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

RS2984

Location

كفر باتنة, Kafr Batna, Damascus, Syria
Between four and seven civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and up to 80 more civilians were wounded as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Kafr Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. According to local reports, the incident in Kafr Batna was one of many lethal aerial incidents on…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–7
Civilians reported injured
2–80
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2988

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria
At least three and as many as nine civilians were killed and one child was wounded, following aerial and possible missile shelling of Hazza, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, according to local media reported - though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. According to local reports, the incident in Hazza was…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3–9
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2989

Location

مديرا, Mdyra, Damascus, Syria
Up to four civilians, including up to two children and one woman, were killed following alleged Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling and/or missile attacks of Mdyra, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. According to local reports, the incident in Mdyra was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2975

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
In this single source event, Edlib Media Center reported: "a civilian is wounded as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft in residential neighbourhoods in the city of Saraqeb in eastern Idlib." Currently, there are no further details availble.

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2976

Location

مرديخ, Mardkikh, Idlib, Syria
Local sources reported that alleged Russian airstrikes destroyed public facilities and possibly wounded two civilians as the town of Mardkikh in Idlib was subject to aerial shelling. Smart News Agency reported how "warplanes likely to be Russian launched raids on the town, one of which hit the house, causing great damage and injury to civilians."…

Summary

Published
5 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2977

Location

الغوطة, al-Ghouta, Damascus, Syria
The local media platform, Local Coordination Committees of Syria, reported that as many as 32 civilians were killed by both Russian and Assad-waged airstrikes and artillery in various towns of eastern Ghouta, Damascus. Initially, the source reported that 14 civilians were killed as Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, along with artillery shelling, struck the towns…

Summary

Published
5 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
32
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident