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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

31 December 2018

Incident Code

RS3555

Location

الزعينية, Al Zayniyeh, Idlib, Syria
Civilians were possibly killed or injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Zayniyeh on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that there were possible casualties in alleged airstrikes after midnight on the former headquarters of factions near the towns of  Mar'and and Al Zayniyeh.…

Summary

Published
31 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 December 2018

Incident Code

RS3556

Location

بكسريا, Baksriya, Idlib, Syria
An unknown number of civilians, including a child, was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the town of Baksriya, Idlib governorate, on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources. @LccSy reported "civilian casualties following the shelling of a ballistic missile on the village of Baksriya, west of Jisr Al Shughour." @ahmad_haj_bakri wrote…

Summary

Published
31 December 2018
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

RS3553

Location

مساكن هنانو, Masaken Hanano, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Three to four civilians died and up to dozens more were reported wounded in Masaken Hanano neighbourhood of Aleppo following suspected Russian attacks. A number of sources did not name a culprit and described the form of attack as "helicopter aircraft" or "warplane bombardment". Midline alleged that the Syrian regime was the culprit, while @MePanorama…

Summary

Published
15 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
10–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2018

Incident Code

RS3552

Location

العباس و هجين, al-Abbas and Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one and as many as three civilians were killed in an airstrike in the al-Abbas/ Hajeen crossing in al Bukamal, local sources reported, though it was unclear who was to blame. Step News Agency put the death toll at three while the others reported one male fatality, identified by name in multiple reports.…

Summary

Published
29 November 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2018

Incident Code

RS3551

Location

دير العدس, Deir Al A'adas, Daraa, Syria
Four children were reportedly injured in the explosion of a cluster bomb from an earlier alleged Russian or Syrian regime air raid on the town of Deir Al A'adas, November 6th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the raid took place. @Step_Agency reported: "Four civilians, including children, were injured as a result…

Summary

Published
6 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 October 2018

Incident Code

RS3550

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib, Syria
A boy was killed and his sister injured when a cluster bomb from a previous alleged Russian raid on the city of Jisr Al Shughour exploded on October 20th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the bomb was fired. @maraya404 tweeted that "a child is martyred and his sister is injured due to…

Summary

Published
20 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident