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

RS204

Incident date

November 28, 2015

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

Three civilians were reported killed, and five to six injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Maarat al Numan, according to multiple sources.

Shaam News Network said the raid targeted the only water well in the town – at a time when a number of citizens were using the facility. It posted a video depicting the aftermath of the alleged strike. At 0’33” the sign on a wall reads: ‘The project for drinking water in Ma’arat Al Nu’uman’. A grain store or bakery was also reported destroyed.

A witness interviewed by Shaam notes: “The emergency centres were targeted in Ma’arat Al-Nu’man with a Russian missile. This is a humanitarian services centre which has no sign of militants and over there is the well of Ma’arat which feeds into the town. It is used for emergencies [fires etc] Is this a place of terrorists?  A child died here and two other people who had come to collect water. To the Arabs and to the civilised world – these are humanitarian targets that Putin is bombing.”

Moustafa Ghareeb, a local media activist, told the Syrian Network for Human Rights: “On Saturday the Russian warplanes launched four airstrikes on the city between 11:30 and 12:00 p.m. The airstrike targeted a water well of the Dourat Al Kheir Organization. This well provides the city with more than 130 filled water-tankers daily. The airstrike also targeted a wheat storage place which killed two individuals including a tank driver and injured 6 workers. The well and the storage place were damaged greatly.

The SN4HR named two victims killed in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male named by SN4HR killed
Child male named by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image depicting the ruins of a wheat warehouse, following an alleged Russian airstrike on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, November 28th (via Almarra Today)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan. Nov 28th (via ShaamNetwork S.N.N)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmad Abdullah Mezar Makhzoum (via VDC)
  • 'A new airstrike by an alleged Russian aircraft hit a store for wheat and a water well in Ma'arat al-Nu'man in rural Idlib', Nov 28th (via Almarra today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS237

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.252649, 37.079115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians including three children and one woman were reported killed and nine to 24 wounded in airstrikes on Kafr Hamra, according to multiple sources. According to Shahed Ayan there were two strikes, with both killing civilians.

It remains unclear who was responsible for the raid, with conflicting reports. Some claimed the regime was responsible, others that Russian warplanes targeted the area, or could not positively attribute responsibility.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes claimed the lives of 10 non-combatants and injured dozens more. The network posted an image of three siblings who died in the event. According to SNN: “The neighborhoods and cities and towns of Aleppo and its countryside have had rotten and terrifying days, where Russian aircraft haven’t left the skies, they were seen flying in swarms, ahead of launching hundreds of raids on various areas of the province, especially on the southern and northern countryside.”

Seven victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center, who along with the Media Office for Kafr Humra and Shaam News also stated that the civilians died as a result of Russian strikes on the city.

A number of videos and images were posted by the White Helmets who worked to remove bodies from the rubble and posted several videos showing bodies being salvaged, including an image of a child around 5 months old being removed from the ruins. They reported that seven non-combatants died and 15 others were wounded 15 others, but did not attribute responsibility.

Media activist Ibrahim Omar posted a video depicting the aftermath of the alleged attack, including images of dead bodies and injured adults and children but only stated that Kafr Humra was “targeted by highly explosive missiles“, not who was fired them.

In contrast the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the attack, which it said killed seven civilians including one woman, was allegedly by regime warplanes who fired missiles near a mosque “causing a massacre” and “severely damaging it”.

The seven victims named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdulla Ramadan
Adult male killed
Hamdo Ramadan
Adult male killed
Raed Ramadan
Adult male killed
Aamer Ramadan 
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Mohammad Salem al-Mahmoud
Adult male killed
Mohammad Sami al-Mahmoud
Adult male killed

Family members (3)

Abdul Jaleel
Child Siblings were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed
Hala
Child Siblings were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed
Yasser Yasser Al Mahmoud
Child Siblings were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. killed

The victims were named as:

Hasan Ahmad al-Khateeb
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Three siblings allegedly killed in the Russian strike on Kafr Hamra, December 7th 2015. (via SNN)
  • Scenes of injured children. (via, Ibrahim Omar)
  • The moment the missiles fell down on Kafr Hamra. (via, Media Office of Kafr Hamra)
  • The scale of the destruction to the local infrastructure following missiles which rained down on Kafr Hamra. (via, Media Office in Kafra Hamra)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS269

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported killed and 20 injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Al Bab. Up to 10 ISIL militants were also reported killed.

Media activist Nassim Al Shamali said Russian warplanes launched several raid with cluster bombs on Daesh-occupied Al Bab, targeting al Noveaute street, Dowar al Manshie and several other areas. He said four of the 20 injured were in a critical condition and that the death toll would likely rise.

Halab News also reported three deaths including 27-year old Abdul-Qader al-Issa. But it only blamed Mr al-Issa’s death on Russia, saying that two further unnamed victims died after an airstrike by the Syrian regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Qader al-Issa
27 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS302

Incident date

December 22, 2015

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians are listed as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Idlib on December 22nd, according to the Violations Documentation Center. However both victims are also listed as having died in a strike on Idlib on December 20th. There are no additional reports of airstrikes on Idlib for December 22nd.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS334

Incident date

December 30, 2015

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male, named by the Violations Documentation Center as media activist Yousef Abo Bilal, (aka Abu al-Homsi Joshua) was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike.

While the VDC lists Hamidiya neighbourhood in Homs, Yousef Abo Bilal actually died in Palmyra. His non-combatant status is also questioned.

As Enabbaladi notes: “Activists from the city of Homs mourned media activist Abu Bilal al-Homsi, who died in an air raid on the city of Palmyra in Homs on Wednesday 30th December. He wrote as activist Abu al-Homsi Joshua through his personal Facebook page… Abu Bilal had announced [in 2014] his pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Yousef Abo Bilal, killed by a contested Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SNN)
  • Yousef Abo Bilal, killed by a contested Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Enab Baladi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia does not appear to have published a strike summary for December 30th-31st 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS366

Incident date

January 11, 2016

Location

معارة الارتيق, Maarat al Arteek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.247681, 37.053483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Activists told Shaam News that Russian warplanes targeted Maarat al Arteek with three strikes, using highly explosive missiles. They said that an automated bakery and residential buildings were damaged, which resulted in the death of one person and the injury of 10 others, including serious cases taken to field hospitals.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS398

Incident date

January 16, 2016

Location

معرسة الخان, Ma’arasta al Khan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.38032, 37.0744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ma’arasta al Khan, according to the Shaam News Network.

SNN said that 10 civilians were killed in airstrikes on the cities and towns of the northern countryside of Aleppo since Saturday morning: four in Ma’arsta al-Khan, two in Hayyan, two in Tal Rifaat and two in Tamoura, in addition to dozens wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “a number of civilians were killed by Russian airstrikes targeted Ma’arsta al-Khan in the northern countryside,” but did not give casualty figures.

Additionally, the White Helmets said that there were airstrikes on Ma’arasta al Khan, but only said they were carried out by “warplanes“. They published a video showing members of their team putting out fires on the Ma’arasta al Khan road.

The Qasioun News Agency published a video showing a “huge fire” following alleged Russian strikes.

Jisr Satellite Channel and Aleppo Countryside Ma’arasta Khan also attributed the incident to Russia.

However, according to Fresh Syria, the regime was responsible: “Four civilians were killed and several others wounded on Saturday morning, when regime helicopters dropped three explosive barrels on the village of ‘Mararasta Khan’ in the countryside north of Aleppo, according to our correspondent.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'The civil defence moving martyrs and wounded following raids by warplanes on the village of Ma’arasta Khan in the Northern Aleppo countryside.' (via, The White Helmets)
  • Huge fires as a result of alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids on 16th January 2016. (via, The White Helmets)
  • More footage of the fires which continued into the evening due to their scale. (via, Qasioun News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS430

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Location

البغيلية, Al Bgailieh, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.383522, 40.090313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and six civilians died in an airstrike on Al Bgailieh, according to local sources – though only one source alleged that Russia was responsible.

Step News Agency Tweeted that Russian strikes had hit Al Bgailieh.

According to the Syria News Network, members of Daesh were “killed and wounded following clashes with the Syrian Arab army on the outskirts of al Baghiliya and the north western part of the city“, though they made no mention of civilian casualties.

Baladi News reported that six non-combatants died and others were injured when “warplanes” launched two raids on Al Bgailieh which targeted the “Nour Mosque“, but they did not identify the planes.

The two victims – killed “warplane shelling” – were named by the VDC.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

No Russian reports were published for January 21st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]