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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

11 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0258

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0259

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0252

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
One 30-year-old male civilian, Mohammad Muffed Razzouq, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Salheen, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. No further details are available at the present time.  

Summary

Published
10 December 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0253

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0254

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0244

Location

النشابية, Al Nashabiya, Damascus, Syria
Up to nine civilians were killed, including six children, and 14 more people wounded including a woman, in airstrikes and ground assaults on Al Nashabiya. According to Shaam News the civilian deaths were a result of “violent attacks” by Russian warplanes and Assad’s forces. Activists published images showing the bodies of children who had “been broken in pieces by…

Summary

Published
9 December 2015
Civilians reported killed
6–9
Civilians reported injured
14
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident