015, the Kremlin has confirmed carrying out strikes in Hama governorate: “Near Kafr Nabudah settlement (Hama province), a Su-25 attack aircraft performed a strike against militants’ fortified area with two armored vehicles and two off-road automobile vehicles equipped with ZU-23 AA systems. Direct hit of an air bomb caused destruction of an ammunition depot. As a result of detonation, armored and off-road vehicles burnt down.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS111

Incident date

November 2, 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

One woman, Mrs Zahra Hajj Khamees, was reported killed and more than 20 people injured after an alleged Russian airstrike on the traders’ market in the town of Maarat al Numan.

Video footage showed extreme damage to shops and houses in the vicinity.

Most sources blamed Russia. However, the Damascus Centre and the Syrian Network instead attributed the attack to Assad regime forces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mrs Zahra Hajj Khamees
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • a photo showing civil defences team removing rubble left by alleged Russian strikes on the town of Ma’arat Al Nu’man on November 2nd
  • The video shows the location of the alleged Russian strike that hit the popular market in the town of Maarat al-Numan in Reef (rural) Idlib on 2-11-2015

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on October 31st-November 2nd 2015, the Kremlin made no mention of strikes in Idlib governorate.

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 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS112

Incident date

November 2, 2015

Location

القريتين, Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.229890, 37.238245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 24 civilians were reported killed and a dozen injured in alleged evening Russian airstrikes on a centre for the distribution of bread in the town of Qaryatain in Homs province.

According to Shaam News Network, 16 people died when Russian planes carried out two raids. Activists stressed that the raids targeted a bakery in the city.

Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll even higher at 26 non-combatants, including 3 children and 2 women. It claimed most of the victims were displaced persons from Maheen.

24 victims were named by the VDC  and another 6 other victims were also named by SN4HR .

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Saeid Sarakes
male killed
Son of Saeid Sarakes
Adult male killed
Daughter of Saeid Sarakes
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Fadi Bassam al-Hamouri al-Noaemi
Adult male killed
Atiye Subhi al-Adle al-Ghoush
Adult male killed
Atiye Subhi al-Adle al-Ghoush
Adult male killed
Ayman Mohmmad Ahmad al-Zgherre
Adult male killed
Zakiye al-Shammat
Adult female killed
Mohammad Tameem al-Shibli
Adult male killed
Atiye al-Daeif
Adult male killed
Mohammad Adnan al-Musa
Adult male killed
Ahmad Khaled Abdul Kafi al-Musa
Adult male killed
Abdul Kafi Mohammad al-Abdul Kafi al-Musa
Adult male killed
Qasem Mohammad Awad al-Sultan
Age unknown male killed
Ali Redwan al-Yousef al-Salame
Age unknown male
Son of Mohammad Atallah Feroun
Age unknown male 12 years old killed
Son of Rasheed al-Salame
Age unknown male killed
Usama Ahmad al-Mezel al-Ibraheem
Age unknown male killed
Qassim Mohammed al Salama
Age unknown male killed
Taleb Mahmoud Idrees
Age unknown killed
Son of Moahammad al-Zamzune
Child male killed
Fares Qasem Mohammad al-Dalloul al-Dakhlallah
Adult female killed
Jaber Ahmad al-Fadel
Age unknown male killed
Abd al-Wahed Eid Ezz Eddin
Age unknown male killed
Lutfiyeh Hmaidan
Age unknown female killed
Atia Al Abdullah
Age unknown killed
Maysem Atia Al Abdullah
Age unknown killed
Fedaa Atia Al Abdullah
Age unknown female killed
Abdullah Al Abdullah
Age unknown killed
Child, unidentified
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23 – 30
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Ali-Redwan-al-Yousef-al-Salame

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Al Qaryatayn (القريتين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.229890, 37.238245. 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

In its report for military actions on October 31st-November 2nd 2015, the Kremlin has confirmed carrying out strikes in Homs governorate: “In the Tadmor district (Homs province) a Su-25 attack aircraft made a strike on an ISIS fortified area. Direct hits resulted in destruction of fortifications, underground shelters as well as AA artillery positions of the terrorists with two ZSU-23 systems. Objective monitoring data confirms their complete elimination.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23 – 30
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS108

Incident date

November 1, 2015

Location

منطقة أسيا, Assiya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.271066, 37.078834 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unnamed civilian male was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Assiya. Almodon made no mention of civilian casualties, though did report strikes by “Russian jet fighters” on Assiya.

No additional information is presently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on October 31st-November 2nd 2015, the Kremlin confirmed carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the suburbs of Aleppo, a Su-34 bomber made a strike against a terrorist camp used for training of militants arrived from other countries. As a result of hits of air bombs, the ammunition depot as well as the training facilities were eliminated.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]