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

RS037

Incident date

October 13, 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

Eight civilians were reported killed in a confirmed Russian airstrike at Hayyan. Images showed heavy destruction in civilian neighbourhoods, with a number of badly injured people rescued.

The nearby Hraytan Hospital was also damaged according to Syria Relief and Development: “At 6:45 a.m. this morning in Syria, three Russian missiles targeted Hraytan Hospital, one of Aleppo’s largest hospitals, operated by U.S.-based nonprofit organization Syria Relief and Development (SRD). One missile fell directly in front of the hospital, landing about 90 feet from the hospital entrance and two rockets fell behind the hospital onto a building occupied by civilians. The attack resulted in three civilian injuries, including one child and two adults.”

Seven civilian fatalities, most from one family, were later named.

A woman named as Umm Thakla was also featured in a post-strike video from the town, mourning the reported loss of her entire family.

The incident occured at 06:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Mohammed Sabouh Rustom
Adult male 55 years old killed
Khadija Deeboh Sabouh Rustam
Adult female 18 years old killed
Anas Mohammed Sabouh Rustom
Child male 17 years old killed
Rawiya Muhammad Sabouh Rustam
Child female 17 years old killed
Adel Mohammed Sabouh Rustom
Child male 12 years old killed
Mansour Mohamad Rustom
Child male 9 years old killed
Mohammed bin Abdo Sabouh Rustom
Child male 4 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (5 children1 woman1 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Victim of an alleged Russian strike at Hayyan, October 13th 2015. (via Shaam News Network)
  • Rescue operation following an alleged Russian strike at Hayyan, October 13th 2015 (via Shaam News Network)
  • Rescue operation following an alleged Russian strike at Hayyan, October 13th 2015 (via Shaam News Network)
  • Footage showing aftermath of likely Russian strike on Darat Izza and Hayyan, 13th October 2015. (via Ibrahim Omar)
  • White Helmets rescuing civilians following what SN4HR says was regime shelling on Hayyan, 13th October 2015. (via, Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirmed a strike at Hayyan for October 13th-14th 2015: “Near Hraytan, a Su-25SM made a strike against an ISIS ammunition and fuel depot. Direct hits of fragmentation air bombs completely destroyed the facilities.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (5 children1 woman1 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS038

Incident date

October 13, 2015

Location

تل سلطان, Tall Sultan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.799040, 36.991370 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Violations Documentation Center named an adult male from the town of Tel Azzan as having been killed in a Russian airstrike on a school building in nearby Tel Sultan, which also reportedly injured two.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Younes Eid al-Yawer
Adult male from Tel Azzan killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Tall Sultan (تل سلطان) , for which the generic coordinates are: 35.799040, 36.991370. 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

For October 12th-13th 2015, Russia reported a number of strikes in Idlib governorate: ” In the course of the last 24 hours, Su-34, Su-24M and Su-25SM aircraft performed 88 combat sorties engaging 86 ISIS facilities located in the Raqqah, Hama, Idlib, Latakia and Aleppo provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS034

Incident date

October 10, 2015

Location

التمانعة, Al Tamani'ah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians from one family, including a child and two women, were reported killed after an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Tamaanah. Two people were injured. The dead were later listed by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Local media activist Abdul Kader Al Bakri told the Network: “This time we traced a Russian radio frequency. Al Tamanaa’ town is under the control of An-Nusra Front, Ajnad Al Sham, Jund Al Aqsa, Faylaq Al Sham, and Ahrar Al Sham, however, the targeted house and its surrounding region were civilian areas that did not have any military presence in it.”

Ma’ara Media Centre also carried an eyewitness interview with an off-camera male who insisted the attack was Russian and had killed five of his close relatives: “I was in the village. I had come to see my family. I parked the car a distance away and got out. I saw my father looking up at the plane and my mother was shouting ‘get out get out the plane is going to hit us’ I told her it’s okay I’ll take you away. As I started approaching the bomb struck and it happened. My father was killed and my aunt, may God have mercy on them and my brother Mohammad and Badrieh and Abdo and Ahmad. The whole family was martyred.”

However, Smart News said the regime perpetrated the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Salah Al Shehnaa
Adult male 50 years old killed
Hind Mohamad Al Soussi
Adult female Salah's 48 year old sister killed
Mohammad Al Shehnaa
Adult male Salah's 28 year old son killed
Badreya Salah Al Shehnaa
Adult female Salah's 28 or 29 year old daughter killed
Abdo Salah Al Shehnaa
Child male Salah's 11 year old son killed
Ahmad Salah Al Shehnaa
Child male Salah's 5 year old son killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 women2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Interview with one of the survivors from the family listing the names of the victims. His father, aunt, and 4 siblings. At Tamani'ah, 10th October 2015. (via, Maara Media Centre) 10/10/2015]
  • An image shows the civil defence tending to one of the injured victims of the strike on the town, At Tamani'ah, 10th October 2016. (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Tamani’ah (التمانعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.457626, 36.750314. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 women2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS031

Incident date

October 9, 2015

Location

تل عاس, Telaas, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4317743, 36.5892363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A possible civilian was reported killed in an alleged Russian strike at Telaas near Khan Shaykhoun.

VDC named one adult male as a non-combatant victim. However, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported only that “A fighter from a combat force was killed from wounds sustained after Russian planes targeted Brigade 13 in Telaas in southern Idlib countryside this afternoon.“

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled al-Sousi
Adult male VDC reported him killed in a strike on Telaas. He is originally from Khan Shaykhum and had been displaced to Telaas killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Telaas (تل عاس), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.4317743, 36.5892363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia did not publicly report any strikes in Idlib governorate for October 9th-10th 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, the main objects for engagement were militants’ command and communication centres, ammunition depots, bases and training camps of terrorists in the Raqqah, Hamah, Damascus and Aleppo provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS032

Incident date

October 9, 2015

Location

التمانعة, Al Tamana’h, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in Al-Tamana’h. While the Violations Documentation Center attributed the deaths to Russian aircraft, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were killed as a result of actions by Syrian regime helicopters.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fedaa Abdulrazzaq al-Najjar
Adult male originally from Khan Shaykhun, killed in al-Tamana'ah killed
Zeinab Aamer al-Bakri
Adult female originally from Khan Shaykhun, killed in al-Tamana'ah killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Tamani’ah (التمانعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.457626, 36.750314. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia did not publicly report any strikes in Idlib governorate for October 9th-10th 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, the main objects for engagement were militants’ command and communication centres, ammunition depots, bases and training camps of terrorists in the Raqqah, Hamah, Damascus and Aleppo provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS033

Incident date

October 9, 2015

Location

كفرنبودة, Kafr Nbouda, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.429388, 36.49078 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A combined air assault by Russian attack helicopters – coupled with an attack by Syrian regime aircraft and ground forces – reportedly killed four civilians at Kafr Nbouda. They were later named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hamid al-Horani
Adult male 60 years old killed
Wife of Hamid al-Horani
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Amoun al-Yousef
Adult female 60 years old killed
Abd al-Lateef al-Yousef
Adult male 65 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 women2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing Russian raids on Kafr Nbouda, 9th October 2015.(via Baladi news)
  • Footage showing warplane raids on Kafr Nbouda. The voice over on the video says Russian but the notes below say that the two raids are now 'confirmed as regime', 9th October 2015. (via, Media Office for Northern Hama)

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 Hama governorate for October 9th-10th 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, the main objects for engagement were militants’ command and communication centres, ammunition depots, bases and training camps of terrorists in the Raqqah, Hamah, Damascus and Aleppo provinces.” It also reported destroying “2 command centres; an ammunition depot in the Hamah province.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 women2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS027

Incident date

October 8, 2015

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to reports two civilians – a man and a woman – died in a Russian airstrike at Khan Shaykhun, with other victims left in critical condition. SNN News described the attack as “a terrible massacre of civilians,” with footage showing a devastated civilian neighbourhood. And Al Jazeera aired frantic scenes as White Helmets tried to reach survivors.

According to Syrian Human Rights Committee, Syrian regime forces also shelled the town once the airstrikes had finished, “which led to extensive destruction of buildings.”

VDC later named the two victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad al Roro
Adult male killed
Layla al-Assad
Adult female Listed on VDC as the 54 year old wife of Hassan al-Mawas killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A 'White Helmet' rushes child victim of an alleged Russian aircraft raid on the town of Khan Shaykhun to casualty, October 8th 2015 (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured following an alleged Russian strike on the centre of Khan Shaykhun. October 8th 2015 (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Casualties being treated following the alleged Russian strike which targeted Khan Shaykhun, October 8th 2015 (via SNN)
  • Video footage showing the devastation and chaos after the strike, blamed on 'Assad and Russia'. in Khan Shaykhun, 8th October 2015. (via, SNN)
  • Footage showing the exact moment after the alleged strike, in Khan Shaykhun, 8th October 2015. (via Mohammad al Saleh)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reported a total of 22 lethal sorties for October 8th 2015, although made no mention of 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
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Incident Code

RS028

Incident date

October 8, 2015

Location

بليون, Belyon, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.696091, 36.504654 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six people were reported killed at Belyon due to warplane shelling. VDC named one woman as a victim of the strike.

Smart News later posted a video showing a civilian clear-up operation in the village. One witness noted: “Here there were six martyrs, two from the village of Balian and four displaced from Sahil Al Ghab. Are these the terrorists? There were two women, two children and two older men over 60 or 70 years old. We don’t have any armed elements either in the bombed area or outside of it. Russian planes are using around 8 bombs for each raid. We could tell it was Russian planes via some sources. The pilot was speaking Russian.”

Another witness said “I suddenly saw a red line descend from the sky to the ground. It struck just 100 meters this way and then they came back and struck this way killing lots of people.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wife of Ibraheem al-Jassem
Adult female VDC says she is from Badria but killed in Balyoun due to Russian shelling. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women2 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Belyon (بليون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.696091, 36.504654. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reported a total of 22 lethal sorties for October 8th 2015, although made no mention of Idlib governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women2 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 (2) [ collapse]