Civilian killing by Russian armed forces in Syria could be exaggerated: Experts

Russian role in combatting terrorism in Syria has come under scanner in the Western media notwithstanding success achieved in the operations that has effectively dealt severe blow over the past two years to Islamic State (IS) and its goals. News about Russian fighter jets killing Syrian civilians have appeared across in not so popular publications (example: Qasioun news) from time to time. Such publications, however, have highlighted positive role played by the international coalition led by the USA.

Qasioun news mention in their articles about Russian role in Syria’s Deir-ez-Zor province which interestingly is not in the zone of Russian active participation in that country. Rather the international coalition is involved in anti-IS operations in Abu-Kemal city in Deir-ez-Zor province. Certain media outlets and human rights group allegedly pay no attention to civilians killed by the international coalition in Iraq and Syria, according to experts on the region. 350 civilians have allegedly become victims of air raids by the international coalition in Syria and Iraq since 2014, according to the USA government statistics. Antiwar.com, however, claims that three thousand civilians were allegedly killed by the international coalition.

There are some indirect losses in the volatile zone of West Asia. Weapons imported from the West by the countries in West Asia sometimes even fall in the hands of radical groups like IS, claimed experts. According to same experts there could be a motive behind the campaign against Russian counter-terror role in Syria – discredit Moscow’s activities and force it out from that theatre. Reports of civilian killings due to Russian Air Force operations are often based on messages in social media. One Syrian Volunteer Organisation – “White Helmets” – has been accused of fraudulent campaign which has been a setback for the counter-terror operations as such campaign has played into the hands of IS.

Russia began its military operation in Syria in September 2015, after being invited into the country by President Bashar Assad to assist in anti-terrorist operations. According to Russian media outlet Sputnik during Russia's 23-month mission, the Russian Aerospace Forces have flown approximately 28,000 sorties, inflicting 90,000 strikes against terrorist targets. It has been claimed that Russian air support has helped the Syrian Army to regain control over 50,000 square kilometers of territory, while destroying terrorist bases, supply routes, command and logistics infrastructure, and cutting off their sources of income from stolen oil.