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

RS551

Incident date

February 5, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians included one child died in raids on Talbiseh, according to local sources. While the majority alleged that Russia was responsible, one source – Smart – says the deaths occurred as the result of shelling by Assad regime artillery.

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes have been carrying out nightly raids on Talbissa which has led to the fall of a number of martyrs and wounded among civilians.

The Violations Documentation Center linked to a video published by Talbissa which showed a wrapped body. The voice in the footage repeats the title: “Talbissa 5/2/2016 the martyr Khattab Al Ghafri following Russian raids.

Step News Agency reported: “Russian warplanes launched about 20 airstrikes targeting the neighborhood of Talbissah during the night from one o’clock until three in the morning.” They said that four civilians including a child died and more were injured.

Three victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

Damascus Human Rights Center named one additional victim of a Russian strike.

United Office of Rastan said that the child Malak Abudl Qadir (Taqtaq) was “found beside her house. She was killed as a result of Russian warplanes targeting her house, bringing the total number of martyrs to four as a result of intensive Russian raids.”

According to Syrian Press Center, Russia carried out more than 20 raids – including use of cluster bombs – targeting civilian homes – which killed three civilians and injured dozens more.

The voice over in a video published by the Shaam News Network says “cluster bombs are exploding in the Homs countryside from Russian airstrikes.”

However, one source, Smart blamed the regime, saying that they shelled Talbiseh with artillery from their villages of Najmeh and Musharrafah.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Listed by Violations Documentation Center killed
Adult male Listed by Violations Documentation Center killed
Child female Listed by Violations Documentation Center killed
Abdullah Munir Alloush
Age unknown male Listed by Damascus Human Rights Center killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing strikes on Talbiseh, Feb 5th.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the alleged victims (via Syrianpc)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “During air duty mission, Su-25 attack aircraft detected 3 hardware columns transporting militants, armament and munitions along the highway Al-Qaryatayn – Homs. The strike resulted in elimination of 9 heavy trucks with munitions and more than 40 militants.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS583

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

جبل الزاوية (ابلين), Jabal al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between five and nine civilians including one child died and at least 15 more were injured in an airstrike on Jabal al Zawiya, according to local sources. While most alleged this was the work of Russia, one said the regime was responsible.

Al Souria said that Russia was responsible, putting the death toll at six with at least 15 more injured. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime, putting the death toll at five.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that six civilians including a child were killed when “warplanes” launched a raid on areas of al-Ftirah village in Jabal al Zawiya. It did not specifically say that the warplanes were Russian.

Six victims of a Russian strike were named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies:

A further two victims and an unidentified were listed, again from a Russian strike..

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jamil Mukhtar Theljeh
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Mahmoud Khaled al-Hassan
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Wadah Abu ElKhaysh
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Bilal Abdullah Ibrahim
Child male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Mahmoud Khaled el Khalaf
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies killed
Shahid
Age unknown male Named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, Son of Hisham Hallak killed
Hisham Fitrawi
Age unknown male killed
Hisham Abdu Khallouf
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child1 woman0–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

For February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported that a “Su-24 bomber destroyed the ISIS commabd center in the Idlib province.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child1 woman0–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS616

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

كلجبرين‎, Kaljabreen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5365019, 37.1176958 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians including three to four children and one woman were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kaljabreen, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes targeted a school for sheltering displaced people in Kaljabreen, “causing a horrific massacre“. According to an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least six civilians including four children and a woman died when “suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Kaljabrein village“.

But a later SN4HR report put the death toll higher at 10 including three children and a woman, reporting that they were killed when Russian planes launched missiles next toOmar Bin Khattab mosque on the road between Kaljibreen town and Maree’ city in Aleppo“.

One victim 18-year-old male was named by the Violations Documentation Center  but it is not clear where in Aleppo he died. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also named him, and said he died following a Russian strike that targeted him in the northern Aleppo countryside on February 15th. He was also named for the incident on February 15th in Azaz (see above), so further research is required to ascertain which incident he died in.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC, from Raqqa killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A seriously graphic image of two deceased children. (via, SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS648

Incident date

February 20, 2016

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One 15-year-old girl, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Abu Dhuhur, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

However, according to Smart News Agency, the regime carried out a raid on the town.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

15 years old female Listed by VDC killed

Summary

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

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 strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS680

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

زاكية, Zakiya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.3323197, 36.1577647 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, reported the death of Hatem Abu Mohammad due to “indiscriminate Russian warplane shelling“.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown killed

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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 strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS712

Incident date

March 6, 2016

Location

فيخة, Fikha village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3635807, 37.6419963 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three non-combatants including a child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fikha, according to local sources.

Syriashuhada said three unidentified civilians died in a Russian strike. HNN also put the death toll at three, attributing the incident to Russia. According to Alamwai a child was among the three fatalities, though didn’t say who carried out the raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

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 strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS744

Incident date

March 26, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center named two civilians, Zahra Fihan, and her son Mohammad Abdullah al-Rashed, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Raqqa.

The victims were also named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, which blamed Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

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 strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS776

Incident date

April 28, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a summary of Russian raids carried out on April 28th, LCCSY said three civilians had died in two strikes on Sakhour. RFS News also blamed Russia, reporting “a martyr and a number of wounded in Russian shelling by missiles on Al-Sakhur”. However, several other sources blamed the regime instead.

According to the Syrian Network, regime shelling claimed one victim. Likewise, in a tweet, AJABreaking spoke of “dead and a number of injured in regime raids on Al-Sakhur, Aleppo”. Halab news showed the destruction allegedly caused by regime shelling on Al-Sakhur. RadioAlkul equally blamed the regime, but put the death toll at two and spoke of “a number of wounded civilians”. In a tweet, Shahed_Ayan spoke of a “new massacre by regime warplanes targeting residential buildings in Qadi Askar”. Al-Buraq Media institution also blamed the regime and said “1 got killed in Al-Sakhour”.

However, Shaam News Network referred to both regime and Russian planes carrying out strikes in Aleppo in recent days, and did not specify which of these was responsible. They said that one civilian died in Sakhour.

Step News also reported the incident, saying that “[a] wareplane targeted the following neighbourhoods in Aleppo: Bei’deen, Al-Harableh, Al Ard Al-Hamra, Al-Sakhur, Al-Marjeh, Tareeq Al-Bab, Al-Salheen”, but did not say who was responsible.

One victim of “warplane shelling” (the planes were not identified) was named by the Violations Documentation Center as 13-year-old Abdulqader Mohammad al-Masri, though the date of his death (April 29th) is one day out from this incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

13 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

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 child)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]