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

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0098

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Up to 15 civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the Aleppo district of Fardous. According to Shaam News, “A further 15 civilians were killed in Al Ferdous neighborhood after a Russian plane targeted it with several vacuum missiles – in addition to about five martyrs in Salah al-Din neighborhood.”    

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
13–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0101

Location

حي كرم النزهة, Karem al Nuzha, Aleppo, Syria
Up to six civilians were reported killed in the village of Karem el Nuzha on the outskirts of Aleppo, in an alleged Russian airstrike. Smart News said six died in the attack. An eyewitness later told the local news agency: “We came over, and in this corner there was a corpse, body parts of a…

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0099

Location

حي ‫‏صلاح الدين, Salahudin (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
As many as five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian strike at Salaheddin. According to the White Helmets “The civil defence rushed to the scene and pulled out five bodies including children. Several wounded were rescued.“ Smart News later published footage showing significant damage to residential apartments. One eyewitness named as Amer told…

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0102

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
Between seven and eight civilians including three children were killed in what were reported by most as four Russian airstrikes on the town of Maarat al Numan. However a local activist group and the Homs Meda Network attributed the attack to the Assad regime. The dead were later named by Violations Documentation Center.

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
7–8
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0090

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
At least 70 people died and as many as 550 were injured in what was initially reported as a Russian airstrike on the marketplace in Douma. However subsequent reports indicated the specific attack was most likely the work of Assad regime aircraft. Part of the confusion lay in the fact that Russian Air Force aircraft…

Summary

Published
29 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
70
Civilians reported injured
550
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0088

Location

بانص, Banis, Aleppo, Syria
At least one and as many as seven civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian strike on Bansh. Violations Documentation Center reported that an unnamed woman was killed “Due to the Russian army air forces’ shelling.”  

Summary

Published
28 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
1–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident