Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

October 29, 2015

Incident Code

RS090

LOCATION

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

At least 70 people died and as many as 550 were injured in what was initially reported as a Russian airstrike on the marketplace in Douma. However subsequent reports indicated the specific attack was most likely the work of Assad regime aircraft. Part of the confusion lay in the fact that Russian Air Force aircraft

Summary

First published
October 29, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
70
Civilians reported injured
550
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

November 5, 2015

Incident Code

RS120

LOCATION

البوكمال, Al Bukamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that 71 civilians including nine or more children killed – and more than 100 people injured – when alleged Russian warplanes launched two airstrikes on the market in Al Bukamal. It added that more than 20 shops were destroyed and that a mosque, park and school were damaged

Summary

First published
November 5, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
48 – 71
(9–11 children1–4 women9 men)
Civilians reported injured
100
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
62 named, 6 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 20, 2015

Incident Code

RS292

LOCATION

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Between 43 and 73 civilians were reported killed and 70-170 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Idlib, according to multiple sources. Al Jazeera posted a video from the main market on Al Jala’a street in which the reporter said 47 non-combatants were killed and 70 injured, in strikes by Russian warplanes. The correspondent said the street contained two schools,

Summary

First published
December 20, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
43 – 73
(3 women)
Civilians reported injured
70–170
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
43 named, 5 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 25, 2016

Incident Code

RS935

LOCATION

القورية, Al Qouria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In a major casualty incident, up to 80 civilians including 29 children and 21 women died and up to 100 more were wounded in airstrikes on al Qouria town, according to local media. Reports said that entire families were wiped out, and Airwars has listed the names of 74 victims. It is currently unclear who

Summary

First published
June 25, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
74 – 80
(29 children21 women12 men)
Civilians reported injured
12–100
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
77 named, 11 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

April 7, 2018

Incident Code

RS3397

LOCATION

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

An alleged chemical weapons attack, attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russia, reportedly killed between 42 and 100 civilians and wounded up to 1,200 others in the city of Douma, Damascus governorate, on April 7th, 2018, according to local sources. Enab Baladi wrote that “after a ten-day truce in the city of Douma, the

Summary

First published
April 7, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
42 – 100
(8 children15 women21 men)
Civilians reported injured
700–1200
Causes of injury / death
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
36 named, 7 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 2, 2015

Incident Code

RS008

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

At least 19 civilians and as many as 80 – including children and women – were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab. According to al Jazeera – which placed the death toll as high as 80 with 200 injured – the attacks were carried out by helicopters, most likely Russian Hind-24 gunships. According

Summary

First published
October 2, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
19 – 80
(2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
200
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

November 13, 2017

Incident Code

RS2727

LOCATION

الاتارب, Atareb, Idlib, Syria

In a mass civilian casualty event, as many as 82 civilians were killed, and 340 more were wounded, when six surface rockets and three missiles struck a popular market in Atareb. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for these raids. According to sources, 100 shops as well as a police station were destroyed.

Summary

First published
November 13, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 82
(5–6 children3–7 women30 men)
Civilians reported injured
60–340
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
73 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS451

LOCATION

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 61 and 90 civilians including two women and 11 children were killed – and between 40 and 100 others injured – in airstrikes on Khusham, according to multiple sources. While three of the five sources say that Russia was responsible for the attack, there was some uncertainty from the Syrian Network for Human Rights

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
61 – 90
(11 children2 women22 men)
Civilians reported injured
40–100
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
68 named, 10 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Incident Code

RS356

LOCATION

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Between 52 and 96 civilians including three women and one child were killed and more than 200 injured in Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, according to multiple sources. The Shaam News Network initially reported that more than 20 civilians were killed and dozens wounded (mostly women and children) when Russian warplanes struck different districts of

Summary

First published
January 9, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
52 – 96
(1 child3 women37 men)
Civilians reported injured
200
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
39 named, 4 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Incident Code

RS1788

LOCATION

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

In a major civilian casualty incident widely reported as a sarin gas attack, between 20 and 102 civilians, including women and between five and 28 children, were killed and between 100 to 500 civilians were injured in airstrikes against the village of Akeirbat in the eastern suburb of Hama, according to local media. Sources were

Summary

First published
December 12, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20 – 102
(5–28 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
100–500
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

December 31, 2016

Incident Code

RS1813

LOCATION

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

One source reported that 109 civilians were killed by Russian or Syrian regime warplanes in Al Atarib, Aleppo. One other source reported that there was shelling due to Syrian regime warplanes which wounded civilians and destroyed building. There are no other sources at this time.

Summary

First published
December 31, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 109
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS1480

LOCATION

IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A major civilian casualty incident allegedly took place at an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside. Al Yaqeen reported about 100 displaced people were killed, mostly women and children, following an alleged aerial bombardment by the US-led Coalition at the camp (pictured). However this was contested – with Euphrates Post asserting that

Summary

First published
September 14, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
100 – 120
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Russian Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident