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

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

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0245

Location

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

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0251

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
23
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0250

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
8–12
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0247

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2015

Incident Code

RS0248

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident