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

4,431 – 6,522

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 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
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
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0313

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0315

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria
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
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0316

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0312

Location

حلب, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
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
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0314

Location

حي باب قنسرين, Bab Qansreen, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0310

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
20 civilians were reported killed and 50 injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hamouriya, according to the White Helmets and the Shaam News Network. Activists told SNN that four Russian missiles caused severe explosions in residential neighbourhoods in the the town, causing widespread destruction. They put the initial death toll at more than 20 with…

Summary

Published
24 December 2015
Civilians reported killed
20
Civilians reported injured
50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident