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

2 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0111

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0112

Location

القريتين, Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Commerce (Bakery)
Civilians reported killed
30
Civilians reported injured
12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0108

Location

منطقة أسيا, Assiya, Aleppo, Syria
An unnamed civilian male was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Assiya. Almodon made no mention of civilian casualties, though did report strikes by “Russian jet fighters” on Assiya. No additional information is presently available.  

Summary

Published
1 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0109

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
A child was killed and ‘dozens of civilians’ were injured “as a result of five Russian air strikes [each strike firing more than one missile] targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Douma” according to the White Helmets. Intense artillery shelling was also reported on Douma. VDC named the child as Judi Bashar al Zhairi, and…

Summary

Published
1 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0110

Location

أم صحريج, Um Sirij, Hama, Syria
Two to five children and their mother were reported killed and four more people injured along with up to three civilian adults, after an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Umm Sirij. Shaam News cited local civil defence as saying that a home had been razed in the attack, with other houses damaged. And…

Summary

Published
1 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
4–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

Incident Code

RS0105

Location

Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
The White Helmets and others reported a very intense raid in the early hours of November 1st, allegedly by Russian warplanes, on Hraytan. The Al Haramees area was targetted with four strikes reportedly using vacuum missiles, which led to the death of 45-year old Mohammad Ismail Rustum and the wounding of two others, as well…

Summary

Published
1 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident