Kritik Bakış
Russia’s air operations in Syria are held responsible—based on documentation from independent sources—for the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, and many attacks are classified as war crimes. These figures and events are detailed in open reports by organizations such as SNHR, Airwars, the UN, and Amnesty International. Syria’s murderous dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after the revolution and gave Putin the wealth he stole from Syria to avoid being tried for his crimes.
Russia’s military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, particularly the air operations launched by the Aerospace Forces (VKS) in support of the Bashar al-Assad regime since September 30, 2015, is accused of causing heavy civilian casualties. Some key data and events documented by independent human rights organizations, UN reports, and local monitoring networks in Syria are as follows:
Casualties from Official and Independent Sources
– Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) (as of 2025):
At least 7,158 civilians were killed in Russian operations between 2015 and 2025 (including 2,157 children and 1,523 women). Civilian deaths are still being reported in the 2024–2025 period.
– Airwars (independent conflict monitoring project):
Russia’s airstrikes are estimated to have killed 6,200–9,800 civilians (minimum verified figure 6,239). The deadliest period was 2015–2017.
– UN Human Rights Council Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria:
Accused Russia of acts that could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including “indiscriminate bombardment” and “attacks on hospitals and schools” (2020 report).
Periods of Massacres / Intensive Attacks
September 30, 2015 – Homs, Talbiseh:
Estimated civilian death toll: 36+
Russia’s first airstrike in Syria, mostly civilians.
2015–2016 – Aleppo (eastern neighborhoods):
Estimated civilian death toll: 2,000+
Systematic bombing of opposition areas besieged by the regime.
November 15–16, 2016 – Idlib, various villages and towns:
Estimated civilian death toll: 100+ children
Over 100 children killed in a single week (UNICEF).
2017 – Raqqa (coalition against ISIS + Russia):
Estimated civilian death toll: Hundreds
Russia hit marketplaces, schools, camps.
2019–2020 – Idlib “de-escalation zone”:
Estimated civilian death toll: 1,900+ civilians
Hospitals deliberately targeted during “recovery operation” (UN).
February 4–5, 2025 – Idlib and Aleppo countryside:
Estimated civilian death toll: 30+ civilians (23 children)
One of the most recent major civilian massacres, targeting marketplaces and residential areas.
Weapons and Tactics Used
– Unguided (“dumb”) bombs and cluster bombs (internationally banned) were used extensively.
– Double-tap tactic: A second attack after rescue teams arrive following the initial strike.
– Deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, bakeries, and marketplaces (UN and Physicians for Human Rights documentation).
– Thermobaric (vacuum) bombs and barrel bombs carrying chemical traces (in coordination with the regime).
International Reactions and Investigations
– In 2020, the UN Commission of Inquiry reported that aircraft taking off from Russia’s Hmeymim base in Latakia carried out attacks constituting war crimes.
– The Netherlands and Canada sued Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2020 for violating the torture convention (on the grounds of supporting torture in Syria).
– The OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) determined in 2017 that Russia attempted to cover up the use of chlorine in Syria.
Russia’s air operations in Syria are held responsible—based on documentation from independent sources—for the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, and many attacks are classified as war crimes. These figures and events are detailed in open reports by organizations such as SNHR, Airwars, the UN, and Amnesty International.
Syria’s murderous dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after the revolution and gave Putin the wealth he stole from Syria to avoid being tried for his crimes.
