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

CS1297

Incident date

July 29, 2017

Location

Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were wounded in an airstrike on the main road to al Mayadin garage, local media reported, though it was unclear whether the Coalition or Russia were responsible.

Radio AlKul reported that “several civilians were injured by flying cluster bombs near the garage in Al Mayadin”.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “warplanes, whether Russian or affiliated with the International Coalition it is unknown, shelled places in the area extending from the public road to Al-Mayadin Garage, leaving several people injured”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

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 July 29th-30th: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters” and “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed five ISIS oil stills and four oil tanks.“

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1533 RS2543

Incident date

September 26, 2017

Location

البلعوم, Al Mayadin, Al Baloum neighbourhood, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians, including one woman and one child, were reported killed following airstrikes on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor governorate. The Coalition and Russian warplanes were blamed by local media.

According to Al Natek, Russian raids targeted the city resulting in four civilians deaths. Smart also believed the attack was carried out by Russian warplanes, asserting that four died including one woman and one child.

However Step accused the Coalition, alleging that “More than five raids by the international coalition targeted Ina’ash al Reef and the water crossing and near al Rahba castle in the city of al Mayadin”.

Nasser Khalifa Al A’yada, his wife Houria Al Jaber and his nephew Ahmad Abd al-Khalifa Al A’yada were listed as killed by the Euphrates Post. However there was some confusion, as in a subsequent Euphrates Post report no civilians casualties were mentioned. In a third Euphrates Post report, it referred to “military aircraft believed to be members of the International Alliance” as culprits. According to the source “the house of Mr. Ahmad Al Hamad Al-Aboud and Al-Zubari and Al Toub and Sa’alo on the main Deir Ezzor – al Mayadeen road” were targeted.

The shelling reportedly focused on the house of Mr. Khalif Al A`yada an the houses adjacent to it.

In addition to the charred bodies and the fall of many wounded in the neighbourhood, a petrol shop was also bombed in front of Nasser al-Khalif’s home, and a fire broke out as a result of the burning of many cars.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, however, said that “Syrian regime forces killed several civilians from one family on September 26th in Al Mayadin”.

The incident occured at 01:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Nasser Khalifa Al A’yada
Adult male Husband killed
Houria Al Jaber
Adult female Wife killed
Ahmad Abd al-Khalifa Al A’yada
Age unknown male Nephew killed

The victims were named as:

Laith Allawi al-Jabr
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Jamal Jamal al-Ja'ayleh
  • Image supposedly showing the impact of the strikes
  • News bulletin in the aftermath. (via Jisr satellite Channel)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a burned body in the aftermath. (via Almayadin today)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Baloum (البلعوم) neighbourhood/roundabout in the city of Al Mayadin (المیادین). Sources also mention multiple additional strikes in different areas of the city: Ina’ash Al Reef, the water crossing, Al Rahba castle and a possible second airstrike on Al Baloum that didn’t result in any civilian casualties. The coordinates for the Al Baloum (البلعوم) roundabout are: 35.030682, 40.429162.

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 Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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 September 25th – 26th the Coalition reported “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.” It additionally reported that “On Sept. 25, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, a fighting position, a heavy machine gun, and an IED.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

RS1080

Incident date

August 1, 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

More than 10 civilians were killed in alleged airstrikes in Abu al Duhur, close to the location of a downed Russian warplane, according to multiple sources. Reports are conflicted as to whether Russian or Assad regime forces were responsible for the deaths.

Syria Newsdesk reported that “Russian warplanes targeted with more than 30 raids the location where a Russian helicopter was downed in eastern Idlib and the villages of southern Aleppo, which led to the deaths of civilians and wounding of others, amid attempts by civil defence to remove victims trapped under the rubble.”

Halab Today also blamed Russia for the incident, but reported “more than three raids.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also spoke ofintensive raids carried out by a Russian warplane in the Abu al-Duhur area in the eastern countryside of Idlib.It reported that at least 12 citizens were killed, including two children and two female citizens, one of them an old woman, with others injured.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian aggression planes poured their anger on civilians”. It spoke of “many violent air strikes” in the villages close to the crash site of the Russian helicopter. Activists told the network that the raids killed at least ten people and left dozens wounded.

The LCCSY also put the death toll at ten and said that more than 20 were injured due to Russian airstrikes with vacuum missiles and cluster bombs”. In a later post it stated that 16 people were “killed in the battle breaking the siege on Aleppo and by the Russian airstrikes on the village of ‪#‎abu_zohour‬”. In a third post, the LCCSY restated that the raids were carried out by Russia in the area where a Russian helicopter was downed and the five-member crew was killed.

Syria News Desk also reported the incident and spoke of “more than 30 raids killing at least nine civilians and wounding more than 25 others”.

The Violations Documentation Center listed five civilians and said they were killed by ‘Russian troops’, including an unnamed female child, and an unidentified male child.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights mentioned the incident, however blaming“government warplanes and its allies”. It reported “government forces shelling on Tal Al Toqan town and its neighbouring villages in the suburbs of Idlib governorate” and put the death toll at 13.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Daughter of Riad Makeen
Child female named by VDC killed
Jassim Mohammed Khalif
28 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Bair Ibrahim Al-Mohammad
65 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Riad Makain Almthan
5 years old female named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Hassan Hussein Seikho
30 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
An anonymous martyr
15 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Anwar Mohammed Juma
70 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Muhammad Ali Owaid
70 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Fateem Mohammed Al Jassim
60 years old named by abu.adduhur.mc killed
Ayat Mohammed Ghajar Fateem
Child female named by abu.adduhur.mc killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (4 children2 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Abu Adh Dhuhur, Aug 1st (via Orient)
  • An injured man is rescued from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Ara News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Deceased civilians are covered. (via, Smart News)
  • The exact moment the raids hit. (via, All4Syria)
  • The immediate aftermath of the incident in Abu al Dahur. (via, Alaraby News)

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
    14 – 16
  • (4 children2 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1112

Incident date

August 9, 2016

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1994732, 36.871233 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed by warplane rockets, according to Halab Today and VDS-SY. A further two civilians were also injured in the attack, according to the Smart News Agency.

Sources attributed the attack to Russian warplanes, and reported that fires broke out in civilian homes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male a displaced person from Aleppo killed

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ 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 August 1st – 10th 2016.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1144

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

الصناعة, Hai al Sinaa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.929597, 36.643589 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and nine civilians died and up to 20 more were injured in an airstrike on Hai al-Sinaa, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Radio Al Kul was one of several sources attributing the event to Russia. It put the death toll at six with 20 more wounded.

However, other sources blamed both Russia and the regime. Arabi21, for example, said that nine civilians including children died in Russian and regime strikes on “a popular market, the municipal stadium and vegetable market and the industry and consumer compound”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • 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 (11) [ 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 August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1176

Incident date

August 21, 2016

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named civilian died and several more were wounded in shelling of Ghantou, according to local media. Most sources blamed the regime, specifying a mortar or rocket attack.

@MasarPressNet blamed the regime for firing mortars on the town, while @RadioAlKul said that regime artillery strikes were conducted. Other sources blaming the regime included LCCSY and RFS Media Office.

A number of other reports said that airstrikes had been carried out over the area – though the sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

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
    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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Bashar Mahmoud Assaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bashar Mahmoud Assaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • The destruction caused to civilian homes. (via, Ghantou hadath)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The burial of Bashar Mahmoud Assaf, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Ghantou hadath)

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
    1
  • (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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1209

Incident date

September 1, 2016

Location

Hussaynah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.35905, 40.15113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and ten civilians including a woman and her child died in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Hussaynah, according to local media.

Alamawi, Euphrates Post, Mkmoam123, Alnaba and Alsharqia24 all blamed Russia.

Euphrates Post put the death toll as high as 10.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Basma Ramadan
Adult female killed
Abdul-Aziz
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (1 child1 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 (9) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (1 child1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1241

Incident date

September 8, 2016

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

Up to five civilians including as many as four children died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Qasioun reported the death of a female child, blaming the regime. Other sources also published images of a dead child.

According to LCCSY, “regime warplanes fired C5 missiles and used heavy machine guns in Khan Sheikoun and killed three children and wounded dozens.” Though in a later report, LCCSY appeared to change its position and attribute the event strikes to Moscow.

Smart, also pointing towards the regime, said that “three children from the Al-Kutayni family were killed and 20 wounded”. Nabdsyria put the death toll as high as five.

Other sources – Syriamubasher and RFS north – blamed Russia.

The Syrian Observatory joined several other sources in not apportioning blame. It reported: “Warplanes targeted areas in the city of Khan Shaykhun south of Idlib province, killing a baby and injuring several people, including citizen women and children. The number of children killed rose to four since Monday morning, including three children from one family; two of whom were brothers. The death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation in addition to the presence of missing people under the rubble”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed
A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed
A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photographs of children killed or severely wounded following suspected Regime shelling (Tweet via @edlepnews)
  • A street in Khan Sheikhoun full of rubble and clouds of smoke following suspected Regime warplane attacks (via Qasioun)
  • Plumes of smoke rise above Khan Sheikhoun after suspected Regime warplane shelling (via LCCSY)
  • Local people salvage materials from a demolished building in Khan Sheikhoun (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby killed in the suspected warplane shelling on Khan Sheikhan - the source did not apportion blame (Tweet via @syria191124)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Regime warplane attacks, laid and covered on the streets of Khan Sheikhoun (Tweet via @jisrtv)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child killed in suspected Regime attacks - the body was laid on top of a UNHCR blanket (Tweet via @PrimoAhmad)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child is comforted by an adult after sustaining injuries in alleged Regime offensive (Tweet via @ALAMAWI)
  • An ambulance at the scene in Khan Sheikhan (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A burnt out vehicle on the street in Khan Sheikhan - material evidence of alleged warplane strikes (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A White Helmets member rides down the in street Khan Sheikhan where the suspected airstrikes took place (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A plume of smoke above Khan Sheikhoun the source alleged C5 missiles used by warplanes responsible - they did not apportion blame (via Syrianpc)

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
    1 – 5
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]