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

10 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2878

Location

Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
A mother and her son were killed and as many as four other civilians were wounded in airstrikes which hit oil stalls in Saraqeb, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some attributing blame to the Syrian regime, while others blamed Russia. Sources said that two rocket strikes…

Summary

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

Incident Date

10 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2876

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafr Sajneh, Hama, Syria
A child, Ayman Abdelkader El Sayed, died from his wounds "a few days" after an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Sajneh, local media reported. Both sources blamed Russia. Only two sources reported on the child's death. One of them described the raid as a Russian "missile attack". There were no reports of wounded and no…

Summary

Published
10 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2880

Location

اللطامنة, Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria
A civilian was killed and the Civil Defence Centre in Al Lataminah was knocked out of service following alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the vicinity, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some attributing responsibility to Russia while others blamed the Syrian regime.…

Summary

Published
10 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2869

Location

جزرايا, Jazraya, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly killed and five were injured in airstrikes which struck Jazraya, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia while others blamed the Syrian regime. One source blamed "warplanes" but didn't identify them. Images published by various local media show civilians being dragged from the…

Summary

Published
9 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2870

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria
One or two civilians were reported killed and others were injured due to air and artillery strikes on Harasta. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia while one source blamed the Syrian regime. Women and children were included amongst the injured, however no specific umbers were reported. Baladi…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2873

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
Between nine and 23 civilians including as many as 13 children and seven women were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in air and artillery strikes which hit a residential vicinity in Hamouriya, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the strikes, some attributing blame to Russia while…

Summary

Published
9 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
9–23
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident