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

13 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3241

Location

حي القصور, Al Qousour, Idlib, Syria
In what local media referred to as "a massacre", up to nine civilians were killed and as many as 15 were wounded in airstrikes on the residential neighbourhood of Al Qousour, according to local media. Sources attributed the blame to Russia and Syrian regime raids. The bombing caused an entire building to completely collapse, trapping…

Summary

Published
13 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–9
Civilians reported injured
10–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3242

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria
Two civilians - a man and a woman, both named - were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes, and an unspecified number more were injured, local media reported. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "The areas of the town of Haza have been hit by a renewed bombardment of the regime forces by…

Summary

Published
13 March 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

13 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3243

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on Hamouriya, local media reported. Sources lamed both Russian and Syrian regime raids for the strikes. There were multiple reports of barrel bombing. Local sources said that cluster and phosphorus rockets were dropped by helicopters. There were as many as eight explosive barrels dropped…

Summary

Published
13 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3234

Location

الزعينية, Al Z’ayniya, Damascus, Syria
One civilian was injured during alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Z’ayniya, a single source reported. According to the Smart News Agency, "rocket-propelled grenades of warplanes, likely to be Russian, targeted the village of Zayniyeh, west of Idlib, in the north of the country on Tuesday 13 March 2018, resulting in civilian injury and destruction of…

Summary

Published
13 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3235

Location

مركز 103 للدفاع المدني, civil defence center no :103, Damascus, Syria
One member of the White Helmets was killed and three more injured in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the civil defence centre 103 in Damascus, local media reported. Douma.Revolution and @SiegeWatch  reported that one civil defence volunteer, Rifat Idris, was killed, and three more were wounded. The airstrikes that struck the Civil Defence…

Summary

Published
13 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13–14 March, 2018

Incident Code

RS3236

Location

بنش, Bnesh, Idlib, Syria
Three or four civilians were injured including women and children, in airstrikes which included as many as four vacuum missiles on Bnesh, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russian and Syrian regime planes. Among the injured were women and children who were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The director of…

Summary

Published
14 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident