Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS0439

Location

الرقة‎, Saif al Dawla, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R373RS436)

Seventeen civilians including eight children and five women died in airstrikes on the Saif al Dawla area of Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

RBSS initially referred to raids by “warplanes” and did not identify them, however, in a later post they said that Russia was responsible for bombing a number of locations, including Saif al Dawla, in Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory said 10 civilians died, but did not say who was responsible.

Other sources, including Raqqa Post and the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Russia. The latter put the death toll at 17, including eight children and five women.

 

 

Victims

Family members (5)

Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
17
8 Children, 5 Women, 5 Men
Civilians reported injured
10

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Saif al Dawla, Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.949949, 39.007363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
No Russian reports were published for January 21st 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (9)