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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0117

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
الرقة‎
Up to 34 civilians were reported killed including a woman and a child, and 50 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes, according to multiple sources. Al A’maq [close to Daesh] claimed there were 26 strikes by Russian warplanes which caused 10 deaths, including two women. They claimed that the city’s general hospital was targeted, along with…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
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Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0114

Location

Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي بستان القصر
Local sources that claimed the death of between six and eight civilians including three children and injury of 12 more in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bustan al Qasr. Several houses were also reportedly destroyed. VDC released the names of 8 people that killed, including three children as result of the strike. Additionally, the Violations Documentation…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
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Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0116

Location

Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي المشهد
Alleged Russian airstrikes reportedly killed at least three non-combatants and injured at least ten in the neighbourhood of Al Mashhad, according to the White Helmets. The group said they recovered three bodies from the rubble and rescued ten people, transferring them to nearby field hospitals. Local media activist Mansour Hussain told Al Araby al Jadeed…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
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Incident Date

2 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0113

Location

Sakik, Idlib, Syria
سكيك
An initial report by the Violations Documentation Center named one adult male as a civilian medical worker who killed in an alleged Russian airstrike but did not specify the location. However, a later listing by the VDC identified him both as a paramedic and as a non-civilian, killed “during clashes with the regime’s army forces“.…

Summary

Published
2 November 2015
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Incident Date

2 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0111

Location

Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان
One woman, Mrs Zahra Hajj Khamees, was reported killed and more than 20 people injured after an alleged Russian airstrike on the traders’ market in the town of Maarat al Numan. Video footage showed extreme damage to shops and houses in the vicinity. Most sources blamed Russia. However, the Damascus Centre and the Syrian Network…

Summary

Published
2 November 2015
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Incident Date

2 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0112

Location

Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria
القريتين
30 civilians were reported killed and a dozen injured in alleged evening Russian airstrikes on a centre for the distribution of bread in the town of Qaryatain in Homs province. According to Shaam News Network, 16 people died when Russian planes carried out two raids. Activists stressed that the raids targeted a bakery in the…

Summary

Published
2 November 2015
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