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

7 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0026

Location

Babilla, Hama, Syria
بابيلا
A father and his three children were among those reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Babilla, along with four other children, three of whom were named by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Eyewitness Moustafa Ghareeb told the Syrian Network: “The Russian shelling occurred 7 kilometres away from Marat Al Nu’man, at Babilla…

Summary

Published
7 October 2015
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Incident Date

7 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0024

Location

Ma'asaran, Idlib, Syria
معصران
An alleged Russian airstrike killed seven civilians at Ma’asaran in Idlib governorate. Most of those who died were from one family. A neighbour told Smart News: “This is my house, I arrived and I found everyone OK. But our neighbours? May God have mercy on them. I went to pray and then went to the…

Summary

Published
7 October 2015
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Incident Date

7 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0025

Location

Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
A mother and her two children were killed along with another woman in a suspected Russian cruise missile strike on the town of Darat Izza. Amnesty International later reported: “More than six residential buildings with at least a dozen homes were destroyed by the attack according to an eyewitness interviewed by Amnesty International as well…

Summary

Published
7 October 2015
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Incident Date

7 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0023

Location

Jabal al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria
جبل الزاوية
According to the Syrian Observatory, Russian aircraft targeted a number of locations in Idlib governorate on October 7th including “Khan Shekhon, al-Tama’a, and al-Habeet in the southern countryside of Idlib, and other areas of Ehsim and al-Bara in the Zawyia mount [area].” As many as 10 non-combatants may have died at five different locations. However…

Summary

Published
7 October 2015
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Incident Date

6 October 2015

Incident Codes

CS134 RS0021

Location

Palmyra, Homs, Syria
تدمر
According to the Syrian Observatory, “preliminary information reported the death of civilians – including women and children – in the bombing by Russian warplanes on areas at the eastern outskirts of Palmyra city which is controlled by the ‘Islamic State’.” According to most sources, between 12 and 14 members of two Bedouin families died, including…

Summary

Published
6 October 2015
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Incident Date

6 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0022

Location

Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria
القريتين
The Syrian Observatory reported an unspecified number of casualties from an alleged Russian strike at Qarayatain, a town to the south west of Palmyra. Qasioun also reported that “a raid by fighters of the Russian Air Force on Tuesday afternoon led to deaths and injuries among civilians, some serious, as well as widespread destruction of…

Summary

Published
6 October 2015
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