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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

11 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0258

Location

Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
هجين
One child was reported killed and another civilian injured in an alleged Russian airstrike at Hajeen. No additional details are presently known.  

Summary

Published
11 December 2015
View Incident

Incident Date

11 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0259

Location

Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
عربين
Two male civilians were reported killed in either a Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Arbeen. The town’s local medical committee reported “Dozens of injured received by the hospital in Arbeen after the outskirts of the town of Arbeen, Zamalka and other eastern Ghouta towns were targeted by warplanes that are still targeting public places…

Summary

Published
11 December 2015
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0253

Location

Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria
كفر زيتة
Three adult males were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Zita. The victims were named by the VDC. While most described the trio as civilians, one tweet said they were rebel fighters with the group Ajnad al Sham. Reporting remains confused, with multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita between December 9th…

Summary

Published
10 December 2015
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0254

Location

Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria
بزاعة
Three civilians including one woman and her two children were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The Violations Documentation Centre listed three unidentified non-combatants as killed in Russian shelling. The Syrian Network for Human Rights, however, blamed the regime.  

Summary

Published
10 December 2015
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0249

Location

Palmyra, Homs, Syria
تدمر
The Violations Documentation Centre named one unidentified adult male as having been killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Palmyra. In addition, the Syrian Human Rights Campaign reported that a boy named as Yazan Jamil el Sha’eel “died of wounds sustained from Russian airstrikes on civilians’ homes.” According to another source there were heavy Russian air raids on…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0250

Location

Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
الصالحين
Up to 12 civilians including women and children were killed and more than 15 injured in an airstrike on a bakery in Salheen. Reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The Shaam News Network said non-combatants were targeted by Russian warplanes as they went to buy…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
View Incident