Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS093

Incident date

October 30, 2015

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was killed and several non-combatants injured “including women and children” following an alleged Russian strike on Talbiseh.

The man – named by Violations Documentation Center as Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf – was also shown in a graphic video depicting his body.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    photo of Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf (via VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the body of Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf (via SRG)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the body of Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf (via Talbisa h)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Talbisah (تلبيسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.840505, 36.72922. 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

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS094

Incident date

October 30, 2015

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians – among them three children and an adult male – were reported killed in an alleged air and ground assault on Jisr al Shughour, according to a number of sources.

The Syrian Network later named the dead.

Shaam News reported that “Russian warplanes carried out two raids with rockets on the town of al Kastan in the countryside of Jisr Al Shoughour, which led to the fall of three martyrs and dozens wounded, in conjunction with an intense rocket attack launched from the town of Guerin targeting Jisr al Shoughour.”

Reporting from the village, Orient News’ Hashem al Abdullah interviewed an unnamed male eyewitness: “At exactly 8:35am the Russian planes were heard roaming the skies. As soon as we heard the sound of the planes a raid was carried out on the village of Al Kastan. There were three missiles, I am not sure what type they were, either vacuum or cluster, I am not sure what the term is for them. As a result three children were killed , three little children and a girl is in very serious condition, I am not sure if she will survive. I hope she does. That’s what happened.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Moustafa Khado
Adult male from Al Meshyrfi in Idlib killed
Mahmoud Zuhair Edrees
Child male killed
Ahmad Mohamad Al Abdullah
Child male From Idlib killed
Rana Rami Edrees
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3 children1 man)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: #Idlib countryside: 5 martyrs and a number of injured in Russian plane bombing of the town of Kastan. (via radioharafm)
  • Translation: #Russia kills children #Russia bombs Syria #Jissr al Shoughour #Al Kastan A terrorist killed by Putin’s planes with her siblings. (via laith45)
  • Translation: the death of three children martyrs and a number of injured in a Russian raid on the town of Kastan in Jissr Al Shoughour countryside. Zaman News Agency. (via zamanews)
  • photo of the aftermath (via SNHR)
  • photo of the aftermath (via SNHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3 children1 man)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS091

Incident date

October 30, 2015

Location

ابديتا, Ibdita, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.71941, 36.54163 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian man named as Ahmed Murr was reported killed and 10 people injured in an alleged Russian morning airstrike on the village of Ibdita. His two sons were also critically wounded in the attack.

In a later news feature, Shaam News reported: “Samer was taken to the hospital in Ma’arat, where his body was put in one of the morgue fridges among the dead until one of the nurses heard sounds and quickly checked inside the fridge to find Samer still alive. He was quickly transferred to Idlib, and then to Karakhan in Turkey – where he underwent several operations to remove shrapnel from his head which led the green-eyed boy to lose his sight.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Murr
Adult male killed
Samer
Adult male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Samer Murr, blinded in a reportred Russian airstrike which also killed his father (via Shaam News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SNN facebook post on November 2nd update says Samer Murr is still alive and is being treated in Hospital Can in the town of Karkhan in Turkey. (via SNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ibdita (ابديتا), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.71941, 36.54163. 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

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS090

Incident date

October 29, 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

At least 70 people died and as many as 550 were injured in what was initially reported as a Russian airstrike on the marketplace in Douma. However subsequent reports indicated the specific attack was most likely the work of Assad regime aircraft. Part of the confusion lay in the fact that Russian Air Force aircraft had also reportedly carried out strikes on the city that day.

As AP noted: “There were conflicting reports about the attack in Douma. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Co-ordination Committees said government forces fired more than 11 missiles at a market. The Observatory said the attack killed 57 people, while the LCC said at least 40 died… The Syrian National Council, the main Western-backed opposition group in exile, blamed Russian air strikes for the “massacre” in Douma, saying 55 civilians were killed. It said it was the second deadly attack in the past 24 hours after Russian air strikes hit the main Douma hospital.

According to Medecins Sans Frontiers, “At least 70 people have been killed and 550 injured in an air strike on a marketplace in the Douma neighbourhood near Damascus, Syria. As the nearest makeshift hospital had been bombed the previous day, medical workers struggled to cope with the influx of injured people. MSF fears the intensification of bombing that has been seen in northern and central Syria over the course of October could become even more horrific if it spreads to besieged areas around Damascus, where almost a million people are trapped with no way to escape, few medical facilities, and no options for medical evacuations of seriously wounded. The devastation caused by the initial air strike on the market was exacerbated by further shelling on the rescue teams who were attending to the wounded. Two hundred and fifty patients required surgery, and a further 300 patients have been treated for non-surgical wounds. The multi-trauma wounds are described by medics as being worse than anything they have seen before.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    70
  • Civilians reported injured
    550
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Russia also carried out airstrikes at Douma on October 28th, leading to initial confusion on who was respobnisble for the reported deaths of 70 civilians {Shaam News Network)
  • Photos showing Russian warplanes that are still roaming the skies of the besieged Eastern Ghouta and carrying out raids on its cities and towns. (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    70
  • Civilians reported injured
    550
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS087

Incident date

October 28, 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

As many as 11 civilians were reported killed in the second alleged Russian airstrike in as many days on Tal Hadya. A large number of civilians were also reportedly injured in the nighttime attack.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “nine people [six women, one child and two men] were killed in bombing by warplanes believed to be Russian, on the village of Tal Hadya in the southern Aleppo countryside.” Local news placed the civilian toll at 11.

VDC named two civilians killed as Alae Nahhas and Abo Enoud – a 14-year old boy.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Alae Nahhas
Adult male killed
Abo Enoud
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (1–7 children0–6 women1 man)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abo Enoud, killed in a reported Russian strike October 27th (via VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    photo of Alae Nahhas (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

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (1–7 children0–6 women1 man)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS088

Incident date

October 28, 2015

Location

بانص, Banis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.97697, 36.9748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one and as many as seven civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian strike on Bansh. Violations Documentation Center reported that an unnamed woman was killed “Due to the Russian army air forces’ shelling.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Banis (بانص), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.97697, 36.9748. 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

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS089

Incident date

October 28, 2015

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three named civilians, including a child, were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Anadan and nearby Kafr Hamra.

There was some confusion about the incident, with Zaitonmag reporting that seven anti-government fighters were killed along with three civilians: “A Brigade commander working for Ahrar Syria in Aleppo said that seven of his fighters were martyred Tuesday evening as a result of bombing by Russian warplanes targeting a headquarters of the brigade near the city of Anadan in the Aleppo countryside. Zaitoun’s correspondent in Aleppo reported that Russian warplanes launched four raids on the perimeter of Anadan city.

One of the raids raids targeted a mosque, killing a child and two men – one of whom is a media activist. The mosque was nearly totally destroyed. Members of the civil defence were also injured after being targeted by the Russian aviation during the rescue mission that followed the first raid.”

Violations Documentation Center has listed the following as civilians killed in the attack.

Other reports instead listed three civilians (a man, his child and his mother) killed at nearby Kafr Hamra. According to the White Helmets, “Members of the civil defence pulled out this morning the body of the martyr Haytham Garisha who was martyred with his child and mother following the targeting of his house by warplanes in the town of Kafr Hamra on Tuesday evening October 27th.” Mr Garisha [probably Haytham Ismail Qoraifi n VDC’s list] was described by the Syrian Observatory as a media activist.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Child male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Kheder Ali Hamsho
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Shaelan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1 child8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Anadan (عندان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.29353, 37.04466. 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

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1 child8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS084

Incident date

October 27, 2015

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian neighbourhood was targeted in Ltamenah – allegedly by Russia – which killed approximately 10 civilians.

According to Shaam “10 civilians (three of them from one family) were killed, and five wounded, as a result of Russian aircraft targeting civilian homes with vacuum missiles.”

Violations Documentation Center later named Khaled Abdulhameed al-Jahem as having died from injuries sustained in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Abdulhameed al-Jahem
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Title: “countryside of Hama - Russian warplanes carry out massacre against civilians 27/10/2015 - terrible scenes.” (via SNN)
  • Khaled Abdulhameed al-Jahem (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Hama governorate on October 27th-28th 2015: “For 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 71 combat sorties engaging 118 terrorist objects in the Idlib, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Damascus and Lattakia provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]