Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

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

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Incident Code

RS1340

Incident date

September 25, 2016

Location

الهلّك, al Halak, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.231951, 37.170997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and five civilians from the same family were reportedly killed in either Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the Al Halak neighbourhood of Aleppo.

Sources like LCCSY, HNN and Islammemo reported that the strikes were conducted by Russian warplanes. Syrian Press Center added that cluster bombs and phosphorus were used.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Youm7 and Qasioun blamed the Syrian regime for the attack. Almodon added that barrel bombs were dropped on the neighbourhood.

Alwatan provided the lowest estimate of casualty numbers: “Three civilians, including a woman, were killed in bombing by Russian warplanes in Al Halak neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo.”

Alaraby said five people were killed and also mentioned the use of outlawed weapons: “Five people from one family were killed, due to the targeting of their home in the Al Halak neighborhood with cluster bombs.”

Various sources mentioned that several people were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mustapha Yasser Hassan
19 years old killed
Colin Hamza Mustapha
40 years old killed
Mustapha Ahmad Mustafa
40 years old killed
Mansh Zbeir Mustapha
40 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (3) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

RS1383

Incident date

October 2, 2016

Location

الأنصاري, Al Ansari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1529125, 37.075864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, up to four unidentified civilians died and as many as dozens more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s al-Ansari neighbourhood.

According to Maser Press, “four civilians were killed and dozens wounded due to Russian warplanes shelling in Al-Ansari”.

Other sources put the death toll at between one and four, with five more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Interviews portraying the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Ansari, 2nd October 2016. (via, Albuzaiai Alma’ari)
  • A child wanders in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Al Ansari. (via, Smart News)
  • Civilian homes destroyed as a result of alleged Russian raids. (via, JisirTV)
  • A crater formed as a result of alleged airstrikes on Al Ansari. (via, Baladi)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Baladi)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Baladi)
  • A man clearing up rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Thiqa News Agency)
  • Civilians clearing up rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Thiqa News Agency)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, Thiqa News Agency)
  • Civilians clearing up rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Thiqa News Agency)
  • Civilians run for safety just moments after the alleged Russian raid on Al Ansari. (via, Alamawi)
  • Just moments after the alleged Russian raid. (via, Alamawi)
  • A child runs for safety just moments after the alleged Russian raid on Al Ansari. (via, Alamawi)
  • Civilians run for safety just moments after the alleged Russian raid on Al Ansari. (via, Alamawi)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1417

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

Al Masra'a al Thania, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963836, 38.040848 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two children and up to three women died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town Al-Mazra’a Al-Thania near Maskana in Aleppo, according to sources on the ground.

According to the Syrian Press Center, “two children were killed and others wounded due to warplanes shelling in Al-Mazra’a Al-Thania and the sugar factory near Maskana in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.”.

Many other sources however reported that up to five civilians died – and Halab News listing five unidentified victims. Syriahadath tweeted that some of those killed were displaced people.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (23) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1449

Incident date

October 13, 2016

Location

بستان الباشا, Bustan al Basha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.226481, 37.168787 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Bustan al Basha neighbourhood, according to local media.

Halab News listed on unidentified civilian as killed in a Russian raid.

The Shaam News Network also put the death toll at one, but reported that both Russia and the regime carried out strikes on Aleppo on this day.

NabaaSyria said that “the Syrian army fired a fourth heavy missile in the terrorists groups in Bustan Al-Basha.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
Official source

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
    1
  • 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

RS1481 CS343b

Incident date

October 18, 2016

Location

الرميلة, al Rumaila, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.962828, 38.97563 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty civilians, reportedly from three families, died and more were wounded in airstrikes on Raqqa’s al Rumaila neighborhood, local media said. Most reports attributed the event to Russia, though one source said that the Coalition carried out a strike which led to civilian casualties.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “Russian planes targeted the al Rumaila neighborhood at the end of Al Saqiya road with several air raids which led to the martyrdom of three civilian families.”

@ALAMAWI and @ShahbaPress – also blaming Russia – putting the death toll at “20 civilians, including three families”.

However, @Q_Alenezy pointed towards the Coalition, saying “there were a number of martyrs and wounded after Coalition aircraft targeting the neighborhood of Al Rumaila in the city of Ar Raqqah yesterday night [Oct 18th].”

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Saad Alenezi reports a number of dead and wounded in alleged coalition raids on Al Rumaila neighbourhood 'last night'. 19th October 2016
  • Alamawi news reports activists saying 20 killed, including three families, and other civilians wounded following alleged Russian raids on Al Rumaila neighbourhood in Raqqa 'last night'. 19th October 2016
  • RBSS reports alleged Russian strikes 'last night' on al Rumaila neighbourhood -towards the end of al Saqiya street. 19th October 2016
  • Sallah al Muftah reports alleged Russian strikes on Al Rumaila neighbourhood 'last night' killing three civilian families. 19th October 2016
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV027801
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • Oct. 18, 2016, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3071/CS343b 37SEV027801

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reported no strikes in Raqqa from Oct 17th-19th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1513

Incident date

October 31, 2016

Location

Arbin, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes or regime artillery shelling on Arbin, according to sources on the ground – though specific casualty figures were not given.

LCCSY reported that Russia conducted “two airstrikes with thermobaric missiles on the neighborhoods in #Arbin city” alongside regime artillery shelling, resulting in an unspecified number of civilian casualties.

Smart was among other sources reporting regime artillery fire.

Radio Alkul said that “several civilians were injured when the military aircraft targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of Arbin”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Dfence moving the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via SCDrifdimashq)
  • The exact moment the raid hit. (via Qasioun news)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1815

Incident date

January 3, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as three civilians were killed, inducing a pregnant woman and her unborn child, and up to three civilians were wounded, following an alleged Russian and or Syrian regime airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, local media reported. 

Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame with some attributing blame to Russian warplanes, while others blamed the Syrian regime. One source even blamed both belligerents for the raid.

According to @MousaAlomar, residential homes were struck in the raid. Photographic evidence showed the extent of devastation to the homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rawan Hamo
Adult female pregnant killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The extent of destruction to civilian homes following an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @Aleppojourn)
  • A civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @aboqdama123)
  • The extent of destruction to civilian homes following an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @RozanaFM)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The extent of destruction to civilian homes and a wounded civilian following an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @MousaAlomar)
  • A wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @Mojahedaboaljod)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @Mojahedaboaljod)
  • An exploded artillery shell in the aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @Mojahedaboaljod)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd January 2017. (via @Mojahedaboaljod)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Khan Sheikhoun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.440813, 36.6493607. 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4507

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

ادلب المدينة, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children, Salah Ghajar, Huzaifa Saadeddin, Rand Saad Eddin, were killed on June 9, 2020 when an unexploded cluster bomb, a remnant of a previous airstrike on Idlib, exploded as they played in the garden of their home.

One source notes that Huzaifa and Rand were sister and brother, while several note that Salah was the last remaining survivor of his family, who were killed in a massacre in Wadi Al-Naseem over a year earlier. The victims of that massacre allegedly included Salah’s mother, father, and brothers.

Sources unanimously agreed that the deaths resulted from an unexploded bomb, which many state was a cluster bomb, that was dropped during a previous strike. Several sources claim that the bomb was the result of a Russian strike, while others do not mention the belligerent or state more ambiguously that the strike was from Russian-Syrian forces. Multiple sources note that children are especially vulnerable to unexploded ordnance, and many similar incidents have been recorded over the last several years. Several sources note that the home was located in an area of Idlib under the control of the group Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed factions. A nonprofit, Ataa Relief, claimed that their organization had sponsored Salah Ghajar after his family was killed in Wadi Al-Naseem.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Rand Sa’ad Al Din رند سعد الدين
Child female killed
Huthaifah Sa'ad al-Din حذيفة سعد الدين
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Salah Ghajar صلاح غجر
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The three children killed on June 9th, 2020 by the explosion of a cluster bomb from previous bombing in Idlib City. (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of the children killed when an unexploded cluster bomb explored in Idlib on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]