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

RS1715

Incident date

November 28, 2016

Location

الصالحين , Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 35 civilians died in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Salheen neighbourhood, though it was unclear whether the regime or Russia were responsible.

@MohAlkhatieb tweeted that the civil defense had removed eight dead civilians from the rubble in Salheen following a strike with a barrel bomb.

According to @mahmoodtalha22, two civilians died in the neighbourhood, but the source didn’t identify the culprit.

But LCCSY suggested the death toll was much higher, reporting that there were 45 martyrs from #Aleppo, [and] most of them passed away in the Russian airstrikes on #Salhin and #Shaar.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 35
  • 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 (3) [ 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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 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.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 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 – 35
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS442

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Location

الباب, Bab al Hawa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.228656, 36.697878 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 35 civilians were killed and up to 65 injured in an airstrike on Bab al Hawa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether the raid was the work of Russian forces or the Assad regime.

The White Helmets reported that 30 non-combatants were killed and 65 injured when warplanes carried out consecutive strikes on Bab al Hawa, but they did not say who the planes belonged to. They added that un-exploded ballistic missiles were found in the areas and that members of their team were targeted by further planes while carrying out the rescue mission.

However, in a later video showing children being rescued from the rubble, they said that Russia carried out the strikes.

The Shaam News Network also blamed Russia, reporting that warplanes bombed old garages in the countryside of Idlib and the edges of camps for displaced people in Bab al Hawa. They added that six raids targeted civilian homes and public facilities in the area.

Activists told SNN that the shelling resulted in “a terrible massacre against civilians and children killing more than ten people and wounding more than 20.”

Graphic images were published by Ma’ara Now News showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian strike in “the square of Bab al Hawa“, which they said killed 10 civilians.

Smart also blamed Russia and published a video showing destruction caused by rais which they said killed 17 and injured 50 more. A witness told the agency: “The aircraft carried out two raids on the area, and then followed by two missiles, one ballistic and the other cluster.”

According to Orient News, 17 civilians died in eight Russian strikes – though at the time of filming the video they said they didn’t have a final count for the dead and injured.

Videos by Citizen Journalist also attributed the incident to Russia and depicted what they said were damaged civilian homes as the civil defence searched for survivors. They reported up to six Russian strikes.

Halab News put the death toll at 35, with 65 wounded in alleged Russian strikes.

Syrian News Desk reported: “The media opposition activist Alaa al-Din Muhammad told to ‘the Office of the Syria News’ that Russian warplanes carried out five raids on the old crossing point and yard at Bab Al-Hawa  the outskirts of Sarmada city, killing 13 civilians and four members of the opposition factions, and injuring at least 30 others wounded, including women and children“.

The source added that the raids had also targeted two warehouses used to store materials, resulting in fires.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that aircraft of the Assad regime were responsible. They put the death toll at six.

Reporting on the aerial bombardment of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the number of people killed in Bab al Hawa and Sarmada had risen to 28, including four children and a woman, in addition to an “Uzbek family and 22 rebels.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Haj Mohammed.
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 35
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    65
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Members of the White Helmets search for survivors following a strike on Bab al Hawa, January 22nd 2016. (via White Helmets)
  • Footage showing the aftermath of the incident. (via, SNN)
  • Members of the White Helmets search for survivors following a strike on Bab al Hawa, January 22nd 2016. (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SNN)
  • The White Helmets rescuing people from the rubble. (via SNN)
  • Minor damage to the outside of a shop. (via, SNN)
  • Civilian housing damaged in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, SNN)
  • Chaos in the mediate aftermath of the incident as White Helmets try to dig civilians out of the rubble. (via, SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian dragged from his car after he was caught in the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on Bab al Hawa. (via, Citizen Journalist)
  • White Helmets continue to move rubble following the incident on 22nd January 2016. (via, Citizen Journalist)
  • The exact moment the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid hit. (via, Citizen Journalist)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Extremely graphic video of a deceased child with a concaved skull and loss of limbs following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike on Bab Al-Hawa. (via, Citizen Journalist)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 35
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    65
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS859

Incident date

June 6, 2016

Location

‏العشارة‬, Al Asharah, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.92, 40.56 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 17 and 35 civilians including eight children and two women died and up to 40 others were injured in airstrikes on a popular market and a mosque in Al Asharah town and the Al Hannoush neighbourhood, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was an attack by Russia or the Syrian regime.

LCCSY produced a number of brief reports, and said that the attack was carried out by warplanes thought to be Russian, putting the death toll at 22 civilians including women and children with dozens more wounded. It added that deaths included an entire family.

According to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently, Russian warplanes struck the town with cluster bombs. It put the death toll as high as 26 non-combatants and posted an image of a funeral two allegedly deceased men.

The Shaam News Network also attributed the incident to Russia and said that 23 civilians died.

According to Baladi, the death toll was as high as 35, including eight members of one family, with another 40 injured. It blamed planes belonging to “Assad and Putin” for raids on Mansour mosque.

Media activist “Alhaji Yahya” for News Now told Akhbaralan that “regime and Russian warplanes” struck a popular market with cluster bombs, killing – among others – “four brothers who were the sons of Hussein Al-hayawi and Dawood Al-Najah and his wife and their two children“.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t say who was responsible, referring to an “aerial bombardment” on a souq which killed 17 non-combatants including and man and his wife and two of their children.

Citing the Observatory, a BBC report put the death toll at 17 including eight children,

though there was some confusion as to which party was responsible with the report saying that the UK-based Observatory had said that “Syrian government and Russian warplanes were thought to have carried out the strike”.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime was to blame, reporting that there were at least four victims including two children.

Some other sources said that it was not known whether the warplanes responsible belonged to Russia or Assad.

In a tweet by @Zenynapisajida the figure of those injured was put to 45, they alleged 13 killed including eight children from the same family.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad al Salama
Age unknown male killed
Saher Awwad al Mohammad al Abd
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 35
  • (8 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–45
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Civilians flee destruction following suspected Russian attacks on Al Ash arah ( via Alaraby)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a popular market in Al Asharah, June 5th (via Sawalif)
  • "More than 20 martyrs in Russian warplanes on Al-Asha’ara" (Youtube by Amer Howeidi)
  • "the funeral of one of the families that were killed in the cluster bombs which Russian planes fired yesterday morning" (via Deir Ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently Facebook - original page no longer available - image accessed via Airwars archive)
  • "a photo of the funeral of Mohammad Ahmad al Salama and Saher Awwad al Mohammad al Abd on Friday after they were hit by the Russian strike last Monday"(via Deir Ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently Facebook - original page no longer available - image accessed via Airwars archive)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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
    17 – 35
  • (8 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–45
  • 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 (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3053

Incident date

February 21, 2018

Location

كفر بطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.511853, 36.372857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what was described as a “massacre”, Russian or Assad-waged aerial and artillery shelling killed up to 35 civilians, including at least seven children, and wounded dozens in Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, as reported by local media.

As eastern Ghouta continued to be under heavy aerial shelling, the strikes in Kafar Batna town was described as particular intense by local sources, where residential buildings were struck and left in complete rubble.

The death toll spanned from ten, as initially reported by Zaman al-Wasl, to as many as 35. The latter reported by Step News Agency on the following day, February 22nd. Many sources reported “at least” 20 fatalities, including children. Step News Agency reported exactly seven child fatalities.

Additionally, several sources reported that the incident had wounded “dozens”. Damascus Media Center added that most were children.

Besides from airstrikes, the launch of explosive barrels from helicopters was also widely reported among the sources, including Orient News correspondent and Wesal TV.

But sources where not clear who to blame.

While most reports, including al-Jazeera and Orient News, identified the Syrian regime as the culprit, Step News Agency reported, as the only one, that “Russian warplanes and helicopter gunships launched dozens of air strikes and explosive barrages” in several parts of eastern Ghouta, including Kafar Batna. In another tweet about the specific strikes in Kafar Batna, Step News blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 35
  • (7 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dead and wounded civilians following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via Smart News Agency)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via Hadi al-Abdallah)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via DMC)
  • The aftermath of the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018, where wounded civilians are being evacuated from the scene (via Wesal TV)
  • Dozens were left wounded following the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via GMC)
  • A child lost his hands by the Assad or Russian-waged strikes in Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 21st, 2018 (via Iran Arab Spring)

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 35
  • (7 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS117

Incident date

November 3, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 34 civilians were reported killed including a woman and a child, and 50 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes, according to multiple sources.

Al A’maq [close to Daesh] claimed there were 26 strikes by Russian warplanes which caused 10 deaths, including two women. They claimed that the city’s general hospital was targeted, along with old and new bridges south of the city. At noon, planes continued bombarding the old bridge and a park adjacent to the al Fardous mosque, as well as residential areas.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported heavy casualties: 42 deaths, of which 27 were civilians including a woman. It claimed 15 of these 42 deaths were so-called Islamic State fighters.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, 32 civilians were killed, including one child and one woman. They put the number injured at no less than 50.

30 victims have been named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights as

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Abdul Satar Al Hilal
Age unknown male killed
Basam Aliwi (Al Fara)
Age unknown male killed
Basam Aliwi’s wife
Adult female Aliwi’s wife killed
Faisal Mohammad Al Satttam
Age unknown killed
Abdullah Al Mahmoud
Age unknown male killed
Abd Al Jana’an
Age unknown male killed
Fasel Haji Al Hilal
Age unknown male killed
Hussein Al Sarawi
Age unknown male killed
Turkey Al Eisa
Age unknown male killed
Yasser Turkey Al Eisa
Age unknown child (or adult according to VDC) killed
Khalaf Al Atrouz
Age unknown male killed
Abood Hasan Al Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Wesam Al Musa
Age unknown male killed
Raed Al Shaher
Age unknown male killed
Jaber Ibrahim
Age unknown male killed
Abd Al Mazeed /Al Kasrat
Age unknown male killed
Abd Al Kana’an
Age unknown male killed
Wesam Ismael
Age unknown male killed
Abood Hasan Al Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Abd Ahmad Al Mazeed
Age unknown male killed
Jaber Ibrahim Khalil Al Kraiban
Age unknown male killed
Rami Ismael Al Shaher
Age unknown male killed
Faisel Al Eisawi Abu Fahed
Age unknown killed
Abar Al Dali
Age unknown killed
Ali Ahmad Al Ramo
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Rashed Al Askar
Age unknown Deir Ez-Zour –Hasarat village killed
Hussein
Age unknown A young man called killed
Hasan Ahmad Al Hwaidi
Age unknown killed
Faisel Ahmad Al Hwaidi
Age unknown killed
Fadl Haji al-Hlal
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 34
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named one of the victims on their Facebook page as "Hussein" (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently0
  • Large destruction at the Skik Mosque in the southern suburb of Idlib after being bombed by alleged Russian-Russian planes

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has confirmed carrying out strikes in Raqqah governorate between November 3rd-5th 2015: “Near Raqqah, Su-34 bombers carried out strikes against two fortified strong points of militants located at the approaches to the city. Direct hits of air bombs destroyed fortified installations of terrorists as well as four automobile and armored vehicles.“

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 34
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2761

Incident date

November 25, 2017

Location

مسرابا, Masraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what has been described as a massacre, between seven and 34 civilians were killed and as many as 80 were wounded in airstrikes on Masraba, according to local media. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

One source reported that as many as 15 children were killed. Another put the death toll for children as low as three.

Two of the dead were brothers, according to The Observatory.

The Observatory documented the killing of “21 civilians in the air strikes of the regime forces on the towns of Mesraba”.

Not only was a popular market on the main road struck, but civilian housing was seriously damaged in the raid.

Sources reported that five civilians faced amputations and the scene in the aftermath was descried as “horrific” and gruesome.

Images show members of the Syrian Civil Defence taking injured victims to a nearby medical facility in the aftermath.

One non-civilian adult male was listed by VDC, named Akram al-Hanafi.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghosoun Mouhammad al-Qabouni
Adult female killed
Yousef Mouhammad Abu Wahda
Adult male killed
Issam Mouhammad al-Khouli
Adult male killed
Adnan Jamal al-Khouli
Adult male killed
Omar Abd al-Mou'een al-Khouli
Adult male killed
Ahmad Ibraheem Shehada al-Hamoud
Adult male killed
Omar Mouhammad Abd al-Raheem
Adult male killed
Noor Mahmoud Mahjoub
Child female killed
Abd al-Rahman Mouhammad Mahjoub
Child male killed
Rasha Jasem al-Elwan
Child female killed
Ahmad Mouhammad al-Meshref
Adult male killed
Mahdi Mouhammad al-Meshref
Adult male killed
Sumaya Anas al-Shehab
Child female killed
Mansour Qasem al-Taweel
Adult male killed
Saeed Ibrahim Balleh
Adult male killed
Khaled al-Ali
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Hussein Shaker
Adult male killed
Mouhammad Yaser Awad
Child male killed
Son of Mouhammad al-Basha
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 34
  • (3–15 children1 woman12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–80
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via S.M.O Syria)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via Qasioun)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @HadiAlabdallah)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @Orient)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @ghaliakabbani)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @Doumamedical)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @JinaShashaah)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @amsiiraq)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via @SCDHOMS)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via Syria Care Arabic)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via Syria Care Arabic)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 25th November 2017. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 34
  • (3–15 children1 woman12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–80
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS280

Incident date

December 15, 2015

Location

معارة النعسان, Ma'arat Al Nu'ssan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.0353463, 36.8360242 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 16 and 34 civilians were killed and more than 100 injured in airstrikes on a fuel market in Ma’arat Al Nu’ssan, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes launched cluster bombs on the fuel market in three airstrikes, leading to the death of at least 30 non-combatants, most of whom were burnt in massive fires.

Activists told SNN that the warplanes targeted the middle of the market at a time when it was full of fuel dealers.

The network went on to note that “the fuel market in the town of Ma’arat al Nu’ssan is the largest commercial markets in the region, and it is a collection point for diesel coming from IS areas to the liberated areas and has been bombed previously by Assad causing significant massacres.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll lower, at 16, but added that it was likely to rise due to dozens being in critical condition and many people missing. They later put the death toll at at least 34. SN4HR said that the attack was carried out by Warplanes believed to be Russian.

The White Helmets posted a number of images of its members attending the scene and attempting to put out a fire. They stated that “warplanes” carried out the attacks but did not say who they belonged to. The death toll had risen to 20 with more than 100 wounded, they added.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least six” civilians were killed when regime missiles fired on the village.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 34
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Firefighters attend the aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'ssan, December 15th (via White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets rescue a body in the aftermath of the strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'ssan, December 15th. (via White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of a pile of bones left after a civilian casualty was burnt in a diesel market in Ma’arat Al Nu’ssan. (via, SNN)
  • Fires continue to be extinguished in the aftermath of an airstrike which hit a diesel market. (via, SNN)
  • The ground which has been scorched by the fires in Ma’arat Al Nu’ssan. (via, SNN)
  • A distance view of the smoke caused by huge fires in Ma’arat Al Nu’ssan. (via, SNN)
  • Another image of fires being extinguished. (via, SNN),

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

For December 15th-16th 2015, Russia reported that “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 59 combat sorties engaging 212 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah provinces… Near Maarat an-Numan (Idlib province), a Su-25 attack aircraft destroyed a large ISIS base. In a separate building, there was an ammunition and materiel depot, as well as a command centre of illegal armed groups. Data concerning the coordinates of this object had been received by the Russian Defence Ministry from representatives of the Syrian opposition. After the data had been checked by the Information centre in Baghdad and unmanned aerial vehicles conducted additional reconnaissance of the base, a Su-25 attack aircraft eliminated this facility.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 34
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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

RS2110

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that heavy shelling on Akeirbat in Hama killed as many as 34 civilians. One source attributed the airstrikes to Russian warplanes, while the other blamed the Syrian regime. 

The reports varied significantly, as one source reported 34 civilians were killed, including 11 children, while another source only reported that multiple civilians were injured.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    34
  • (11 children)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    34
  • (11 children)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]