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

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0091

Location

الرستن‬, Ar Rastan, Homs, Syria
A woman and child (and possibly a third civilian) were killed in an alleged Russian morning airstrike at Ar Rastan. According to the Union of Hama rebels, those killed were “an orphan and his grandmother“. They were later named by VDC.  

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0092

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria
One civilian male was killed and several non-combatants injured “including women and children” following an alleged Russian strike on Talbiseh. The man – named by Violations Documentation Center as Iyad Hsain Jomaa Al Latouf – was also shown in a graphic video depicting his body.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0095

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
Up to five civilians – among them three children and an adult male – were reported killed in an alleged air and ground assault on Jisr al Shughour, according to a number of sources. The Syrian Network later named the dead. Shaam News reported that “Russian warplanes carried out two raids with rockets on the…

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0094

Location

ابديتا, Ibdita, Idlib, Syria
One civilian man named as Ahmed Murr was reported killed and 10 people injured in an alleged Russian morning airstrike on the village of Ibdita. His two sons were also critically wounded in the attack. In a later news feature, Shaam News reported: “Samer was taken to the hospital in Ma’arat, where his body was…

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
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