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

RS071

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

مسرابا, Missraya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to reports, Russian warplanes allegedly carried out four raids on the town of Missraya in eastern Ghouta. Two or more people died and ‘dozens’ were injured, including women and children. According to the White Helmets, one of those killed was a little girl. The VDC also named adult male civilian Mohammad Saeid Mohammad Ali Jearash as having been killed. Footage shot immediately after the strike shows a number of seriously hurt children among the victims. There were also reports of artillery strikes on the town by the Assad regime.

The Obeid mosque was reportedly badly damaged in the attacks.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Saeid Mohammad Ali Jearash
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

  • Rescuers help the injured after a reported Russian strike on Missraya, Oct 23 (via White Helmets)
  • Translation: Eastern Ghouta - the fall of many victims and wounded in #Missraya following its targeting with 4 raids by war planes on civilian homes a short while ago. (via Damascus_M_O)
  • Translation: After a catastrophic day lived by the town of Missraya in Eastern Ghouta with warplanes striking and artillery shelling - several civilians fell martyr. (via Ajnadsh)
  • Translation of title: Damascus countryside - Missraya - the aftermath andn destruction of one of the mosques destroyed following raids on the town 23/10/2015 (via SMO)
  • Alleged Russian warplanes carried out 4 raids on the town of Missraya eastern Ghouta which led to death of two people and dozens wounded including women and children. (via SNN)
  • Alleged Russian warplanes carried out 4 raids on the town of Missraya eastern Ghouta which led to death of two people and dozens wounded including women and children. (via SNN)
  • Alleged Russian warplanes carried out 4 raids on the town of Missraya eastern Ghouta which led to death of two people and dozens wounded including women and children. (via SNN)
  • Alleged Russian warplanes carried out 4 raids on the town of Missraya eastern Ghouta which led to death of two people and dozens wounded including women and children. (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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

RS072

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

برقوم, Barkoum, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.03733, 36.96627 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six or more civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Barkoum. The Violations Documentation Center (which in English said the attack was by unidentified warplanes, and in Arabic attributed it to the Assad regime) later named the dead.

However other sources described the attack as the work of the Russian airforce.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatema Abdul Aziz Bakkar
Child female 15 years old killed
Abdul Aziz Bakkar
Adult male 40 years old killed

Family members (3)

Yasmeen al-Mustafa
Adult female 20 years old killed
Meriam al-Mustafa
Child female 9 years old
Nour al-Mustafa
Child female 12 years old

The victims were named as:

Aysha al-Khather
Adult female 40 years old

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (3 children2 women1 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Barkoum (برقوم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.03733, 36.96627. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (3 children2 women1 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

RS073

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

الزربة, Az Zarbah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.06763, 36.97987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian named as Hamad Ahmad Al Rajab was reported killed and others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Zerbeih, in southern rural Aleppo.

However local rebels also said that the town came under attack from “fierce artillery and rocket shelling” by Assad regime ground forces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamad Ahmad Al Rajab
Adult male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • translation: Aleppo. the death of a martyr in a raid by Russian planes - 4 raids on al Zarba and two on Zeitan. (via @moaazalabbas)
  • Translation: Opposition sources: Dead and injured following aerial bombardment of the village of Al Zarba in rural Aleppo. (via Syrianewsco)
  • Breaking #Aleppo one martyr and several injured civilians in bombardment by the Russian warplanes on the town of Zarba in southern rural Aleppo. (via so_ria98)
  • Translation: #Aleppo the martyrdom of Hamad Ahmad Al Rajab following russian plane raids on the town of Al Zarba and the fall of several wounded. (via LccSy)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Zarbah (الزربة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.06763, 36.97987. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS074

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network and others alleged that Russian aircraft had dropped cluster munitions (pictured below) in northern Aleppo governorate. Two civilians were killed, named as Hussein Adel Osso and Mohamad Yehya Al Seraj. Five others were injured in the evening strike, including a member of the local civil defence team.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamad Yehya Al Seraj
Adult male killed
Hussein Adel Osso
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Translation: civil defence in the town of Hayyan in Aleppo countryside deactivating cluster bombs fired by Russian planes.
  • Translation: the fall of many wounded following air raids carried out by Russian warplanes on the town of Hayyan in northern Aleppo countryside
  • Civil defence in the town of Hayyan in Aleppo countryside deactivating cluster bombs fired by Russian planes. (via Halab Today TV)
  • civil defence in the town of Hayyan in Aleppo countryside deactivating cluster bombs fired by Russian planes.
  • Civil defence in the town of Hayyan in Aleppo countryside deactivating cluster bombs fired by Russian planes. (via Halab Today TV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil defence buried Hussein Adel Osso who was martyred as a result of Russian warplane raids on the town of Hayyan with more than a 100 cluster bombs. (via Civil Defence Aleppo)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Hayyan (حيان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.32417, 37.05886. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS075

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

جبل الزاوية, Jabal Al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.71345, 36.52933 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Media activist Wassim Al A’dil was one of two civilians reported killed in an airstrike at Jabal al Zawiya. The other has been named by Violations Documentation Center as Mohammad Abd al-Razzaq al-Harami. The pair were reportedly on their way to cover nearby Russian airstrikes when they were caught up in an attack.

Shaam News network paid tribute to Al A’dil: “The martyr is from Ma’arat al No’man and is one of the leading activists in the province of Idlib. Wassim played a huge part in covering the events on the ground in all the areas of the province… With the loss of Wassim the media of the Syrian Revolution will miss one of its stars, whose smile lit up much of the darkness and cheered up many sad people.”

While most sources linked the strike to Russia, VDC reports that regime aircraft were responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Abd al-Razzaq al-Harami
Adult male
Wassim Al A’dil
Adult male Media activist 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Wassim Al A’dil, killed in an airstrike Oct 23rd 2015 (via SNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jabal Al Zawiya (جبل الزاوية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.71345, 36.52933. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS076

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Syrian Observatory, reported the death of a man in an alleged Russian strike, noting: “A man from the city of al-Mayadin was killed in the bombing by warplanes believed to be Russian yesterday on areas at the outskirts of Ariha city in Idlib province.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ariha, for which the generic coordinates are: 35.81374, 36.60964. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS067

Incident date

October 22, 2015

Location

غرناطة, Gharnata, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.89419, 36.67881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Syrian Observatory, reported a man dying from injuries sustained earlier in the day following an alleged Russian airstrike on Gharnata. No other details are presently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Gharnata (غرناطة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.89419, 36.67881. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 22nd-23rd 2015. while tweets from the MoD again make no mention of Homs.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS068

Incident date

October 22, 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 wave of night time airstrikes hit a number of civilian objects in the city according to reports, killing seven to eight non-combatants. At least 11 and as many as 40 Daesh militants were also reported killed.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “13 airstrikes targeted places near the Emergency Branch, the Hospitality Palace, Hawd al-Forat building, Balqis School (al- Zakat office), the governorate building, the municipal Stadium, the national hospital and around IS headquarters.” Reuters placed the number of strikes as high as seventeen.

A taxi was destroyed outside the city’s main Al Hayat hospital, killing all those inside the vehicle and badly damaging a nearby civilian house. Civilian Abd al Kareem Mohammad al Ghaffan was among those killed.

A Daesh propaganda video shows major damage to a civilian street, with numerous houses, shops and vehicles destroyed.

In the chaos following the strikes, Raqaa is Being Slaughtered reported: “News emerged that a number of prisoners had escaped Point 11, formerly the municipal stadium. IS then imposed a security cordon around the area and started search operations for those who managed to run.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Kareem Mohammad al Ghaffan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2 children1 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
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Clearing up after a wave of deadly Russian airstrikes on Raqqah, Oct 22 2015 (via RBSS)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 22nd-23rd 2015. However in a possible link, images published the following morning show combat aircraft taking off for night operations.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2 children1 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
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]