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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS381

Incident date

January 12, 2016

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

Between 31 and 34 civilians including two to three children were killed – and up to 40 other people injured – in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan in Idlib, according to multiple sources. While all sources allege that Russia was responsible for the attack, initial reports by the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime – though a subsequent report by the Network went on to say that Russia carried out the attacks.

The Shaam News Network reported on the three incidents that occurred in Idlib on January 12th (Maarat al Numan, Sarmada, Saraqib) and initially put the death toll in Maarat al Numan at 20 non-combatants, including media activists and members of the White Helmets, who were directly targeted by Russian bombing leading to the death of two and injury of five others, including “three in critical condition during the air raid that targeted their teams while trying to rescue the injured in Maart.”

They reported that two raids targeted a row of residential buildings, followed by a third after the arrival of the ambulance crews and White Helmets, resulting in the death toll rising and exceeding 25. But a later report put the death toll at 33, including two media activists, one member of the White Helmets and two nurses and medical staff, along with 40 wounded.

Media activist, Abu Mohammed Aladalba, told AlHall that “at least 12 civilians were killed, and dozens wounded, following targeted the northern quarter of the city Ma’arat Al Nu’man the southern countryside of Idlib, high-explosive rockets.”

He explained that the White Helmets also “came under direct fire from the Russian aviation, during rescue operations, which led to the fall of 15 civilians, including members of the civil defence.”

But in brief initial reports the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that shelling by the Assad regime resulted in the death of 31, including two children. They added that an ambulance was also targeted.

However, a further report by SN4HR blamed Russia, putting the number killed at 32, including three children. They also reported that members of the White Helmets were killed.

Reporting on the three incidents in Idlib on January 12th, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the overall death toll had risen to 43, including 4 children and 6 women.

32 victims killed “in a massacre due to Russian air forces shelling at the same point twice after that the civil defence was present to provide aid after the first strike” were named by the Violations Documentation Centre, including three unidentified victims.

Unidentified 1 – adult, male

Unidentified 2 – adult, male

Unidentified 3 – adult, male

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmad al-Mandeel
Adult male killed
Liwaa Maher Mandeel
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Mustafa Abdul Fattah Dablat
Adult male killed
Abdul Fattah Hasan Dablat
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Hasan Hsain Nahhas
Adult male killed
Malath Taha al-Nahhas
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Adbul Kareem Mohammad Zekra
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Munther Khashan
Adult male killed
Sameer al-Asfar
Adult male also named by SN4HR as a member of the civil defence, “killed on 12 January 2016, due to alleged Russian shelling while he was aiding injured people from previous shelling.” killed
Ameen Khaled al-Haddad “Mhannaye”
Adult male killed
Hameed Mohammad Khalouf
Adult male killed
Abdo Mohammad Arafat
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Abo Yaser
Adult male killed
Tareq Khaled Shareefe
Adult male killed
Khaled Obeid Khashan 
Adult male killed
Mohammad Ahmad Haydar
Adult male killed
Qusay Fawaz Naseem 
Child male killed
Mahmoud Khalif 
Adult male killed
Ahmad Salah al-Mahloul 
Adult male killed
Abdo Shareefe
Adult male killed
Hameed al-Razouk 
Adult male killed
Mohammad Tameem Mahloul 
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Assad Khashan 
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Sameer Kraidi 
Child male killed
Mahmoud Ftoah al-Tawami 
Adult male killed
Mohammad Ziyade
Adult male killed
Sameer Mohammad Sdair 
Adult male killed
Abdul Kafi al-Shayed
Adult male killed
Ahmad Badea al Khateeb 
Adult male died due to wounds sustained ‘about a week ago’. killed
Mahamoud Al Ghareeb
Adult male named by SN4HR, “a paramedic, from Al Tramyse town in Hama, worked with Sham emergency team, married, a father of a child, died on 12 January 2016 due to alleged Russian shelling on Ma’art Al No’man in Idlib while he was aiding injured .people from previous shelling.” killed
Mohamad Abdul Kareem Joulak
Adult male “a paramedic, from Hass town in Idlib, worked for Sham Emergency Team, 45, married, was killed on 12 January 2016, due to alleged Russian shelling on Ma’art Al No’man city while he was aiding .injured people from previous shelling.” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    31 – 34
  • (2–3 children32 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing civilian casualties in the aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike. (via, Al Marra Today)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage showing a man trapped under a crushed car. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Ahmad al-Mandeel, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hasan Hsain Nahhas, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Abdo Mohammad Arafat, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Mohammad Ahmad Haydar, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Qusay Fawaz Naseef, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Mahmoud Asaad Khashan, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Sameer Mohammad Sdair, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Abdul Kafi al-Shayed, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Sameer al-Asfar, a member of the Civil Defence, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the exact moments the alleged Russian airstrike fell and the immediate aftermath including civilian casualties. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in Ma’aret Al Numan by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • An interview with a member of the White Helmets showing the destruction to civilian homes. (via, Hadi Al Abdallah)
  • The immediate aftermath of the raid on Ma’arat al Nu’man on 12th January 2016. (via, Al Ma’arat Al Aan Network)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mahmoud abu Yasser al Ghareeb, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC).
  • Sameer al-Asfar, a member of the Civil Defence, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sameer al-Asfar, a member of the Civil Defence, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    31 – 34
  • (2–3 children32 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1715

Incident date

November 28, 2016

Location

الصالحين , Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 35 civilians died in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Salheen neighbourhood, though it was unclear whether the regime or Russia were responsible.

@MohAlkhatieb tweeted that the civil defense had removed eight dead civilians from the rubble in Salheen following a strike with a barrel bomb.

According to @mahmoodtalha22, two civilians died in the neighbourhood, but the source didn’t identify the culprit.

But LCCSY suggested the death toll was much higher, reporting that there were “45 martyrs from #Aleppo, [and] most of them passed away in the Russian airstrikes on #Salhin and #Shaar.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 35
  • 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 (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 has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 35
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS442

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Location

الباب, Bab al Hawa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.228656, 36.697878 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 35 civilians were killed and up to 65 injured in an airstrike on Bab al Hawa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether the raid was the work of Russian forces or the Assad regime.

The White Helmets reported that 30 non-combatants were killed and 65 injured when warplanes carried out consecutive strikes on Bab al Hawa, but they did not say who the planes belonged to. They added that un-exploded ballistic missiles were found in the areas and that members of their team were targeted by further planes while carrying out the rescue mission.

However, in a later video showing children being rescued from the rubble, they said that Russia carried out the strikes.

The Shaam News Network also blamed Russia, reporting that warplanes bombed old garages in the countryside of Idlib and the edges of camps for displaced people in Bab al Hawa. They added that six raids targeted civilian homes and public facilities in the area.

Activists told SNN that the shelling resulted in “a terrible massacre against civilians and children killing more than ten people and wounding more than 20.”

Graphic images were published by Ma’ara Now News showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian strike in “the square of Bab al Hawa“, which they said killed 10 civilians.

Smart also blamed Russia and published a video showing destruction caused by rais which they said killed 17 and injured 50 more. A witness told the agency: “The aircraft carried out two raids on the area, and then followed by two missiles, one ballistic and the other cluster.”

According to Orient News, 17 civilians died in eight Russian strikes – though at the time of filming the video they said they didn’t have a final count for the dead and injured.

Videos by Citizen Journalist also attributed the incident to Russia and depicted what they said were damaged civilian homes as the civil defence searched for survivors. They reported up to six Russian strikes.

Halab News put the death toll at 35, with 65 wounded in alleged Russian strikes.

Syrian News Desk reported: “The media opposition activist Alaa al-Din Muhammad told to ‘the Office of the Syria News’ that Russian warplanes carried out five raids on the old crossing point and yard at Bab Al-Hawa  the outskirts of Sarmada city, killing 13 civilians and four members of the opposition factions, and injuring at least 30 others wounded, including women and children“.

The source added that the raids had also targeted two warehouses used to store materials, resulting in fires.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that aircraft of the Assad regime were responsible. They put the death toll at six.

Reporting on the aerial bombardment of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the number of people killed in Bab al Hawa and Sarmada had risen to 28, including four children and a woman, in addition to an “Uzbek family and 22 rebels.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rasheed Khaled al-Rasheed “al-Fayez
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Haj Mohammed.
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 35
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    65
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Members of the White Helmets search for survivors following a strike on Bab al Hawa, January 22nd 2016. (via White Helmets)
  • Footage showing the aftermath of the incident. (via, SNN)
  • Members of the White Helmets search for survivors following a strike on Bab al Hawa, January 22nd 2016. (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SNN)
  • The White Helmets rescuing people from the rubble. (via SNN)
  • Minor damage to the outside of a shop. (via, SNN)
  • Civilian housing damaged in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SNN)
  • Chaos in the mediate aftermath of the incident as White Helmets try to dig civilians out of the rubble. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian dragged from his car after he was caught in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Bab al Hawa. (via, Citizen Journalist)
  • White Helmets continue to move rubble following the incident on 22nd January 2016. (via, Citizen Journalist)
  • The exact moment the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid hit. (via, Citizen Journalist)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Extremely graphic video of a deceased child with a concaved skull and loss of limbs following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on Bab Al-Hawa. (via, Citizen Journalist)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 35
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    65
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS859

Incident date

June 6, 2016

Location

‏العشارة‬, Al Asharah, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.92, 40.56 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 17 and 35 civilians including eight children and two women died and up to 40 others were injured in airstrikes on a popular market and a mosque in Al Asharah town and the Al Hannoush neighbourhood, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was an attack by Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY produced a number of brief reports, and said that the attack was carried out by warplanes thought to be Russian, putting the death toll at 22 civilians including women and children with dozens more wounded. It added that deaths included an entire family.

According to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently, Russian warplanes struck the town with cluster bombs. It put the death toll as high as 26 non-combatants and posted an image of a funeral two allegedly deceased men.

The Shaam News Network also attributed the incident to Russia and said that 23 civilians died.

According to Baladi, the death toll was as high as 35, including eight members of one family, with another 40 injured. It blamed planes belonging to “Assad and Putin” for raids on Mansour mosque.

Media activist “Alhaji Yahya” for News Now told Akhbaralan that “regime and Russian warplanes” struck a popular market with cluster bombs, killing – among others – “four brothers who were the sons of Hussein Al-hayawi and Dawood Al-Najah and his wife and their two children“.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t say who was responsible, referring to an “aerial bombardment” on a souq which killed 17 non-combatants including and man and his wife and two of their children.

Citing the Observatory, a BBC report put the death toll at 17 including eight children,

though there was some confusion as to which party was responsible with the report saying that the UK-based Observatory had said that “Syrian government and Russian warplanes were thought to have carried out the strike”.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime was to blame, reporting that there were at least four victims including two children.

Some other sources said that it was not known whether the warplanes responsible belonged to Russia or Assad.

In a tweet by @Zenynapisajida the figure of those injured was put to 45, they alleged 13 killed including eight children from the same family.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad al Salama
Age unknown male killed
Saher Awwad al Mohammad al Abd
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 35
  • (8 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–45
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Civilians flee destruction following suspected Russian attacks on Al Ash arah ( via Alaraby)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a popular market in Al Asharah, June 5th (via Sawalif)
  • "More than 20 martyrs in Russian warplanes on Al-Asha’ara" (Youtube by Amer Howeidi)
  • "the funeral of one of the families that were killed in the cluster bombs which Russian planes fired yesterday morning" (via Deir Ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently Facebook - original page no longer available - image accessed via Airwars archive)
  • "a photo of the funeral of Mohammad Ahmad al Salama and Saher Awwad al Mohammad al Abd on Friday after they were hit by the Russian strike last Monday"(via Deir Ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently Facebook - original page no longer available - image accessed via Airwars archive)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 35
  • (8 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–45
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3053

Incident date

February 21, 2018

Location

كفر بطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.511853, 36.372857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what was described as a “massacre”, Russian or Assad-waged aerial and artillery shelling killed up to 35 civilians, including at least seven children, and wounded dozens in Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, as reported by local media.

As eastern Ghouta continued to be under heavy aerial shelling, the strikes in Kafar Batna town was described as particular intense by local sources, where residential buildings were struck and left in complete rubble.

The death toll spanned from ten, as initially reported by Zaman al-Wasl, to as many as 35. The latter reported by Step News Agency on the following day, February 22nd. Many sources reported “at least” 20 fatalities, including children. Step News Agency reported exactly seven child fatalities.

Additionally, several sources reported that the incident had wounded “dozens”. Damascus Media Center added that most were children.

Besides from airstrikes, the launch of explosive barrels from helicopters was also widely reported among the sources, including Orient News correspondent and Wesal TV.

But sources where not clear who to blame.

While most reports, including al-Jazeera and Orient News, identified the Syrian regime as the culprit, Step News Agency reported, as the only one, that “Russian warplanes and helicopter gunships launched dozens of air strikes and explosive barrages” in several parts of eastern Ghouta, including Kafar Batna. In another tweet about the specific strikes in Kafar Batna, Step News blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 35
  • (7 children)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dead and wounded civilians following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via Smart News Agency)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via Hadi al-Abdallah)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via DMC)
  • The aftermath of the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018, where wounded civilians are being evacuated from the scene (via Wesal TV)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via GMC)
  • A child lost his hands by the Assad or Russian-waged strikes in Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via Iran Arab Spring)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 35
  • (7 children)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1276

Incident date

July 26, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 29 and 36 civilians died in air and artillery strikes in Raqqa over the previous 24 hours, according to local sources. Most reports blamed the Coalition – though one also said that Russia had carried out strikes in the city. It should be noted that the numbers given in these reports are general numbers for the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 29 civilians had died in Coalition airstrikes across Raqqa neighbourhoods over the past 24 hours.

The Shaam News Network, put the figure higher, reporting on July 27th: “Yesterday, 36 civilians were killed and more than 50 wounded by air and artillery shelling of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition for the city of Raqqa. Yesterday, 18 civilians were martyred in a similar attack on the city’s neighborhoods.” Q_Alenzy and Al Jazeera also reported these figures, as did Orient News, who cited the IS media agency A’amaq.

Watan.fm also reported that Russia had carried out strikes, saying on July 27th: “The US-led International Air Force aircraft and the Russian air force carried out two horrific massacres in the city of al-Raqqa, ISIS’s stronghold in Syria. Both sides killed dozens of civilians and injured others.”

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    29 – 36
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in an alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Raqqa, 26th July 2017. (via Dm42007)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Raqqa, 26th July 2017. (via France24)

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Jul. 26, 2017, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3130/CS1276 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 26th-27th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, four fighting positions, three supply caches, a command and control node and an ISIS communications facility.” It additionally reported that “On July 26, near Raqqah, Syria, 18 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two command and control nodes, an IED facility, a supply cache, and a logistics node; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On July 26, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and suppressed eight fighting positions.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Wednesday 26 July – a Reaper destroyed a terrorist truck in eastern Syria..A Royal Air Force Reaper flew an armed reconnaissance mission over eastern Syria on Wednesday 26 July. A group of armed terrorists were observed boarding a truck, and the Reaper’s crew tracked the vehicle as it headed west along a desert road, some 20 miles south-south-east of Hasakah, before engaging with a Hellfire missile once it was in an isolated location. The missile scored a direct hit which destroyed the truck.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    29 – 36
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2648

Incident date

October 19, 2017

Location

الباغوز, Al-Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.43221, 40.99226 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what some sources referred to as “a massacre”, more than 36 civilians were reportedly killed and dozens more injured when an airstrike struck a river crossing at Al-Baghouz. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes however some either did not attribute blame or blamed “unidentified warplanes”.

As many as six families were identified by local media. Including the Al Nimr family (four killed), the Al Khanafra family (ten killed), Mohsen Mohammed Al-Mahrath’s family (allegedly as many as nine killed), Osama Mohammed Al-Mahrath’s family (allegedly as many as nine killed), Fleih Raja Al Dahouk’s family (four killed) and an unknown family.

As well as this, seven other civilians were named by various local media.

Padlf News reported that “port of Albuqamal al-Baghouz River” was the “targeted” vicinity. It was left rendered out of use due to the amount of material destruction.

Two families were killed in the raid, according to Bukmalna. Additionally, some of the “the martyrs [were] of Iraqi nationality”.

As well as the named victims below, Syrian Press Center News reported that, ten civilians from the Al Nimr family were killed and four people from the Al Khanafra family were killed in the raids. Syrian PPC also reported one unidentified member of the Dawood family.

Fjr albokamal also reported that Mohsen Mohammed Al-Mahrath and his family and Osama Mohammed Al-Mahrath and his family were killed, however the numbers were unspecific. Another source later specified that there were nine victims from the Al-Mahrath family.

There are 23 named victims from this strike, however that does not include the unspecified number of families who were allegedly killed. It is therefore likely that this number was higher.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Fleih Raja Al Dahouk
Adult male killed
Wife of Fleih Raja Al Dahouk
Adult female killed
Child of Fleih Raja Al Dahouk 1
Child killed
Child of Fleih Raja Al Dahouk 2
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Fadel Mohsen Al - Mahouss
Age unknown from the village of Hawija Al Mushahde killed
Mohamed Assaad Al Mahzoum
Age unknown killed
Abdulkarim Aswad Hamod Al Fahed
Age unknown noted in the comments killed
Dawood
Age unknown killed
Bashir Mohammed Al-Hamid Al Ajaj
Age unknown killed
Fadel Mohsen Al-Mahous
Age unknown killed
Hossein Ali Mohsen Al Mahous
Age unknown killed
The wife of Idan Al Taha
Adult female killed
Wife of Mohammed Al Khalaf Al Mahath
Adult female killed
Mohsen Mohammed Al-Mahrath
Adult male "and his family" killed
Osama Mohammed Al-Mahrath
Age unknown male "and his family" killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 36
  • (2 children3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A victim of the airstrikes on Al-Baghouz river crossing, 19th October 2017. (via Nabd Al Boukamal)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the airstrikes on Al-Baghouz river crossing, 19th October 2017. (via Nabd Al Boukamal)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the airstrikes on Al-Baghouz river crossing, 19th October 2017. (via Nabd Al Boukamal)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Al-Baghouz river crossing, 19th October 2017. (via DeirEzzor24)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 36
  • (2 children3 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS414 RS1787

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, al Dalla roundabout, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A heavy air raid on Ar Raqqah left up to 36 civilians dead according to multiple reports. While most blamed Russia, there were some claims that the US-led Coalition was responsible. It has since denied involvement.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, the afternoon raids were concentrated mainly near the city’s al Dalla roundabout. Euphrates Post said the target was the al A’jili building, while Our Raqqa Media Group described “raids near the Odessa hotel and al Dalla roundabout and there’s a massacre and large number of cars and shops burnt.” It also said 60 people were injured.

ISIL’s media wing blamed Russia, saying it had conducted five raids on the city. Step News was among those who initially blamed the Coalition. But it later put out a correction noting “the raid that targeted al Dalla roundabout was by Russian planes and not coalition planes. It resulted in the deaths of more than 15 people and injury of dozens.”

The dead were named by local monitors.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘not credible.’

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Aya
7 years years old female killed
Judy Mahmoud Abadllah al Qaim
3 years years old female killed
Sahar Mahmoud Abadllah al Qaim
2 years years old female

Family members (1)

Ibrahim al Satiti's four children
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Abdallah al Ahmad
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Khalaf al Ali
Adult male killed
Mohammad Hassan al Assa’d
Age unknown male killed
Abd al Qader al Darda
Adult male killed
Mohammed Al-Birawi
Child male killed
Ibrahim Al-Birawi
Child male killed
Turki Mohammad Khalaf al Hassan
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Qasem al-Falah
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Omar Hamndales
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Noor Al-Firomi
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Fallaj's wife
Adult male killed
Amjad Ahmad Al-Hassoon
Age unknown male killed
Fatima Fadil al Qaim
24 years years old female killed
Sohaib Walid Al-Jassem
Age unknown killed
Abdulqader Al-Issa
Age unknown male killed
Rashid Khaled Kalo
10 years years old male killed
Qassem al Khudar
Age unknown male killed
Abd al Qader al Kuwati
Adult male killed
Ibrahim al Matar
Age unknown male killed
Taha Al-Nazal
Adult male killed
Abd al Razzaq al Ibrahim
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Jassem al Salman
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Jassem al Salman's brother
Age unknown male injured
Ibraheem Mohammad al-Ibraheem al-Stiti
Age unknown male killed
Hamadi al Sawaf
36 years old male killed
Majed al Suweiri
Age unknown male killed
Hammoud Qasim Al-Shiban
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 36
  • (3–14 children2 women16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–60
  • 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 (58) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (36) [ collapse]

  • Destruction at Raqqah December 12th 2016 following a Russian or Coalition raid which killed 21 civilians (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered)
  • Khaled Khalaf al Ali (via RBSS)
  • Mohammed and Ibrahim Al-Birawi were both killed in the air strike (via RBSS)
  • Mahmoud Qasem al-Falah (via VDC)
  • Ibrahim Omar Hamndales (via RBSS)
  • Mohammed Noor Al-Firomi (via RBSS)
  • Amjad Ahmad Al-Hassoon (via RBSS)
  • Sohaib Walid Al-Jassem (via RBSS)
  • Taha Al-Nazal (via RBSS)
  • Hammoud Qasim AL-Shiban (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Abd al Qader Ali al Kawati (via RBSS)
  • Sahib Waleed al Jassem (via a comment on a post on RBSS facebook page)
  • Majed al Sweiri (via RBSS)
  • Abdel Qader al Issa (via RBSS)
  • Aya and Judy (via Palmyra media cetnre)
  • Translation: SYRIA: 21 civilians killed in fresh raids on Raqqa
  • Translation: Photos showing the destruction resulting from Russian raids on Raqqa city.
  • Translation: Photos of the destruction left by Russian raids on Raqqa today.
  • Translation: 21 dead and dozens injured following Russian raids that targeted Raqqa city. Photos showing destruction.
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

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
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 11th-12th, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL chemical weapon facility and an armored vehicle.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 36
  • (3–14 children2 women16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–60
  • 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 (58) [ collapse]