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

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2982

Location

جوبر, Jobar, Damascus, Syria
Between two and six civilians were killed as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Jobar, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. According to local reports, the incident in Jobar was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. In Jobar, most sources reported the death of two civilians, while Local Coordination Committees…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2983

Location

دوما, Douma , Damascus, Syria
In this incident, described by many sources as a "massacre", up to 31 civilians, including up to eight children and 11 women, were killed and "dozens" wounded, as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta, Damascus. According to local reports, the incident in Douma was one out of many that day…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
7–31
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2985

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria
The town of Mesraba, Damascus, was hit by an airstrike that killed between one and five civilians, including two children and at least one women, and wounded several others, local media reported. It was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame. According to local reports, the incident in Mesraba was one out…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2986

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
Up to five civilians, including a child and woman, were killed and "many" wounded following Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Hamouriya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. According to local reports, the incident in Hamouriya was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR),…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2987

Location

زملكا, Zamalaka, Damascus, Syria
As many as seven civilians, including a child and three women, were killed and up to dozens were wounded following Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Zamalaka, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local sources reported. According to local reports, the incident in Zamalaka was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2979

Location

ترملا, Tarmala, Idlib, Syria
At least two and as many as four civilians were killed, including one child, while several others were left wounded as alleged Russain warplanes struck the al Shamali neighbourhood in Tarmala village, Idlib, local media reported. Up to four civilians were killed in this incident, where all sources unanimously attributed blame to Russia. While Syrian Network…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident