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

7 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2993

Location

معرة النعمان, Marat Al Numan, Idlib, Syria
At least six and as many as 12 civilians, including one woman, were killed and up to 30 were wounded as Marat Al Numan, Idlib, was subject to heavy aerial bombardment, possibly including the use of cluster bombs, allegedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, local media reported. In this widely-reported incident,…

Summary

Published
7 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
6–12
Civilians reported injured
15–30
Military actors reported killed
3–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2990

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria
Between two and four civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and at least one child was wounded following alleged Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Saqba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. According to local reports, the incident in Saqba was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2980

Location

الغدفة, Ghadafa, Idlib, Syria
A volunteer of the Syrian Civil Defense was killed as he was on duty in Ghadafa, Idlib, local media and family members reported. The victim, Ahmed Ali Al-Mustafa, and his Civil Defense team were reportedly inspecting a bombing site when the strike took place. The victim's brother wrote on his Twitter account, Apdlrahmah, about the death of…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2978

Location

آفس, Afis, Idlib, Syria
According to local sources, a child was killed in Afis, Idlib, as alleged Russain warplanes struck the town. Step News Agency reported that "the Russian military launched successive raids" mentioning several locations, including Afis, and that it caused the death of one child. Unlike other sources, Step News Agency, wrote on February 6th that the…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2991

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria
One civilian, allegedly a child, was killed by an Assad or Russian waged assault in the town of Harasta, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. According to local reports, the incident in Harasta was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2981

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
At least three and as many as 13 civilians, including two women, were killed and "dozens" others wounded, local media reported after the city of Arbeen, Damascus, was subject to air and artillery strikes. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The incident, described as a…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3–13
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident