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
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Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0245

Location

Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria
كفر زيتة
One adult male civilian, Mohammad Ahmad al-Alayan, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Zita, according to the Union of Hama Rebels and the Violations Documentation Centre. Reporting remains confused, with multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita between December 9th and 12th which resulted in a likely total of six civilian deaths.…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
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Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0251

Location

Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
حمورية
Twenty-three civilians including eight children and one woman were reported killed and 20 injured in an airstrike on a residential area of Hamouriya, according to multiple sources. Reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The Shaam News Network initially said 14 non-combatants died in a “massacre” by Russian warplanes.…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
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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
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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
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Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0247

Location

Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
Nine civilians including four women and five children were killed in an airstrike on the village of Mraand, 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 said that eight non-combatants died as a result of a Russian missile targeting…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
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Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0248

Location

Anadan, Aleppo, Syria
عندان
A male child, named as nine month old Ahmad Hamze Layla, was killed in an airstrike on Anadan, according to both the Violations Documentation Centre and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. It is unclear whether regime or Russian forces were responsible for the alleged raid. The VDC said the victim was killed by Russian…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
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