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

RS1374

Incident date

September 30, 2016

Location

الشيخ فارس, al Sheikh Faress, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.228731, 37.177649 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 14 civilians died including up to seven children and four women with dozens more wounded in airstrikes with “bunker busting” missiles on the residential neighbourhood of Al Sheikh Faress, Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. The majority of sources attributed this incident to Russia, though one report said that the Assad regime was responsible.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least 14 civilians including seven children and four women died due to suspected Russian warplanes firing missiles on Al Shaikh Fares area in Al Hollok neighborhood in Aleppo city, September 30, 2016.”

A number of other sources, including @Mamoun_sy and @SYR_REV_NEWS, put the death toll lower, at six civilians with up to 20 more injured. Sources tweeted images of wounded children.

According to Qasioun, “Russian fighter jets bombed buildings in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Fares with two bunker busting missiles, causing the collapse of residential buildings over the heads of residents.” The source said that seven civilians died in the attacks.

A number of reports didn’t identify the culprit. For example, Syrian Press Center reported that “aircraft launched a series of aerial bombardments targeting the Sheikh Fares neighbourhood on Friday, killing six civilians and injuring dozens, and leaving a whole family under the rubble.”

Microsyria reported the same details but was alone among sources in blaming the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 14
  • (7 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victim of the strikes, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, on al Sheikh Faress, Aleppo, 30th September 2016.(via @Mamoun_sy)
  • Injured child caused by the strikes, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, targeting al Sheikh Faress, Aleppo, 30th September 2016. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 14
  • (7 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1408

Incident date

October 5, 2016

Location

الشيخ خضر, al Sheikh Kudar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2219801, 37.1749448 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including two children and a woman died and several more people were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Shikh Khudur, according to local media.

The location hit was Sheikh Fares, which is inside the Sheikh Khudar area.

According to Thiqan News Agency, there were “two martyrs and a number of wounded due to surface to surface missiles being fired in Sheikh Fares”.

Al-Araby said that “three civilians including two children and a woman were killed due to the regime firing a surface to surface missile”.

Among the sources who pointed to the Assad regime as the culprit were @ALAMAWI, Zamanmasdar, Baladi News and al-Araby, while Halab News Network, Step News Agency and Shaam News Network (SNN) blamed Russia. In another report, the Shaam News Network attributed the strikes to both Russia and the Assad regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (19) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1440

Incident date

October 12, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what local media referred to as a “massacre”, up to 50 civilians died and as many as 51 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes which hit a popular vegetable market and residential buildings in Aleppo’s Al Ferdos neighbourhood.

Halab News listed 45 bodies as a result of the strikes, with other reports stating that the market was attacked when it was full of hundreds of people going about their shopping and daily life.

Reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the raids, though several noted that Russian warplanes returned after the initial attack and struck again as the civil defence were attempting to rescue tens of people from under the rubble.

Media outlets published numerous images depicting widespread destruction to the area, along with graphic photographs of victims – including children – being treated in medical facilities.

Aranews, All4Syria, the Smart News Agency and the Step News Agency were among many sources attributing this event to Moscow. Death counts varied from eight to more than 14 – though Baladi gave the highest death toll of 50 non-combatants.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially blamed “government warplanes and its allies”, though subsequent reports pointed to “suspected Russian forces”.

However, Albouzizi and the Syrian Press Center blamed the Assad regime, as did the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which referred to “an aerial bombing and shelling by regime forces”.

Halab News named 3 victims and listed 42 civilian fatalities as unidentified, saying they were killed “following Russian enemy raids with bunker busting missiles on al Ferdos neighbourhood”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Walid al Thalji
Child killed
Rimas al Thalji
Child killed
Khaled al Thalji
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    45 – 50
  • (2–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–51
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (37) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets at the scene, in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous, Oct 12th (via Spm-syr news)
  • An image showing the market which was destroyed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Fardous, Oct 12th (via Spm-syr news)
  • An image showing the market which was destroyed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Fardous, Oct 12th (via Spm-syr news)
  • Damage caused by the alleged raid on 12th October 2016. (via Spm-syr news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties are covered up in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which hit Al Fardous on 12th October 2016. (via Albouzizi)
  • An image showing damage to the infrastructure following the alleged raid. (via All4Syria)
  • Women are seen crying in the streets following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Fardous vegetable market. (via Syrianpc)
  • A man amongst the rubble in Al Fardous following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart News)
  • A man clearing the rubble in Al Fardous following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart News)
  • A man amongst the rubble in Al Fardous following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart News)
  • A member of the White Helmets searches the rubble in Al Fardous following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart News)
  • The aftermath of the targeted attack on the market in Al Fardous. (via Smart News)
  • A man amongst the rubble in Al Fardous following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart News)
  • Civilians stand amongst the rubble in Al Fardous following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart News)
  • Moments after the alleged raid on 12th October 2016. (via Syrian newsdesk)
  • A news bulletin documenting the alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Fardous. (via JisirTV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • A civilian sat in the rubble in shock following an alleged raid which killed 45-50 people. (via AMC)
  • Civilians attempt to clear up the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via AMC)
  • A civilian sat in the rubble in shock following an alleged raid which killed 45-50 people. (via AMC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians receive medical care following raids on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man revives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man revives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man revives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man revives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via AMC)
  • An image of the market which was struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes. (via YasserAl-Ahmad)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man revives medical treatment in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Fardous which killed between 45 and 50 people. (via YasserAl-Ahmad)
  • An image of the market which was struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes. (via YasserAl-Ahmad)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via YasserAl-Ahmad)
  • An image of the market which was struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes. (via SN4HR)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    45 – 50
  • (2–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–51
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1472

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 25 people from one family – named as the Eid Kabis family – died including eight children and two or three women and dozens more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Marja neighbourhood. All but one source alleged that Russia carried out the strike.

According to Madar Daily, “14 members of a family were killed in a Russian air strike on the Marjah district of Aleppo, including two six-week-olds and six children under the age of eight.”

Ara News reported that “the field activist, Ali Jaafar, from the city of Aleppo told Ara that ‘Russian warplanes committed a terrible massacre in the Marjah neighbourhood of Aleppo after it was hit by a concussion missile. This caused the death of 15 people with many more wounded, including women and children’.”

Micro Syria put the death toll as high as 25, reporting that “Russian shelling targeted a building containing ten families.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t apportion blame, but stated that 13 people died including 10 children, “the majority from the same family”.

Only the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards regime involvement, referring to “government warplanes” in one post and then “government warplanes and its allies” in a subsequent report.

Halab News named 13 victims, and blamed Russia for their deaths.These victims were also named by several other sources.

Multiple reports published distressing images of the dead children – and footage of their funeral.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

Khaled Mohammad Eid Kabis
25 years old male killed
Amina Mohammad Eid Kabis
8 years old killed
Nadia Mohamamd Eid Kabid
4 years old killed
Amina Firas Kabis
7 years old killed
Tima Firas Kabis
5 years old killed
Amar Firas Kabis
2 years old killed
Mohamamd eid Firas Kabis
3 years old male killed
The baby Fatima al Zahra Firas Kabis
2 months old years old killed
Aysha Ahmad Kabis
17 years old female killed
The baby Hasan Yusuf Kabis
2 months old years old killed
Hamouda Hussein Kabis
25 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Lajina Amer Jamal
20 years old killed
Turki Arab
60 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 25
  • (8–10 children1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Disturbing footage of multiple children who were killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Marjah, Oct 17th (via HNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of multiple children who were killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Marjah, Oct 17th (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    At the burial of those children killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid, Oct 17th (via Qasioun news Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A father weeps for his baby who was killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Moments after the raid on Marjah which killed between 13 and 25 civilians. (via Ara News)
  • White Helmets clear some of the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via Enabbaladi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two child victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two child victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 25
  • (8–10 children1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1504

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or four civilians including two girls and one woman died and as many as dozens more were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Urma al Kubra, according to local media.

The White Helmets gave the lowest death count of four civilians. But all other sources put the number at four, with most saying that this included the two girls and one woman.

LCCSY and Step were among sources that blamed Russia. According to All4Syria, the casualties were caused by “Russian airstrikes with rocket-propelled grenades”.

A number of other sources including the Shaam News Network and Al Jazeera blamed both Russian and regime warplanes.

Many reports said that “dozens” of civilians were wounded in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • A member of the White Helmets digs a civilian from the rubble following the strike on Urma al Kubra, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • A civilian casualty is carried from the scene after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Urma al Kubra, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Urma al Kubra. (via SNN)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Urma al Kubra. (via SNN)
  • A member of the White Helmets digs a civilian from the rubble. (via SNN)
  • An image of someone trapped in the rubble. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Urma al Kubra. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Urma al Kubra. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Urma al Kubra. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • White Helmets and Civilians rescue trapped people. (via Al Jazeera)
  • Moments after the raid in Urma al Kubra. (via spm_syria)
  • Moments after the raid in Urma al Kubra. (via spm_syria)
  • A man stands in the rubble. (via RFS_mediaoffice)
  • A man stands in the rubble. (via RFS_mediaoffice)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1762

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

زردنا, Zardana, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.045776, 36.750791 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians were killed during an airstrike on Zardana, Idlib, according to local media reports – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Idlib Media Centre, who stated that one woman died in the attack, reported that it was because of a “missile launched by Russian occupation planes”.

The source LCCSY, however, reported that “Assad’s warplanes stepped up raids on the cities and towns of the southern countryside”, including Zardana.

Whilst most sources corroborate the claim that one woman was killed and a number of others were injured in the attack, one source – a tweet from Mohammed Alshekh – stated that three civilians had died in Zardana. 

The was no further available information with regard to how many civilians were wounded in the incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • 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]

  • 'A photo showing the location hit by the missile launched by Russian occupaton planes in Zardana in the northern Idlib countryside which resulted in the martyrdom of a woman and the injury of others.' (via Idlib Media Center)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zardana (زردنا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.045776,36.750791. 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

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
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

RS4498

Incident date

March 1, 2020

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to one civilian was reportedly injured due to alleged Russian airstrikes or artillery shells on the village of Qastoun in the Al-Ghab plain northwest of Hama on March 1st 2020 according to Local sources.

A local source named “Smart news” initially reported that one civilian was injured due to Russian airstrikes on the village of Qastoun based on information from activists. However, SCD southern-syria inspected the area in the outskirts of the village and said that the damage was material. The civil defense team in the northern Al-Ghab sector secured the places affected by the alleged warplane raids, and artillery shells and made sure that there were no casualties.

Two of the sources that reported on the incident, Smart News and Syria Screen, attributed the strikes to Russia while the other sources did not mention who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets inspect the site of bombing of the town of Qastoun on March 1, 2020. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets inspect the site of bombing of the town of Qastoun on March 1, 2020. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets inspect the site of bombing of the town of Qastoun on March 1, 2020. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets inspect the site of bombing of the town of Qastoun on March 1, 2020. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets inspect the site of bombing of the town of Qastoun on March 1, 2020. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets inspect the site of bombing of the town of Qastoun on March 1, 2020. (Syrian Civil Defense)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4531

Incident date

November 17, 2020

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian died when his house in Qastoun village, Hama governorate, collapsed on November 17th, 2020. According to local sources, the man’s home had been previously severely damaged by alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported: “A civilian died, today, Tuesday, November 17, in the town of Qastoun in the western countryside of Hama, after the roof of his house, which was previously bombed by the regime, fell. To avoid a similar incident, our teams removed a collapsing roof in the town of Badama in the western countryside of Idlib as a result of previous bombing.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the victim as Nassar Ahmad Nassar, also blaming previous Syrian or Russian shelling for the incident: “Local activists explained to SNHR that the roof had been severely damaged by intensive bombardment of the village by Syrian-Russian Alliance forces in previous military campaigns.”

The date of the bombing leading to the civilian’s death is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim who died after his house in Qastoun collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer at the site after a civilian died after his house collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer at the site after a civilian died after his house collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Nassar Ahmad Nassar died when the roof of his house collapsed on November 17th, 2020. According to local sources, the man's house was severely damaged by earlier alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via SNHR).

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]