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

Incident Code

RS0057

Location

الوضيحي, Al Widehi, Aleppo, Syria

Summary

Published
18 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0054

Location

تيرمعلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria
An adult male civilian named as Ammar Al Ali was reported killed in an alleged new Russian airstrike on Teir Ma’ala. Al Arabiya reported that “The northern countryside of Homs saw a fierce attack [on October 18th] with an attempt to break into the area by regime forces under air cover provided by Russian aircraft.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0058

Location

الزربة, Az Zarbah, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilian males were reported killed when their car was struck in an alleged Russian airstrike at Zerbeih. Three people were also reported injured in the attack. The men were named by VDC as Mohammad Subhi Basheir and Abdo Ali. Footage and interviews from the town showed extreme damage to at least one civilian neighbourhood.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0053

Location

دير العصافير, Dayr Al Asafeer, Damascus, Syria
One possible non-combatant was reported killed at Dayr al Asafeer, according to a single source. Shaam News Network reported that a joint air-ground assault by Russian and Assad forces “led to the fall of one martyr” in the town, though no further details were given of their status.  

Summary

Published
18 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0056

Location

بزينة, Bazeena, Damascus, Syria
A seven year old girl and two civilian adults were killed and a dozen injured in an airstrike on the town of Bazeena – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The dead child was named as Ghazal Al Tokhi [pictured below], with one…

Summary

Published
18 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0055

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria
The Violations Documentation Centre named Omar Al Sheikh Hammoud from Talbiseh as a civilian victim of a Russian airstrike on Al Ghantu. He had been severely injured in a strike the day before. Video filmed on October 18th shows rebels attempting to shoot down a suspected Russian aircraft over the town. A major Syrian Army…

Summary

Published
18 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident