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

CS802 RS2230

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Location

مزرعة القادسية, Al Qadissiya, Ar Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.945833, 38.981667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as three civilians died in an airstrike on Al Qadissiya village – including one adult male – according to local sources. There were reports of multiple strikes on the village. The allegations were against both the Coalition and Russian warplanes. A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

Only one source – RFSMedaioffice – reported that there was an unspecific number of wounded.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “warplanes believed to belong to the Coalition carried out more than 18 strikes on places in the outskirts of al-Raqqah city and al-Jisr area and other areas in the village of al-Boasi and the farm of Qadisiyah in the western countryside of al-Raqqah.”

However, according to @ThwarAlraqqa, Russia carried out more than 12 raids on the village.

@Sour_News, amongst others, reported that the vicinity was a farm. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

30 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The countryside in Qadisiya where alleged Coalition airstrikes took place on May 11th 2017. (via @saad_alsabr)
  • Aboud al-Khalif al-Hamid, killed in a airstrike on Al Qadissiya farm, 11th May 2017. (via RBSS)
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 Al Qadissiya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV192819
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, three fighting positions, an ISIS barge, a VBIED factory, a weapons storage facility; and damaged two ISIS supply routes.” It later added that “Additionally, 13 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 10th that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, a command and control node, a supply cache, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, and a vehicle.”
For May 11th-12th. “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.” It later added that “Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria on May 11th that closed within the last 24 hours…. Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two VBIEDs, a fighting position, a weapons cache, a vehicle; and damaged two ISIS supply routes and a bridge.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Thursday 11 May – Typhoons attacked three targets in eastern Syria, as well as a truck-bomb factory north-west of Raqqa. Tornados also struck six times in Mosul…On Thursday 11 May, a pair of Typhoons, armed with Paveway IVs, destroyed a truck-bomb staging area some fifteen miles north-west of Raqqa, while another pair supported the SDF in eastern Syria, hitting a mortar team and two Daesh-held buildings near Al Ulwah. The same day, two flights of Tornados patrolled over Mosul, using Brimstone missiles against two Daesh positions very close to Iraqi troops. A further Paveway IV eliminated a mortar in a courtyard, and three more Paveways cratered roads along which Daesh might have tried to move truck-bombs along.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1313

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

مقلة, Muqla, banks of Euphrates, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.797703, 39.497702 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on boats on the Euphrates river near the village of Makla, according to local media – though it was unclear whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame for the casualties.

According to Sound and Picture, “Coalition aircraft targeted civilian boats along the banks of the Euphrates, causing civilian injuries from the village of Makla, east of Raqqa. Coalition aircraft had dropped leaflets calling upon civilians to leave areas under the control of Daesh.”

However, Baladi reported that raids had been conducted by both Coalition and Russian jets on the Euphrates River, killing and wounding an unspecified number of civilians in Makla.

The incident was first reported on August 1, 2017 at 1:30 pm by @Raqqa24.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted civilian boats on the Euphrates, near the village of Makla (مقلة), which is located on the river banks. The coordinates for the village of Makla (مقلة) are: 35.797703, 39.497702  

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 Makla, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV450611
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 1st-2nd: “Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two ISIS headquarters, an IED, an ammunition cache, and a fuel supply point.” It additionally added that “On Aug. 1, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two ammunition caches, and a VBIED factory; and damaged a fighting position.” And that “On Aug. 1, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units, destroyed two staging areas and an ISIS headquarters; and damaged a VBIED factory.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1563 RS2588

Incident date

October 2, 2017

Location

بقرص فوقاني, Bokros Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.090833, 40.398056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 12 civilians, including an entire family, died in an airstrike on Bokros Foqani, local media reported. The culprit is currently unclear, though Airwars understands that the Coalition was not bombing in this territory at the time, while Russia reportedly was. Some sources also attributed the blame to the Syrian regime. 

According to Yasser Al-Zatra, “12 civilians, mostly children and women, died as a result of bombing by the American air force to the village of Buqrs Foqani”.

Euphrates Post put the death toll at 10 but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. In addition to those listed below said that Zuhair al-Ayed’s entire family had died.

However, Step News Agency attributed the event to Russia, putting the death count at 10, “mostly women and children”.

One source reported that the raids struck “Hussein al-Ghandour house, Khader al-Rahil house, Samir al-Karim house, Al-Farabi secondary school, Post office centre, mosque (Issa al Mulla)” as well as some other unknown civilian homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zuhair al-Ayed
Adult male killed
Mahran Al-Shatti
Age unknown male killed
Wife of Ammar Al Asmar
Adult female daughter of Mohammed Al Hamdan killed
Mrs. Malikah Al-Ali Al-Thiab
Adult female killed
Hussein Al-Hassan Al-Mallah
Adult male killed
Son of Khaled Al-Hassan Al-Mallah
Age unknown male killed
Asaad Al-Hussein Al-Mallah
Age unknown male killed
Saad Hussein Al-Mallah
Adult male
Daughter of Khaled Hussein Hasan al-Mallah
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1–4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Bokros Foqani, 2nd October 2017. (via Al Habiba Bokros Abu Almais)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Bokros Foqani, 2nd October 2017. (via @MousaAlomar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Buqrus Fawqani (بقرص فوقاني), eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, for which the coordinates are: 35.090833,40.398056. Note that Buqrus Fawqani (فوقاني بقرص, upper Bokros) and Buqrus, or Buqrus Tahtani (تحتاني بقرص, lower Buqrus) are neighbouring towns

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 1st-2nd the Coalition reporetd: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed two ISIS well heads and a fighting position.Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1–4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1084

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to sources, both Russian and Assad regime aircraft carried out missile attacks on Al Sukkari at noon on August 2nd 2016. Sources stated that not only artillery, but rocket launchers, missiles and a vacuum missile were used in the raid on the neighbourhood. Only one source reported that the aircraft was Russian.

Multiple sources including LCCSY and Halab News said that one woman was killed in the raid. Another singular source, Enabbaladi News, does however state that three people were killed. No names were given.

Shahba Press claimed that more than two people were wounded in the attack; however, a Youtube video posted by the White Helmets showed many more people being taken to field hospitals in the aftermath of the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    White Helmets rescue civilians from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, White Helmets(
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syrian PC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Enabbaladi)

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1116

Incident date

August 10, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.933625, 36.633748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Reports estimated that between 11 and 23 civilians were killed and between 30 and 70 more were injured airstrikes on Idlib City – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Responsibility for the strikes was attributed to both regime and Russian warplanes by the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Shaam News Network. Halab Today blamed solely Russia, and published a video showing an injured man looking for his son, who he’d lost during the airstrikes.

Videos posted by Syrian Press Center show the physical destruction and fires caused by the airstrikes, which reportedly occurred close to a church and a market, destroying buildings, shops and private property.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

male named by VDC killed
named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Age unknown named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 23
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–70
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Images showing the extent of damage to the infrastructure. (via, Step News)
  • The exact moments the alleged raid hit. (via, SyrianPC)
  • Burning buildings can be seen in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SyrianPC)
  • Burning buildings can be seen in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SyrianPC)
  • Fires in the street in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Enab Baladi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties are rescued from the rubble in the aftermath of the incident in Idlib. (via, SyrianPC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives medical treatment following an alleged raid on 10th August 2016. (via, Shahbapress)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives medical treatment following an alleged raid on 10th August 2016. (via, RevolutionSyria)
  • An injured child is rushed from the scene following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 10th August 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of the incident in Idlib. (via, Step News)
  • The aftermath of the incident in Idlib. (via, Step News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Idlib vegetable market (ادلب، سوق الخضار), within the city of Idlib (إدلب). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Idlib are: 35.933625,36.633748.

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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 23
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–70
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1148

Incident date

August 14, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and nine civilians including up to three children died and as many as 20 more were wounded in airstrikes in Idlib city, said sources on the ground. The majority of reports attributed the event to Russia, though one said that regime helicopters also participated in the assault. Some others sources didn’t identify the culprit.

Syrian Press Centre – who blamed unidentified “warplanes” – reported that more than four strikes occurred, which hit “a medical point near the perimeter of agriculture and industry area and the perimeter of Alknsroh”. This resulted in the outbreak of fires.

The Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the death of one child. All4Syria put the death toll at five with “dozens” more wounded, adding that “Hai al-Sinaa and several neighbourhoods in the city were targeted by Russian raids”.

Smart, also pointing towards Moscow, put the death toll at six including two children with 18 more civilians wounded.

The highest death toll was given by Alsoura, at nine civilians with 20 more injured “”across the province”. The source blamed both “Russian warplanes and regime helicopters”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Samir Zaarour
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Mohammad Jihad Recep
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Renad Jamal
Age unknown named by VDC

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.93062, 36.63393. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On August 14th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strike with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the regions located to the south-west, east, and north-east from Deir ez-Zor. Two command and control centers, six large storages with ammunition and armament, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, seven off-roaders with large-caliber weaponry, and a lot of insurgents have been eliminated by the aviation strike." They also added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1180

Incident date

August 22, 2016

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

Eight civilians including women and children died and up to 20 more were wounded in airstrikes on Douma, local media reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. The majority of sources, however, accused the regime.

According to Syria News Desk, “about 20 vacuum missiles, cluster bombs and other surface-to-surface regime rockets were fired on the popular market and residential neighborhoods in Douma”. The Syrian Network for Human Rights and SRG Syria also blamed the regime. Smart News reported the use of “land to land missiles”.

The Smart News Agency also attributed the deaths – which it put at eight – to Assad, reporting that “eight raids targeted Palestinian houses in the city”.

However, LCCSY said that Russia was responsible, putting the death toll at six including three women and a child – with 20 more injured.

A number of other reports didn’t identify the culprit.

The Violations Documentation – who blamed “Syrian government and affiliated militias” – named the following five civilians as killed as well as confirming one unidentified civilian.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child female killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
A martyr from Barghuth family
Age unknown killed
Jamil Mirjana
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A survivor from an airstrike on Douma, on August 22nd, stands amidst the rubble of civilian homes (via Syrianpc)
  • Material damage to the town following an alleged raid. (via, LCCSY)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously wounded children are treated in a medical facility following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Douma. (via, DOUMA MEDICAL)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Douma. (via, Smart News)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Douma. (via, Halab TodayTV)

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 August 20th – 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
    8
  • (2 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1213

Incident date

September 2, 2016

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

Up to four civilians including at least one woman and her child died in an airstrike on Douma, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The majority of sources, including Qasioun, the Smart News Network, the Syrian Press Centre and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, attributed the event to the Syrian regime.

A number of sources said that a woman and her child died, though Smart put the death toll higher at “a child, two women and a man, with three more women wounded.”

However, Iran Abab Spring blamed Russia, reporting that “an entire family were either killed or wounded while they were eating”.

A second source, Yasser voile Dumaini, also pointed towards Moscow, saying that “a mother and her daughters” died.

Some reports said that the deaths occurred as a result of artillery, with SMO publishing footage reportedly showing Douma moments after the shelling.

The Violations Documentation Center named the following victims as killed by “warplanes” belonging to the “Syrian government and affiliated militias”:

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rawan Al-Ayrout reportedly killed along side her mother in Douma - the human cost of alleged Russian shelling (Tweet via Osama_Almasari) [Page no longer available accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A container full of blood in Douma - remnants of the alleged Russian airstrikes on the neighbourhood (via Halab Today TV)
  • The house where Fatme al-Airoot and Rawan al-Airoot died from injuries sustained in suspected Russian warplane shelling (Youtube via Yasser voile Dumaini)
  • Footage of buildings in Douma - destroyed in an aerial bombardment allegedly carried out by Russia (Youtube via Yasser voile Dumaini)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A local woman stands with the bodies of the mother and daughter killed in suspected Russian shelling on Douma (Youtube via Yasser voile Dumaini)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]