Russian Military in Syria

In September 2015 Russian military forces intervened in Syria initially as part of a limited campaign against so-called Islamic State terrorists. This campaign turned into more substantive military support to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in his deadly fight with opposition groups, killing thousands of civilians in rebel-held areas. Operations came to an end with Assad’s fall in December 2024.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from Russian strikes in Syria and produced research and reports on the conflict.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

4,338 – 6,384

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely Russian Military actions in Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Russian Military. These originate from 4,842 separate alleged incidents.

1,145 – 1,394
children likely killed
632 – 766
women likely killed
6,544
likely injured
3,435
named victims

Russian Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Russian Military actions in Syria, originating from 0 separate incidents of civilian harm.

civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
15,282 – 24,392
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,842 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,338 – 6,384
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,344 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
727 – 848
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
457 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,113 – 17,043
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,026 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4808 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0313

Location

Palmyra, Homs, Syria
تدمر
One adult male, Yehya Abdulrazzaq Hamdan “al-Kerbaa”, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Palmyra, according to the Violations Documentation Center. Fresh Syria said Russian aircraft had targeted the city’s industrial district.  

Summary

Published
25 December 2015
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Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0315

Location

A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria
أعزاز‎
Three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on A'zaz, according to multiple sources. The Shaam News Network reported that four Russian airstrikes struck the city. Activists told SNN that the raids targeted a field hospital and a women’s and children’s hospital, causing severe damage and huge fires which the White Helmets attempted to extinguish. They stated that…

Summary

Published
25 December 2015
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Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0316

Location

Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
منبج
One to two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Manbij, according to the Violations Documentation Center. It named one adult male, Osama al-Halak, as killed due to “Russian airforce shelling in Manbij.” An additional male child, Mustafa Ghazal, is also listed as a victim of a Russian strike in Aleppo on December 25th,…

Summary

Published
25 December 2015
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Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0312

Location

Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حلب
The Islamic State-linked agency Al A’maq reported that 100 civilian trucks were destroyed in Russian airstrikes on the northern countryside – but did not give any details of casualties. With no additional reports of such an attack for this date, this may instead relate to the December 24th event at Ihress.  

Summary

Published
25 December 2015
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Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0314

Location

Bab Qansreen, Aleppo, Syria
حي باب قنسرين
Three civilians including two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bab Qansreen, according to multiple sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Russian warplanes shelled the Bab Qansreen neighbourhood on December 25th, while the Shaam News Network posted a video by Aleppo Media Center showing the body of a child and…

Summary

Published
25 December 2015
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Incident Date

24 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0311

Location

Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
عربين
Eight civilians including three children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, according to the Violations Documentation Center. The White Helmets published a number of videos showing them attending the scene, fighting a fire and rescuing an injured person from under the rubble. One unidentified victim was also accounted for: Unidentified – adult,…

Summary

Published
24 December 2015
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