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

22 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3310

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria
Between 16 and 25 civilians were killed and up to 200 were wounded in aerial and artillery strikes on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Zamalka, Eastern Ghouta. Several sources claimed Russian forces were responsible for the attack, whereas others blamed the Assad regime. Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,…

Summary

Published
22 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
16–25
Civilians reported injured
90–200
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3311

Location

عربين, Arbin, Damascus, Syria
47 people, among which 17 women, including three pregnant women, and 17 children, were killed by airstrikes on a shelter in the city of Arbin, Eastern Ghouta, in the night of March 22nd, 2018. Conflicting reports blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the attack. @N_workMediaHoms tweeted that warplanes dropped more than 30 barrels…

Summary

Published
22 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
44–47
Civilians reported injured
20–50
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3306

Location

عين ترما, Ayn Tarma, Damascus, Syria
Between four and eight civilians, including two children and two women, died in alleged Russian or regime air or artillery or rocket strikes on Ayn Tarma, according to sources on the ground. There were conflicting reports blaming both Russia and the regime, and it remains unclear which party was responsible for the civilian harm. Initial…

Summary

Published
21 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3307

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria
At least one civilian was killed and several civilians, among which children, were wounded in alleged artillery and airstrikes on the city of Harasta. Conflicting reports blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime. While most sourced mentioned 1 casualty, @hmadaataya reported on Twitter that nine civilians were killed. Smart News Agency reported that more than…

Summary

Published
21 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–9
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3308

Location

كفر بطيخ, Kafr Batikh, Idlib, Syria
In what sources on the ground referred to as "a horrific massacre", up to 22 civilians, between 16 and 19 of them children, were killed and dozens more civilians were wounded in airstrikes by alleged Russian aircraft in Kafr Batikh. Local sources told New Arab that a Russian warplane bombed the school of the village…

Summary

Published
21 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
19–22
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3300

Location

عين ترما, Ein Tarma, Damascus, Syria
Between three and seven civilians including a child were reportedly killed, and many others injured in an alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime forces airstrike on Ein Tarma, March 20th 2018, according to local media sources. Syrian Civil Defense stated that three civilians were reportedly killed after eight raids targeted the area, with rockets carrying cluster…

Summary

Published
20 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
2–20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident