Are Russian Airstrikes Targeting Civilian Areas?

Syrian+Civil+Defense+members+put+out+the+flames+on+a+burning+military+vehicle+at+a+base+controlled+by+rebel+fighters+and+hit+by+an+airstrike+thought+to+be+Russian.%0A

image courtesy of Reuters

Syrian Civil Defense members put out the flames on a burning military vehicle at a base controlled by rebel fighters and hit by an airstrike thought to be Russian.

Anna Landre, Staff Writer

In late September, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the first Russian airstrikes in the war-torn country of Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, since then, the strikes have killed over 370 people, including more than 120 civilians.

Despite claims that Russian military action in Syria is solely for the purpose of targeting ISIS and other terrorist groups, many believe that Putin may have an underlying motive to secure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s hold on power. Syria, during Assad’s rule, has been a valuable asset to Russia in the middle east, and it is likely that Putin is trying to bolster Assad’s regime. In the past, Assad has been accused by America, the UN, and others of committing war crimes, including his alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians in 2013 during the ongoing Syrian Civil War.

Since they began bombing parts of Syria last month, Russian forces have faced allegations of purposely targeting civilian areas. Russia has emphatically denied these claims, but many international watchdog groups have presented evidence otherwise. Sunday, Human Rights Watch reported that the Russian bombing of the city of Homs on October 15th killed dozens of civilians, and that the attack may be considered a war crime. One strike hit a home in the village of Ghantou, killing 46 family members. Another fell near a bakery in Ter Maaleh, causing the deaths of 13 civilians and the commander of the Free Syrian Army.

Although Russian says they are using these strikes only to help the government fight terrorism, this incident would support the claim that they are using them as a means to interfere in the civil war in Assad’s favor. The Free Syrian Army is a well-known rebel group fighting against the Assad regime, and is made up of many military defectors.

In eastern Idlib, a warplane targeting a hospital killed a dozen people. The incident was caught on video by the Syrian Civil Defense, and shows the plane dropping a first bomb, then returning soon after to drop a second. This technique is known as a “double-tap:” when attackers strike, wait for police and first-responders to arrive, then return to hit the same area and cause more damage. The Syrian-American Medical Society, which runs the hospital, says the strikes were launched by Russian forces. Russia, however, denies the claim, saying that they are strictly targeting terrorist groups to aid President Assad.

When asked to comment on Russia’s decision to implement airstrikes in Syria, FTHS Junior and CGI student Jesal Patel responded, “I don’t think their means justify their ends. Russia is trying to help Bashar al-Assad’s regime, as their ally, but in the process, this is harming civilians and causing unnecessary violent disturbance.”

As the strikes continue, many accuse Russia of actively targeting moderate groups that are against Assad. President Putin insists that the campaign is entirely to combat ISIS and other groups like it. Still, thousands of civilians have fled from their homes in the city of Aleppo following the latest wave of Russian strikes.