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

23 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0075

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
A single source, the Syrian Observatory, reported the death of a man in an alleged Russian strike, noting: “A man from the city of al-Mayadin was killed in the bombing by warplanes believed to be Russian yesterday on areas at the outskirts of Ariha city in Idlib province.“  

Summary

Published
23 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0070

Location

الزربة, Az Zarbah, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian named as Hamad Ahmad Al Rajab was reported killed and others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Zerbeih, in southern rural Aleppo. However local rebels also said that the town came under attack from “fierce artillery and rocket shelling” by Assad regime ground forces.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0074

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria
The Shaam News Network and others alleged that Russian aircraft had dropped cluster munitions (pictured below) in northern Aleppo governorate. Two civilians were killed, named as Hussein Adel Osso and Mohamad Yehya Al Seraj. Five others were injured in the evening strike, including a member of the local civil defence team.  

Summary

Published
23 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0076

Location

جبل الزاوية, Jabal Al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria
Media activist Wassim Al A’dil was one of two civilians reported killed in an airstrike at Jabal al Zawiya. The other has been named by Violations Documentation Center as Mohammad Abd al-Razzaq al-Harami. The pair were reportedly on their way to cover nearby Russian airstrikes when they were caught up in an attack. Shaam News…

Summary

Published
23 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0069

Location

برقوم, Barkoum, Aleppo, Syria
Six or more civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Barkoum. The Violations Documentation Center (which in English said the attack was by unidentified warplanes, and in Arabic attributed it to the Assad regime) later named the dead. However other sources described the attack as the work of the Russian airforce.  

Summary

Published
23 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
6–8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0073

Location

مسرابا, Missraya, Damascus, Syria
According to reports, Russian warplanes allegedly carried out four raids on the town of Missraya in eastern Ghouta. Two or more people died and ‘dozens’ were injured, including women and children. According to the White Helmets, one of those killed was a little girl. The VDC also named adult male civilian Mohammad Saeid Mohammad Ali…

Summary

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