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

14 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0040

Location

تحتايا, Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria
Two non-combatant males were killed in an alleged Russian strike on Tahtaya and were later named by the Violations and Documentation Centre. Syrian regime aircraft also reportedly bombed the town the day before, killing a woman and her daughter. However according to Qasioun – which posted a video of the attack – the event was…

Summary

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

Incident Date

14 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0039

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
A woman was reported killed in Russia’s first confirmed airstrikes in the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus, which struck the suburb of Hamouriya.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0038

Location

تل سلطان, Tall Sultan, Idlib, Syria
Violations Documentation Center named an adult male from the town of Tel Azzan as having been killed in a Russian airstrike on a school building in nearby Tel Sultan, which also reportedly injured two.

Summary

Published
13 October 2015
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0036

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
At least five and as many as 15 civilians were reported killed in heavy Russian airstrikes on the town of Darat Izza, according to reports. Al Jazeera said eight members of one family were among the dead. Five of those killed were later named by the local al Kanana Hospital. The Syrian Network for Human…

Summary

Published
13 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
5–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0037

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria
Eight civilians were reported killed in a confirmed Russian airstrike at Hayyan. Images showed heavy destruction in civilian neighbourhoods, with a number of badly injured people rescued. The nearby Hraytan Hospital was also damaged according to Syria Relief and Development: “At 6:45 a.m. this morning in Syria, three Russian missiles targeted Hraytan Hospital, one of…

Summary

Published
13 October 2015
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0035

Location

تحتايا, Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria
Two young sisters named were reported by the Violations Documentation Center as having been killed in a Russian attack on Tahtaya in Idlib. A third fatality, an adult man, was later added to the list.  

Summary

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