Monitor: Over 9,000 killed in Russia’s air campaign in Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A conflict monitor has estimated that Russia has killed at least 9,364 people in Syria since it began its air campaign in that country a year ago in support of the regime in Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights conflict monitor estimates that out of those 9,364 casualties, approximately 5,500 were militants and rebels, and 3,800 were civilians. On top of this Russian airstrikes are estimated to have wounded 20,000 people.

The director of the Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman, believes the death toll might be higher than these estimates since some people have been killed in airstrikes by as of yet unidentified jet fighters.

Since beginning its air campaign Russia has been accused of targeting groups which oppose the Syrian regime and wantonly killing civilians and targeting hospitals, contrary to its claim to be targeting just militant groups like Islamic State (ISIS) and al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

The first anniversary of the Russian intervention in Syria comes as Russia is helping Syria carry out a ferocious assault on the opposition-held eastern part of Aleppo following the expiration of a ceasefire brokered with the US.

This assault has also further strained relations between Moscow and Washington with US Secretary of State John Kerry warning the Kremlin that the US is “on the verge of suspending the discussion” with Russia about cooperating in Syria.

Monitor: Over 9,000 killed in Russia’s air campaign in Syria

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