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

2 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2963

Location

حدية, Hadya, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
As many as seven civilians, including one child, were killed an up to "dozens" more were wounded, local media reported, following alleged Russia or Assad-waged airstrikes on a road near Hadya, Aleppo. Smart News Agency quoted activists who said that "warplanes likely to be Russian bombed vehicles on a road in the vicinity of Tal…

Summary

Published
2 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
2–7
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2964

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Airstrikes and/or artillery shelling in Kafr Halap, Aleppo, killed two civilian men along with wounding several more, local media reported - though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. Two civilian men, identified by name, were reportedly killed by the assault in Kafr Halab. Jsirtv attributed blame to "aerial bombardment…

Summary

Published
2 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2956

Location

الهوتة, al-Houta, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Three children were killed and another one was injured as remnants from a possible Russian-launched cluster bomb exploded in al-Houta, Aleppo, local media reported. HalabTodayTV's correspondent reported "the death of three children in the town of Hoota rural southern Aleppo by a bomb explosion from the remnants of the previous shelling of the town." The…

Summary

Published
1 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2957

Location

جزرايا, Jazraya, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between five and eight civilians, including children and women, were killed and several were left injured following airstrikes and/or artillery shelling in Jazraya, Aleppo, local media reports, though the exact circumstances were unclear. Most sources reported that one family had been killed, including one man, one woman and three to five children, though sources varied…

Summary

Published
1 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2958

Location

اباد, Abad, Aleppo, Syria
Up to 12 civilians including children and one woman were killed and several more wounded, local media reported, following aerial shelling of Abad, Aleppo, allegedly carried out by Russia or the Syrian regime. According to local reports, at least five and as many as 12 civilians were killed in tjhe airstrike. The Syrian Network for…

Summary

Published
1 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
5–12
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2960

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
Up to five members of the Civil Defence were killed and several were left wounded, local media reported, following alleged Russian or Assad regime shelling of the Civil Defence Center in Saraqib, Idlib. Several local media reported that the Civil Defence Center had been struck, described by the Civil Defences' Twitter as "heavy shelling". The…

Summary

Published
1 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident