Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Russian Military
Country
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Incident Code

RS253

Incident date

December 10, 2015

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807607, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One 30-year-old male civilian, Mohammad Muffed Razzouq, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Salheen, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No further details are available at the present time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Muffed Razzouq
30 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
Official source

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

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS286

Incident date

December 17, 2015

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight to nine civilians including two children and five women were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Azaz, according to multiple sources.

The White Helmets, Al Jazeera, the Shaam News Network and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Russia carried out the raid, which killed nine non-combatants.

SOHR said this included a child, a girl and five women from the same family.

Syria4all, Aksalsaser, Smart News Agency and Alan TV also blamed Russian for the attack.

White Helmets also commented on one Unidentified victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Mohammad Joma’a Hamada
70 years old male from Sayeed family, named by the White Helmets killed
Wife of Mohammad Joma’a Hamada
65 years old female named by the White Helmets killed
Mariyam Mohammad Joma’a Hamada,
45 years old female named by the White Helmets killed
Sabiha Mohammad Joma’a Hamada
40 years old female named by the White Helmets killed
Safia Mohammad Joma’a Hamada
35 years old female named by the White Helmets killed
Daniya Mohammad Joma’a Hamada
16 years old female named by the White Helmets killed
Juma’a
10 years old male the grandson of Mohammad Joma’a Hamada, named by the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (2 children5 women1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

No Russian reports were published for December 16th-18th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (2 children5 women1 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS318

Incident date

December 26, 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

Four civilians including a child were reported killed in major alleged Russian air raids on Palmyra.

Revolution Palmyra reported as many as 60 strikes on the city by Russia, including with cluster munitions. It said the raids were concentrated as follows:

“- 10 air strikes on the city hospital which led to massive destruction

– 10 Raids on the Dr. Umayya building and surrounding homes in the central area.

– 12 airstrikes targeted a cultural center and the home of Dr. Mahmoud Bout which led to its almost complete collapse

– More Than 30 raids with cluster bombs on groves led to the outbreak of massive fires.

This led to the martyrdom of three people from the Aaborah family and the injuring of dozens.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mezyed al-Hasan al-Berri
Adult male killed
Khaleel Fnaikh al-Dwaish
Adult male killed
Mefleh Saad al-Radi
Adult male killed
Musab al-Ali Asaad Batman
Child named by Revolution Palmyra killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Musab al-Ali Asaad Batman, who was killed in an alleged Russian raid on 25th December 2015. (via, Palmyra Palmyra Today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 25th-28th, Russia has reported that “In the course of three days, since December 25, the Russian aviation group has performed 164 combat sorties engaging 556 terrorists’ objects located in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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

RS350

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

أبو طلطل, Abu Taltal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.33714, 37.52333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four named civilians from one family including a child died when Russian warplanes allegedly fired missiles on the town of Abou Taltal in Aleppo governorate.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Aref Hazouri
Adult male VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Inas Hazouri
Child female VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Firas Hazouri
Adult male VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Mogammad Hazouri
Adult male VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • 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

Incident Code

RS382

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

قاضي عسكر, Qadi A'skar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.20131, 37.17594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven to ten civilians were killed and dozens injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on a mosque in Qadi A’skar, according to a number of sources.

Activists told Shaam News that Russian warplanes targeted the mosque of Agha Jakk during afternoon prayers, resulting in the deaths of 10 people with dozens more wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Russia, reporting that at least five were killed and dozens more wounded.

An initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that regime warplanes were responsible. However, the Network subsequently said that Russia carried out the attack, killing seven.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (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 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS414

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

معردبسة, Ma’ardabssa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7772965, 36.769352 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed and several other civilians injured following an alleged Russian raid on the town of Ma’ardabssa, according to the Shaam News Network.

Fresh Syria reported that “a woman was killed  in the village of Ma’ardebsah Idlib, a result of the Russian aviation targeting the village on Sunday afternoon with three air raids. The raids also resulted in a number of people being wounded, some of them critically”.

Free Syria also reported three Russian strikes but did not mention casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dibeh Mohammad al-Shamali –
Adult female said that she was killed by regime shelling killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin makes no mention of carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS425

Incident date

January 20, 2016

Location

حزانو, Hazana, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.08965, 36.71404 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including four children were killed and 20 injured in an airstrike on the town of Hazana, according to multiple sources. While most sources blamed Russia for the attack, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that it was committed by the Assad regime, while British Foreign Office told the Telegraph that they could not be certain whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that seven non-combatants including three children died and about 20 others were injured when suspected Russian warplanes bombed areas of Hazana. They added that the death toll was expected to rise as some people were in a critical condition.

According to the Shaam News Network, five were killed, including a child, with more wounded, when Russian warplanes targeted residential buildings with two highly explosive missiles, leading to extensive destruction.

At 1.06 in a video published by Al Jisr, they put the death toll at five, including one child, saying that the victims died when Russia targeted the village with vacuum bombs.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that six people including three children were killed when regime warplanes fired missiles on the town.

The London-based Telegraph newspaper published an article in which they reported that the strike was on a British-funded bakery “designed to help 18,000 Syrians“, adding that the raid on Hazana came hours before the DFID-funded facility was due to open. They put the death toll at eight, including three children. The report stated that Russia was responsible for the raid, but went on the quote the UK Foreign Office, who said “there could not be complete certainty as to whether Russian or Syrian warplanes had carried out the raid on Jan 20, but Britain held the Kremlin responsible for a series of indiscriminate strikes.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Mohammad Hijazi Saleh
Adult male killed
Leen Firas Saleh
Child female killed
Nour Firas Saleh 
Child female killed
Ahmad Firas Saleh 
Child male killed
Yehya Mohammad Yehya Saleh 
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Ismaeil al-Ali
Adult male killed
Moetaz Imad Khateeb 
Adult male killed
Sate Badleh
Adult was listed under Maarat Misreen but it says he was killed in Hazana killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids on Hazana. Footage shows a man pulling a small child out of the rubble and carrying it to the ambulance. (via, Kamal Dabas)
  • A news Bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike in Hazana. (via, Al Jisir TV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstike on Hazana. (via, SNN)
  • Showing vehicles destroyed by the alleged airstrike in Hazana. (via, SNN)
  • Image capturing the exact moment the alleged airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Civilian homes destroyed by the alleged airstrikes on Hazana, 20th January 2016. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians attempting to clear up the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via, SNN)
  • The aftermath of the incident on Hazana on 20th January 2016. (via, SNN)
  • A civilian covered in dust after being trapped under the rubble in Hazana. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 20 2016, the says “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have performed 82 combat sorties engaging 204 terrorist objects in Syria“, but makes no mention of carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

RS459

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.228263, 36.816857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

12 civilians including four to five children and five women were killed – and 20 others injured – in airstrikes on Termanin, according to multiple sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that the target of the strike, a military commander of an Islamic battalion, was a 13th victim.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published an initial report in which they said that the strike was carried out by regime warplanes. They put the death toll at at least 12 including five women and four children.

But according to a later report by SN4HR, Russian aircraft were responsible, killing 13 people including three women and five children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Russia, reporting that “the commander of al-Mujahedeen battalion in the Islamic movement of Ahrar al-Sham” died along with 12 members of his family, including five women and five children, when Russian warplanes targeted his house and other homes in Termanin.

The Shaam News Network also put the civilian death toll at 12, with more than 20 wounded. They published images of injured children, and said that an aerial bombardment by Russian planes targeted non-combatants’ homes, resulting in “a terrible massacre against civilians and destruction of residential buildings.“ Activists told SNN that three houses were completely destroyed.

A video posted by the White Helmets depicts the aftermath of an “air raid on the town of Tarmanin“, but did not say who was responsible. They put the number killed at six civilians, with 20 more injured – “most of them in a critical condition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child is placed in an ambulance after an alleged Russian airstrike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured child following an alleged Russian strike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians are dug out of the rubble by the White Helmets in the immediate aftermath of the incident in Termanin. (via, The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives medical treatment at a hospital in Termanin. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory,” but makes no mention of strikes in Idlib.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]