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

RS906

Incident date

June 15, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and seven civilians including up to six children died in an airstrike on Kafr Halab, according to local reports, though it is unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

@Almntaseballah and @samir_maleh reported Russian raids on the town but didn’t mention civilian casualties.

@shoaamd tweeted that a mother and her four children were killed “in bombing by Putin and Assad”.

Al Jazeera also blamed both the regime and Russia for the death of six children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rahma Khalousi
56 years years old female killed
Ahmad Abd al Karim
Child At 0’58” in a video by Halab Today killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–6 children1 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Halab Today video listing martyrs for the 15th. @0’58” lists Kafr Hamra: the child Ahmad Abd al Karim [in Russian bombing]"(Youtube by Halab Today)

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1–6 children1 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS940

Incident date

June 26, 2016

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.958429, 36.711587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes killed up to two civilians including at least one child and wounded up to ten others in the city of Binish, local media said. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Most local sources reported the death of up to two children.

According to The Syrian News Network (SNN), “the bombing left one martyr, a child aged 10 years”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rigts (SN4HR) reported that “two children died due to government warplanes missiles fired on Binnesh city in Idlib governorate”.

According to an Idlib correspondent, who reported to Nabd News, the incident led to “the martyrdom of two children and injury of others”. Jsirtv said the victims were Palestinian.

Sources including SN4HR and LCCSY attributed the strike to the Syrian regime, while SNN and Halab News Network reported that the strike was carried out by Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Binish, which reportedly killed at leats one child on June 26th (via SNN)
  • Scene of the destruction at Binish following alleged raids (via SNN Facebook)
  • A fire engine attends the scene at Binish (via SNN Facebook)
  • The White Helmets at the site of alleged raids on Binish (via SNN Facebook)
  • A street in Binish following alleged aerial bombardement (via SNN Facebook)
  • Image of a chile rescued from the rubble following alleged "government warplane" attack on Binish (via SN4HR) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive)
  • "Warplanes launched several air raids on the towns of Craze and nudity surroundings western city of Idlib and 4 raids on the city Binnish In the countryside Idlib north and another raid on the town of Alhbit where the child was killed in the Binnish and 10 other injuries" (via Step News)
  • "a ten year old child killed following the Russian raids on Binsh" (Video by SNN Facebook)

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 June 1st – 31st 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 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS972

Incident date

July 5, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in an airstrike on Hayan, local media said – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Naser Altamimi tweeted that “Russian and Syrian warplanes hit Hayan”, while the Shaam News Network said that “Russian warplanes and regime helicopters launched intense and violent raids on the towns of Anadan, Hraitan, Kafr Hamra, Hayan, al Mallah and Al Castillo road leading to the fall of civilian martyrs and wounded.”

According to Lyan Salem, “helicopters with explosive barrels targeted  armed groups”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Said Rahmo A’tro
20 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rises following alleged airstrikes (via syrianpc) [Photograph aligned with incident at Kafr Hamra two days previous, unclear whether it corresponds with this incident]
  • Warplane shelling with missiles allegedly caused by Russian aviation (Youtube via Hayan media)
  • Footage of the aftermath of alleged airstrikes on Hayan (Youtube via Hayan media)
  • A street in Hayan after alleged barrel bombs, missiles and gas cylinders struck the neighbourhood (via Step)
  • A parachute missile hits Hayan in an alleged Russian or Regime offensive (Tweet via @nasertamimi)
  • Warplane shelling over Hayan (Youtube via Thiqa)
  • The White Helmets put out the blaze on residential buildings in Hayan (Tweet via Marsad Soury Mowahad) [Page no longer available, accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Material destruction at Hayan (Tweet via Marsad Soury Mowahad) [Page no longer available, accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Extensive destruction to homes in Hayan following suspected Russian or Regime raids (Tweet via Marsad Soury Mowahad) [Page no longer available, accessed via Airwars archive]
  • The White Helmet's treat a victim of the suspected warplane and helicopter attacks on Hayan (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • A civilian is treated by The White Helmets following alleged attacks on Hayan (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • A civilian approached by the White Helmet rescue team after sustaining injury in alleged warplane raids (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of alleged raids on Hayan (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • The White Helmets at the aftermath of alleged airstrikes on Hayan (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Further material destruction on Hayan after alleged airstrikes (via Aleppo White Helmets) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]

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 July 1st – 14th 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
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1004

Incident date

July 14, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The only surviving hospital in Kafr Hamra was struck and put out of service in alleged airstrikes by Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, which also reportedly killed up to ten civilians and wounded 20 more. Local news sources called the building Al Balad, and claimed it was a makeshift hospital, but the last remaining one in the neighbourhood. Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote a report titled “No less than 59 medical centres have been struck by Russian forces since its intervention in Syria.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there were “intense airstrikes” and described it as a “heavy bombardment”. Furthermore, “warplanes and helicopters bombed areas in the town with more than 15 airstrikes, accompanied with shelling by the regime forces using rockets and artillery shells”.

Almost all reports blamed Russia, however, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian for the attack.

Enab Baladi reported that the Russian aviation used 25 barrel bombs, 40 missiles, multiple cluster bombs and more than 150 artillery shells. It went on to report that 10 civilians were killed, including a paramedic and Shahba Press journalist, who was covering the Russian airstrikes in the area.

Shahba News said that there were five raids on Kafr Hamra. Thiqa, however, put the number of strikes as high as 10.

Ara News reported than there were seven civilian casualties as did the White Helmets.

Qasioun News reported that more than 20 were wounded, with many trapped under rubble for a period of time while the Civil Defence attempted to rescue them.

Three of the dead were reportedly members of staff at the makeshift hospital.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Rajo
50 years old male an ambulance driver killed
Mahmood Jamal
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Taha Al-Ash
Age unknown male killed
Abudllah Ghannam
28 years old male journalist for Shahbah killed
Mays Mohammed Abdur-Rahman
7 years old killed
Yassin Al-Ban’na
50 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (1 child4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Inside the hospital which was targeted and made out of use in Russian and Assad regime shelling on Kafr Hamra. 14th July 2016. (via Thiqa News Agency).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage of a young man seriously wounded recieving treatment from The White Helmets (Youtube via Thiqa)
  • A building partly demolished due to alleged Russian shelling in Kafr Hamra (via Enab Baladi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmet rescue mission in Kafr Hamra, following the alleged attack on the last hospital in the area (Youtube via The White Helmets)
  • A street in Kafr Hamra in which Russian warplanes allegedly attacked resulting in significant civilian harm (via Qasioun)
  • A burnt out vehicle in Kafr Hamra, the aftermath of suspected Russian shelling (via Baladi)
  • The media activist, Abdullah Ghannam, killed in alleged strikes on Kafr Hamra (via SHRC)
  • The destruction caused by alleged warplane attacks on the last standing hospital in Kafr Hamra (Tweet by @thiqanewsagency)
  • The media activist, Abdullah Mohammed Ghannamm, died due to warplanes shelling in Kafr Hamra (Tweet via @Omaralsry614) [Page no longer available - Accessed via Airwars archive]
  • The media activist, Abdullah Ghannam died whilst reporting on Russian warplane shelling in Kafr Hamra (Tweet via @maraei_Halabi) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Smoke rises above Kafr Hamra, the last hospital allegedly struck by Russian warplanes (Tweet by @zakarainassani)
  • Footage of Kafr Hamra, demolished by alleged Russian and Regime warplanes (Youtube by Akhbar Al’Alam)
  • A SN4HR report - ‘no less than 59 medical centers have been targeted by Russian forces since its intervention in Syria.” (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • SN4HR report - ‘no less than 59 medical centers have been targeted by Russian forces since its intervention in Syria.” (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • A reporter reveals the damage in Kafr Hamra following the alleged Russian and Regime airstrikes on the makeshift hospital (Youtube via SN4HR)
  • The last hospital in Kafr Hamra allegedly stuck by a Russian and Regime offensive (via Thiqa)
  • A room in the hospital in Kafr Hamra reportedly struck by warplanes (via Thiqa)
  • A row of beds in the hospital now covered in dust following alleged warplane attacks (via Thiqa)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (1 child4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1036

Incident date

July 23, 2016

Location

ضهرة عواد, Dahrat Awwad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.201724, 37.188892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian warplanes and/or Assad regime helicopters were both reported to have dropped missiles on the neighbourhood of Dahrat Awwad, killing between 10 and 17 civilians and wounding at least 15 more.

According to Ara News, 13 civilians were killed and “10s were injured”. A local news source put the number of killed civilians as high as 17 including “15 injured due to Russian warplane shelling with a missile thrown in a parachute on Dahrat Awwad.”

LCCSY said that 10 people were killed in this airstrike and that in the area, six  hospitals were put out of service.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 17
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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]

  • The destruction caused to residential buildings in Dahrat Awwad. 23rd July 2016. (via Shaam Network).

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 July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 17
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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

RS1068

Incident date

July 29, 2016

Location

Abeen Saba'an, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.0925448, 36.7577219 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded in an airstrike on Abeen Saba’an, according to local media – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Step News Agency, Syrian News Desk, Taha_Alhlo, and the Syrian Network for Human Rights all attributed the event to Russia.

Syrian News Desk, also blaming Russia, put the death toll at five, including two children, with five other non-combatants wounded.

Abarah Press, again pointing towards Moscow, put the death toll at 11 with dozens wounded.

However, two other sources  (Zaman Alwasl and Baladi) said that the regime was responsible, while Horrya blamed both Russia and the regime collectively.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulmajid Dibo Al-Hamza
Age unknown male killed
Abdullah Rajab ALdebes
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A street in Abeen Saba'an - full of rubble following alleged Russian attacks (via Horrya)
  • Photographs of smoke clouds rising above Abeen Saba'an following alleged Russian strikes (Tweet via @thiqanewsagency)

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 July 29th – 31st 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 – 11
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS938 RS2278

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Location

جديد عكيدات, Jadid Akeidat, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.254309, 40.355344 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as eight civilians, as well as six named which including medical personnel died, and others were wounded in an airstrike on Jadid Akeidat village, Deir Ez-Zour, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition, the Syrian regime or Russia were responsible for the attacks. Sources reported that the strike had been on a “makeshift field hospital”, which some reports said was inside a mosque.

Qasioun put the death toll at three, while Jisr TV said as many as eight died when “Coalition forces targeted a mosque and a hospital”. According to Smart News Agency, four were killed, including “two doctors and an anesthesiologist”. It also blamed the Coalition.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the event to the regime. It reported that “Syrian regime warplanes fired missiles on the makeshift hospital in Jdeed Ekidat village in Deir Ez-Zour governorate eastern suburbs, killing a number of medical personnel, destroying the hospital’s building and rendering it inoperable”.

According to RFS, “eyewitnesses confirmed that at least four civilians were killed and a number of others injured by unidentified warplanes targeting a field hospital inside a mosque in the new town of Akidat, located in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Azur last night.”

But in an initial report, Baladi blamed Russia, reporting that “our correspondent, Murad Al-Ahmad, said that all indicators and military observers in Idlib confirmed that Russian aircraft targeted the hospital, resulting in the killing of most of the medical staff”. Euphrates Post also attributed the event to Russia and identified four victims by name.

However, there was some confusion in reporting, with a second Baladi report pointing towards the Coalition: “Local media sources said four civilians were killed Friday morning, including two doctors and a nurse, in air raids by an international coalition targeted at a mosque in the village of New al-Akidat”.

Free Deir Ezzor merely blamed “warplanes” and identified to victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Majid al-Alwan
Adult male killed
Dr. Hudhayfah al-Mulla
Adult male  from the town of Al Dahla killed
Abdul Rahman Al-Hermash “Rahmo”
Adult male The anesthesiologist  killed
Anas Ali al-Sawadi
Adult male killed
Dr. Hathifa Turki al Makhlaf
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video saying that Anas Ali al-Sawadi died in contested airstrikes targeting Jadid Akida, Deir Ez-Zour, 9th June 2017. (via Mmkfld1)
  • The contested airstrikes reportedly destroyed the Grand Mosque in the town of Jadid Akidat, Der Ez-Zour, 9th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post Facebook)
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

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
  • Stated location
    near Jadid Akeidat, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV237016
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle.”

Additionally, the Coalition reported that "five strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 6 that closed within the last 24 hours", one of these: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike destroyed four ISIS oil tanks"

For June 8th-9th: no strikes were publicly reported in Deir Ez-Zour governorate.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1329

Incident date

August 4, 2017

Location

حمرة بويتية, Hamra Buweitiya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9378146, 39.1255975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources have reported that between three and six civilians were killed in an aerial bombardment on al Buweitaya in the western suburb of Deir Ezzor. At present sources have alleged that the US-led Coalition was responsible, however, some sources are attributing the attack to the regime, and some to Russia.

According to a Facebook post by Al Tabani another unidentified female was found, and Younis al-’Awad’s wife was also reported to have been seriously injured in the attack.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights have blamed ‘Syrian Regime planes’ for the attack, whilst in a news report by Smart the strikes are ‘thought to be Russian’.

Other sources referred to an “air bombardment” and to “warplanes” carrying out raids – but did not identify the culprit.

The incident was first reported on August 4, 2017 at 12:17 pm by EuphratesPost.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Younis al-’Awad
Adult male killed
Daughter of Younis al-’Awad
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al-Buweitiya (بلدة البويطية), western Deir Ezzor governorate, for which the coordinates are: 35.9378146, 39.1255975

  • The village of Al-Buweitiya (بلدة البويطية)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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

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
  • Stated location
    near Hamra Buweitiya, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 4th-5th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed four ISIS oil stills.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Friday 4 August – Typhoons struck an ammunition factory and three sniper positions in Raqqa…An improvised ammunition factory had been identified in a large single-storey building in Raqqa, and this was struck with two Paveway IVs from Typhoons on Friday 4 August. The Typhoons then conducted two further strikes with Paveways against sniper positions, while a second Typhoon flight dealt with a third sniper team.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]