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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS013

Incident date

October 3, 2015

Location

إحسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7209426, 36.5562773 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian aircraft reportedly bombed the town of Ihsem in Idlib, killing five members of one family – four of whom were young girls.

The victims were later named.

The White Helmets civil defence force tried to reach the dead and injured, but were subjected to a ‘double tap’ strike which killed one of their rescuers and injured six others, two seriously. In a later interview with al Jazeera, survivor Kaddour al Zaeim spoke of the deaths of family members.

While most sources blamed Russian aircraft, the Syrian Network initially said the attack was the work of the Assad regime. Following an investigation it later attributed the deaths to Russia, citing local activist Kasem Abu Nizar: “At 1pm on Saturday, Russian warplanes launched four airstrikes on Ihsim town in Jabal Al Zawiya in Idlib suburbs. The raids targeted the poultry farm which was shelled with 10 rockets. The first and second raids shelled three rockets, and the third and fourth raids shelled two rockets at a time.”

The incident occured at 13:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Mariam Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Iynas al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Maysaa Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Fatema Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Waheede Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Abdo Al Zaeim
Age unknown male injured
Khadija al Zaeim
Age unknown female injured
Khaled al Zaeim
Age unknown male injured

The victims were named as:

Essam al-Saleh
Adult male Civil Defence Staff killed
Mohammad Faress Fadel
Adult male Civil Defence Staff injured
Ahmad Najjar
Age unknown male injured
Khaled al Assa'ad
Age unknown male injured
Ali Takika
Age unknown male injured
Moustapha al Droubi
Age unknown male injured
Aya al A'ssar
Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (4 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (32) [ collapse]

  • Locals and White Helmets at the scene of a reported Russian strike on Ihsem, shortly before the aircraft returned (via SOHR)
  • Issam al Saleh, a civil defence member killed in the strike (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Issam al Saleh, the Civil Defence worker killed in the strike on Ihsim. Via: Civil Defence [graphic]
  • Mohammad Faress Fadel a member of the civil defence injured while rescuing civilians following the alleged Russian raids in Ihsim. (via Ihsim Martyrs Facebook page)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of the airstrike on Ihsem, Oct 3rd 2015. (via Al Jazeera)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • The aftermath of the strike. (via SN4HR)
  • Video showing the aftermath including interviews with rescuers. One man says they pulled out five kids and their mother. Another civilian says this was a poultry farm. (via SN4HR)
  • Mohammad Faress Fadel, injured in an alleged Russian raid. (via Ihsem martyrs facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin reported a number of airstrikes in Idlib for October 3rd 2015, though made no direct reference to Ihsem.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (4 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3172

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and ten civilians were killed, and dozens were wounded (mostly women and children), in air and artillery strikes on Harasta, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

@MOAZALSHAMY described the incident as a massacre; they attributed blame to Russia.

The Step News Agency put the death toll at five; Syria Noor raised it to eight; and @MOAZALSHAMY and @Omyusifsyria tweeted that 10 had died.

Alongside the eight named victims, one unidentified adult male was also reported by the Violations Documentation Centre, who blamed the “Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Hasan Najeb Abo Khalil, a member of the White Helmets, was among the fatalities.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasan Najeb Abo Khalil
Adult male Member of the White Helmets killed
Bayan Sheleh
Child female killed
Hamed Afouf
Adult male killed
Naser Katkout
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Ess
Adult male killed
Anas Badran
Adult male killed
Hesham Saker
Adult male killed
Khaldoun Ayaash
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (1 child8 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The remains of a body following an alleged Russian airstrike on Harasta , Damascus, March 5th 2018 (via @MOAZALSHAMY)

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (1 child8 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1765

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

سَرْمِين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904042, 36.726111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 10 civilians, including three to five children, a woman, and three men, were killed and at least 15 others were injured in airstrikes against the town of Sarmin in Idlib, according to sources on the ground – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The wounded were taken to a local field hospital to receive medical treatment. Most sources reported at least nine or 10 civilians were killed while only @HalabTodayTV published the low estimate of five civilian deaths.

According to Syria News Desk, the town of Sarmin was under the control of the opposition at the time of airstrikes. The airstrikes reportedly struck a popular market, causing widespread destruction of buildings and homes. Many of those killed were refugees from other besieged areas that were seeking shelter in Sarmin.

The majority of local sources, including the Local Coordination Committee of Syria and @MousaAlomar, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes. However, there were reports from Syrian Network for Human Rights that regime planes carried out the attacks.

Other sources, including Syria News Desk and @Alkhabar_Agency, were not able to definitively identify who to blames and listed both Russian and regime planes as carrying out airstrikes in the area.

Graphic images and videos from the scene of a civilian massacre in Sarmin showed the bodies of adults and children killed in the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleh Habab
Age unknown killed
Omar Faris Habab
Child killed
Tahseen Jamal Al-Din
Age unknown From Darayya killed
Mohammed Jamal Al-Din
Age unknown From Darayya killed
Ghaith Saleh Bare
Child killed
Jameleh Hafar
Age unknown female Wife of Mustafa Abboud killed
Tariq Majed Samoud
Child killed
Abdul Samad Mufid Samoud
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (3–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images from the scene of a civilian massacre, Sarmin - Dec. 6th (via youtube)
  • Civil Defense teams rescued civilians from the rubble following the airstrike, Sarmin - Dec. 6th (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The victims of airstrikes against Sarmin - Dec. 6th (via @SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sarmin (سَرْمِين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.904302, 36.728363. 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
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (3–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS357

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

حي العامرية, Al Ameria (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17204, 37.13025 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 10 civilians including one to three children were killed and up to 15 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Ameria and Al Sukkari neighbourhoods, according to multiple sources.

The White Helmets said that eight civilians died and three were injured in a raid on Al Sukkari, but they did not state was was responsible for the attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that eight were killed in a strike near the al-Abbas mosque between the neighbourhoods of Al Sukkari and Al Ameria. Four were from the same family, including one child and five elderly people. They did not say who the “warplanes” belonged to, but added that the death toll was expected to rise.

The Shaam News Network put the number of deaths higher – at 10 – and blamed Russian aircraft for targeting non-combatants directly in Al Sukkari, adding that the shelling caused material damage, resulting in the complete destruction of two houses and partial destruction of a third.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that 10 had died, including three children and 15 others were injured when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Al Ameria.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Shaker Hweidi
70 years old male killed
Omar Hweidi
84 years old male killed
Abdulaziz Hweidi
82 years old male killed

Family members (4)

Kamel Sultan
81 years old male killed
Mohammad Sultan
82 years old male killed
Nader Sultan
30 years old male killed
From Sultan Family
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Hassan Mukahal
Adult male  additionally named by The Damascus Centre for Human Rights, from Amiriyah who died “in indiscriminate shelling by the Russian air force.” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (1–3 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets at the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Sukkari which they said killed eight civilians. (via, White Helmets)
  • An interview in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid, shows huge amounts of destruction. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies being tended to following an alleged Russian raid. Footage also reveals civilians attempting to clear the rubble. (via, AFP)

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
    8 – 10
  • (1–3 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS741

Incident date

March 23, 2016

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten civilians including four children died in airstrikes on Deir ez-Zor, according to local sources. Most reports blame the Assad regime.

Shaam News said the strikes had been carried out by “Syrian and Russian planes”. It reported 20 injured non-combatants in addition to the ten killed.

However, both Step News Agency and Baladi said that the regime was responsible. Baladi reported media sources from the province as saying “that warplanes bombed Khasarat, the old airport and the area around the roundabout Ghassan Abboud in Deir ez-Zor city center.” It added that the injured included three children who had their legs amputated.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ra’ed Hamoud Al-Sabri
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Safwan Al-Hweij
Child male killed
Massa Jihad Al-Sha’ban Al-Hanadah
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (4 children1 man)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Safwan Al-Hweij, victim of the air strikes targeting Deir Ez-Zor (via KhHweij twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (4 children1 man)
  • 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 (9) [ 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
Official source

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

RS2363

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Location

Arbeen, Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

35.801386, 39.27784 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 10 civilians including four to eight children and between one and two women died and as many as 50 others were wounded in multiple airstrikes on Arbeen in the Damascus countryside, according to sources on the ground. While several reports attributed this event to Russia, a number of sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

The lowest death count was given as eight civilians, though @shahed_alep and Ahmad Shibli put the number killed at ten – and laid the blame with Russia. Ahmad Shibli specifically said that a “Russian raid targeted civilian houses”, adding that seven of the fatalities were children – and that a further 50 non-combatants were wounded in the strike(s).

According to RFS Media Office, “Russian air force fighter jets bombed the city of Arbeen in the eastern Ghouta with more than 10 air strikes using dozens of space rockets, resulting in the deaths of eight civilian martyrs, including five children and two women.”

RFS’ correspondent went on to add that the Russian missiles reportedly “penetrated the upper floors” of a building and that missiles “exploded inside the shelters”.

Alarabiya, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that “it was not clear whether Russia or the Syrian regime” were responsible for the strikes. The report said that “according to the Observatory, a warplane struck at 23:30 hours local time on Monday [July 24th], carrying out a raid with eight missiles targeting the centre of the city of Arbeen”.

Alarabiya’s report went on to quote Rami Abdul Rahman, the directory of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights”, who said that the raid “killed eight civilians including at least four children and a woman”. Rami Abdul Rahman added that “30 other people, including children, were injured, several of them critically”.

Sources published very graphic images of the aftermath of the airstrikes, which included pictures of severely wounded and dead children. Caution is required when viewing these photographs and the accompanying video footage.

The report by Alarabiya gave further details on some of the images: “Pictures by an AFP photographer at the hospital show the bodies of children wrapped in white cloth and stretched out on the ground, two of them  babies.

“In another photo, doctors and nurses are helping a screaming child lying on the bed. On another bed, three young children were sitting, faces covered with blood. One is crying, the other is in shock”.

A woman provided the following testimony to Alarabiya: “‘My sister came to visit us with her son and daughter and they were all killed,’ said a woman, weeping next to three buried corpses.”

According to Abdul Rahman, this was the first time that civilians had been killed since the start of a truce.

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–8 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Harrowing scenes, including injured children, following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Harrowing scenes, including injured children, following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Harrowing scenes, including injured children, following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child cries in pain following an alleged Russian raid of Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is treated in a medical facility following an alleged Russia raid on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The dead bodies of chiil;dren in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbenn, July 24th 2017 (via jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child following an alleged Russia raid on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded children following an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of five children killed in an alleged Russia airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Corpses of two civilians killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man is treated for injuries sustained in an alleged Russian raid on Arbeen, July 24th 2017 (via Jobar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: '8 martyrs and more than 50 wounded, most of them women and children, the result of air raids carried out by the warplanes on the city of Arbeen in Ghouta in Damascus a little while ago.'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressing and graphic images (including a decapitated child) following an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic images from the aftermath of an airstrike on Arbeen, July 24th 2017.

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–8 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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

RS3239

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and ten civilians including four children were killed, while as many as 50 were wounded in airstrikes on Zamalka, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The White Helmets were among some sources putting the death toll at four, with dozens more wounded. However, the Violations Documention Centre named eight fatalities (four adults males and four children).

SCDrifdimashq went further and named ten victims, reporting that, “10 civilians were killed and 50 civilians, including women and children, were injured in the shelling of residential areas in the town of Zemlka by 10 raids by Russian and Syrian warplanes, including four rocket attacks, four high-impact drone rounds and more than 12 heavy-caliber mortar rounds.”

The White Helmets noted seven strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad Jaaidani
Adult male killed
Ola Khadudeh
Child female killed
Mohammad Salmeh al-Awad
6 months years old male killed
Ammar Nouh
Adult male killed
Omran Kaadan
Child male killed
Firas Mnawer
Child male killed
Abu Abdo al-Wazeer
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Baghdadi
Adult male killed
Mardya Al Mubkher
Age unknown female killed
Mohammed Al Hourani
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–5 children1 woman4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A wounded child in the aftermath of airstrikes, 12th March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–5 children1 woman4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]