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

RS524

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians were killed including two to four children, one to two women and two members of the Red Crescent – and dozens more injured – in alleged Russian airstrikes on Anadan, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian forces launched “about 50 airstrikes” which including cluster munitions, targeting “homes in Anadan city center and its outskirts, leading to the martyrdom and wounding of a number of civilians.” SNN also reported that Russian planes directly targeted the city’s hospital.

SNN also cited activists, reporting that Anadan “came under intense aerial bombardment by more than twenty-five air raids using different types of missiles.

They said that seven people died and that dozens more were wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially reported that a five-month-year-old baby, Eman Al Hamad, was killed by missiles fired from regime warplanes. A second report also blamed the regime, putting the death toll at seven including three children and a woman. However, four subsequent reports said that “suspected Russian warplanes” were responsible.

According to one report, the planes fired missiles on a field hospital in Anadan, severely damaging it and rendering it inoperable. Another report said that Russian missiles were fired on a “Red Crescent Ambulance“, damaging it.

According to a third report, Eman Layla, a nurse, died more than two weeks later, on February 19, from wounds sustained when missiles were fired on the charity hospital in the city.

The fourth report stated that alleged Russian warplanes shelled a residential house “next to Al Hamze mosque in the middle of Adnan city under the control of armed opposition,” killing six people including four children and a woman.

Six victims (including two children and one woman) were named by the Violations Documentation Center. Halab News recorded the same six victims, but also reported the death of Mohammed Saleh Barbanh, who it said was one of two victims who died when a Syrian Red Crescent ambulance was targeted by Russian forces at the entrance to Anadan. The victims were listed by VDC as:

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Adult male killed
Adult male Relief Activist: Volunteer in the Syrian Red Crescent. Halab News also identified him as a victim of targeting of a Syrian Red Crescent ambulance; Radio al Kul referenced two “volunteers from the Red Crescent” who were killed by Russian warplanes “when a car they were traveling in was targeted on the highway.” killed
Omar Mustafa al-Hamad
Child male Listed by All4Syria killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2–4 children1–2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body is removed from the rubble following an alleged Russian airstrike on Anadan, Feb 2nd (via SN4HR)

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 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2–4 children1–2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS525

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 15 civilians were killed including up to eight children and three women – and dozens more injured – in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hraytan, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network posted a distressing video showing the body of a dead child “following raids by Russian craft“. A brief subsequent report said the death toll had risen to 15. Alburaq Media also attributed the incident to Russia.

According to the White Helmets, dozens of people were killed and wounded in the air raids. They did not say whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible, but posted a very distressing video of dead and injured children being removed from rubble, reporting that the raids caused widespread destruction to residential buildings and public property. Members of the team worked to put out fires.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially said regime warplanes carried out the attack, killing at least three people. However, a subsequent report identifies two separate incidents in Hraytan that day and blames Russia: “On 2 Feb 2016 alleged Russian warplanes shelled the residential houses in Kabr Al Inkilizi region in Hraytan city that is under the control of armed opposition which .(killed 6 individuals from one family (4 children and 2 women)

On 2 Feb 2016 alleged Russian warplanes shelled the residential houses in Baghdad .Street in Hraytan city which killed 6 individuals including 4 children and a woman.

According to All4Syria, Russia carried out more than 30 raids on the village, killing 15 civilians and wounding as many as 50 more.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (2–8 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    VERY DISTRESSING: A dead child is pulled from the rubble following an airstrike on Hraytan, Feb 2nd.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the victims (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the victims (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • A member of the White Helmets helping at the location of the event

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 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (2–8 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–50
  • 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

RS526

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

Deir Hafer, Al-Bab, Tadeef, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network reported that “Russian planes carried out strikes on the towns of Deir Hafer, Al Bab and Tadef which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded amongst the civilians.”

Alburaq Media also mentioned “several raids” on these locations but said it had “no information on the extent of the damage.”

No further details are currently available.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS527

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.89044, 36.0399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including two children and one woman were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Nawa, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that regime warplanes fired on Nawa, killing at least five people including one woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghannam Mohammad al-Talhah
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Fareed Farhan al-Komi
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Nabeil Khaled Hamedi al-Khalil
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Abdulmenem Ahmad Mawla Msallam
Adult male Named by VDC killed
Reem Mohammad Kheir al-Juhmani
Child female Named by VDC killed
Wala Akram Khattab
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Asmaa Mohammad al-Eleiwi
Child female Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman4 men)
  • 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

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 1st – February 3rd.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman4 men)
  • 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

Incident Code

RS528

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

برج قاعي, Burj Kai, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.88447, 36.5773916 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and nine victims, including up four women and up to four children were killed – and several others injured – and several injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Burj Kai according to multiple sources.

Shaam News Network initially reported that three Russian warplanes launched rocket attacks on several villages in the countryside of Homs, and that the focus of the bombardment was Burj Kai. It initially put the death toll at five, but a subsequent report said seven died in the village.

The SMART News Agency, in a video linked from a Violations Documentation Center listing, also put the death toll at seven and blamed Russia. The distressing footage depicts casualties and includes interviews with witnesses.

In an initial report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the Assad regime was responsible and put the number killed at seven including including three children and four women. However, it then changed position and said that “alleged Russian warplanes” shelled the village, killing eight including four women and four children.

Six victims of “Russian air forces shelling,” including two children and four women, were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The deaths of two additional victims, reportedly members of the Syrian Red Crescent, were initially associated by the VDC with the strikes. One of them, Mohammad Saleh Barbaneh, is no longer listed. The second, Abdulkareem Kheir Allah is recorded as an adult, male and his entry links to a video of the strikes on Burj Kai.

A 9th victim was named by the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies as Shaheed Reem Jenin Neehan. This may be Reem Nahan.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female Named by VDC killed
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Child female Named by VDC killed
Adult female Named by VDC killed
Adult male Named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2–4 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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]

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 1st – February 3rd.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2–4 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

RS529

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

غرناطة, Garnata, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8937633, 36.6794443 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes allegedly carried out raids “on the town of Al Rastan and the villages of Um Sharshouh and Ghirnata as well as the village of Burj Kai“. It said one civilian was killed and “several” others wounded in Garnata.

Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes launched two raids on the village of Granada,” which “led to the death of a woman” and left four civilians injured.

Al Jisr posted a video the following day that references the death of a woman in in Garnata due to “Russian airstrikes” on February 2nd. The narrator films as another airstrike hits what he says is Garnata in the distance.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 from February 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

RS530

Incident date

February 2, 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

Shaam News Network reported that several civilians were killed and several more injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on neighbourhoods in Deir ez-Zor: “Russian raids were carried out on the towns of Hatla, Tahtani, Ayyash, Al Husseiniya, Al Janina, Al Hessan, Al Mheimdieh, Al Khareeta, Al Baghiliya, Al mayadeen and also on neighbourhoods in Deir Ezzor that are under IS control  which led to the fall of several martrys and wounded amongst civilians. The streets of deir ezzor have also come under artillery fire and rocket.“

Deir Ezzor 24 reported that Russian airstrikes were “mainly in the western countryside,” and claimed “the lives of several civilians and critically wounded a number of others.” The report did not cite deaths or injuries specifically in Deir ez-Zor city.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS531

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

العلقمية, Al A'alkamiyah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5045296, 37.0259715 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al A’alkamiyah, according to multiple local sources.

The two victims were named as Riad Jamil Ismail Deebo and Khaled Eido by the VDC, Damascus Center for Human Rights, Halab News and Elsouriya Lil E’elam,

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Riad Jamil Ismail Deebo
Adult male killed
Khaled Eido
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 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 (10) [ 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 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

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