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

RS549

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported deaths in Maarat al Numan, which it attributed to Russian warplanes: “Since early morning, the Russian enemy planes circled the skies of the province and launched air raids on civilian homes in the towns of Maaret al-Numan and Khan Sheikhun and Kafrtkharim and the outskirts of Sarakeb and the towns of Taftanaz, Mardikh and Kalalli, Al tama’na, Kafteen, Sarmada, Kafr Daryan, Al Habeet, Kafr Najad and Jade’een which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded in Maart al Nu’man, Kafrtkharim and Mardikh and wounded in the rest of the targeted towns.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Named by VDC. killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS539

Incident date

February 4, 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 three and four civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hraytan, according to local sources.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, three victims including a child died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Hraytan.

Shaam News Network published a distressing video showing “the reaction of a mother who finds her son’s remains” – but did not say whether the Assad regime or Russia were responsible for the attack, stating only that “the aim of publishing the video is not to shock the viewer but to document the crimes of Assad’s forces and his Russian allies.”

However, the video was linked by the Violations Documentation Center, who blamed Russia. Other footage published by The City of Hraytan showed the aftermath of alleged Russian raids.

The Syrian Press Center reported that Russian planes launched raids on “Baghdad Street” in Hraytan, killing three, and wounding “many,” including women and children.

Three victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also listed three victims; two of them are Ahmad Othman Hamedia and Ibraheem Othman Hamedia. The other is named as Samir Ahmed Hamdaoui [who may be the same as Ahmad Othman Hamedi.]

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–1 children3 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    DISTRESSING: a woman weeps over the body following an alleged Russian airstrike on Hraytan, Feb 4th.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–1 children3 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]

Incident Code

RS550

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

كفر تخاريم, Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.1168, 36.51522 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported deaths in Kafr Takharim, which they attributed to Russian warplanes: “Since early morning, the Russian enemy planes circled the skies of the province and launched air raids on civilian homes in the towns of Maaret al-Numan and Khan Sheikhun and Kafrtkharim and the outskirts of Sarakeb and the towns of Taftanaz, Mardikh and Kalalli, Al tama’na, Kafteen, Sarmada, Kafr Daryan, Al Habeet, Kafr Najad and Jade’een which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded in Maart al nu’man, Kafrtkharim and Mardikh and wounded in the rest of the targeted towns.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male Named by VDC. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS540

Incident date

February 4, 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

Nine civilians including five children were killed in airstrikes on Anadan according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible, and there is some question as to exactly when certain victims died.

The Shaam News Network reported that three children from one family were killed in a bombardment of Anadan by Russian aircraft.

It said several towns and cities in the northern countryside of Aleppo were targeted, wounding civilians and causing widespread destruction to residential buildings.

Al Jisr TV reported that three children died and others were injured in Russian bombing in Anadan.

Adnan Modlej posted distressing footage from the city which showed several injured children. A resident being filmed said that Anadan suffered more than 50 airstrikes. It does not say who was responsible.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed missiles fired by Assad regime warplanes, putting the death toll at three children.

It published an image of the child Hazem Mohammad Abdul Razzaq Kouraj, saying he was killed by regime warplanes. Hazem is also listed by the Violations Documentation Center, but as killed “due to Russian air forces shelling“.

Nine victims including five children were named by the VDC.

Other reports cast some confusion about when certain victims died. The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies listed 7 deaths in Anadan on February 5, many of which overlap with names listed by VDC as victims from February 4. Between the two days, the Damascus Center lists 9 victims in Anadan – the same as VDC listed for February 4. The Center listed Rawan Hjazi and Bilal Hjazi as dying on February 4. It listed an additional male victim, Othman Ibrahim Hamidi, as dying on February 5. On neither day does it list the child Rama Hjazi. All of those listed were described as victims of Russian strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female Listed by VDC killed
Child female Listed by VDC killed
Child male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Child male Listed by VDC killed
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage by Adnan Modlej shows major destruction in a civilian quarter of the town and some of the wounded in hospital including children.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Hazem Mohammad Abdul Razzaq Kouraj (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS541

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1834027, 37.1369648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as eleven civilians including two children and two women were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Mashad in Aleppo, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported on “Russian aggression on different areas in Aleppo,” and said that 11 civilians had been killed in the Al Mashad neighbourhood.

It published a graphic video depicting entitled ‘Wailing and misery fill Aleppo. The massacres of the Russian craft on 4/2/2016’ [the logo on video reads ‘Aleppo Media Center’], but did not say which location in Aleppo it referred to.

An initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime, putting the death toll at “at least 4 victims“.

However, a later report by SN4HR said Russian warplanes “shelled the street of Hamza mosque in Al Mashhad neighborhood that is under the control of armed opposition in Aleppo which killed 7 individuals including 2 children and 2 women.” It also posted videos from Aleppo Media Center showing dead bodies and the aftermath of the incident.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published “pictures of the destruction cause by the raids of Russian warplanes which targeted areas in the neighborhood of al-Shaar and al-MashHad in Aleppo,” adding that there were casualties, but not providing numbers. It was not clear which photos applied to which area.

Al Jisr TV reported that six died in Al Mashad, victims of a Russian “massacre.” The Syrian Press Center reported 11 victims “including women and children” in the Al Mashad and Al Ferdous neighborhoods of Aleppo. Shahba Press counted “at least 20 civilians killed” by Russian warplanes in several neighborhoods of Aleppo, including Al Mashad.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 11
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets search for survivors following alleged Russian raids in Al Mashhad, Feb 4th (via SO4HR)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian strikes on Al Mashad (via SO4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    GRAPHIC AND DISTRESSING: A man cries over the body of a civilian killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Mashad, Feb 4th.
  • Baladi News Network shows images of the aftermath of the event.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 11
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS542

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the the Al Bab road neighbourhood, according to multiple reports by Shaam News Network and additional local sources.

Akhbar El Thawra El Souriya reported 25 “civilian martyrs” weres killed by Russian warplanes in several neighborhoods of Aleppo, including Tareeq al-Bab.

Al Nateq Press reported 16 civilians were killed, including a woman and child in Russian aerial bombardment in several areas inside Aleppo: Al Mashad, Al Ferdous, Tareeq al-Bab, El Sha’aar and El Kallassesh.

The Syrian Press Center counted a single “martyr” in Tareeq al-Bab but 11 victims in the Al Mashad and Al Ferdous neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Shahba Press put the civilian death toll from Russian bombing in seven parts of Aleppo, including Tareeq al-Bab, at 20.

Step News Agency reported a death toll of 8 in Tareeq al-Bab district alone.

Three victims of “Russian air force shelling” (including one child) were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child2 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on the Al Bab neighbourhood, Aleppo, Feb 4th (via SNN)
  • Images of the incident by Shaam News Network

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child2 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]

Incident Code

RS543

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

Al Shi'aar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1994732, 37.1630573 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Shaam News Network, six non-combatants died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Shi’aar.

SNN reported: “More than 36 martyrs fell and dozens wounded Thursday in the bombing of the Russian aggression on different areas in Aleppo.

“Martyrs fell in several areas: 11 people were killed at the Al Mashhad neighbourhood and 8 in the Al Bab road neighborhood. The bombing targeting Al Shi’ar killed  of six civilians and five others were killed in Al kallasah neighborhood. Five people were killed in al Ferdos neighbourhood and one other person was killed in Bai’ideen.  Among the martyrs are children and women.” SNN later updated the death figure for Bai’ideen to four.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published “pictures of the destruction caused by the raids of Russian warplanes which targeted areas in the neighborhood of al-Shaar and al-MashHad in Aleppo,” adding that there were casualties, but not providing numbers. It was not clear which photos applied to which area. The Observatory also posted a video of the White Helmets responding to alleged Russian attacks in al-Shaar. It showed at least one body being removed by rescuers, and at least one other victim buried in rubble.

Akhbar El Thawra El Souriya reported 25 civilian deaths from Russian warplanes in the following areas of Aleppo: al Shi’aar, al Mashad, Tareeq al-Bab, al Kallasah and Al Ferdous. It did not break down casualties by area.

Al Nateq Press reported 16 civilian victims of Russian strikes, “including a woman and child” in the same areas; it did not break down by area.

Shahba Press put the number at 20 civilians killed by Russian strikes in the same areas, including al Shi’aar, and the additional Aleppo area of B’Eideen.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Al Shi'aar or Al Mashad, Aleppo, Feb 4th (via SO4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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

RS544

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed and 22 others injured in an airstrike on Al Kalassa, according to local sources.

The Shaam News Network alleged that Russian raids killed five in Al Kalassa, as part of “Russian aggression on different areas in Aleppo” on Thursday February 4th.

The White Helmets reported that “a vacuum missile fell on al Kalassa neighbourhood killing 5 people and injuring 22 others most of them women and children and causing great destruction in the neighbourhood“, but did not say who fired the missile.

Alhbar el Thawra, Alnateq Press and Shahba Press all said that Russian warplanes had carried out raids on Al Kalassa.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Shaam News Network shows the impact of the strieks on Al Kalassa
  • The White Helmets show a family rescued from the rubble

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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]