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 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2857

Location

Kafar Nubul, Raqqa, Syria
Between one and three civilians including a child and a woman died and up to six others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Nubul, according to local media. Ashark alarabi said that one child died and blamed Russia. According to the Smart News Agency, "a child was killed and six civilians were…

Summary

Published
7 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2858

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
Five civilians were reportedly killed in air and artillery strikes which struck Arbeen in the middle of the night. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some sources attributing blame to Russia while others blamed the Syrian regime. A handful of sources blamed "warplanes", not specifying who the belligerent was. Qalamon, who named…

Summary

Published
7 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2865

Location

شارع الثلاثين, al Thalatheen street, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
Up to 43 civilians including many women and children died and tens more were wounded in at least one major explosion in Idlib on January 7th, local media said. The event was widely reported as a car bombing, reportedly targeting theheadquarters of the Caucasus Army, allied with the Sham Liberation Organization (formerly Nasra Front),  located…

Summary

Published
7 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
23–43
Civilians reported injured
12–106
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2859

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
Between one and 12 civilians were killed - including three children, a woman and a man - and as many as 30 others were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Douma. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, while some attributed blame to Russia and others to the Syrian regime. One source,…

Summary

Published
7 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–12
Civilians reported injured
30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2851

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
An eight-year-old boy was killed, and as many as six other civilians were wounded - including a child and an elderly man - when airstrikes reportedly hit Kafr Nabil. Sources mostly blamed Russia, however, there was one allegation against the Syrian regime. Additionally, some sources didn't identify the "warplanes" responsible for the strikes. The raids…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2852

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
The Between 12 and 20 civilians were killed in air and artillery strikes which struck the residential vicinity of Hamouriya, local sources reported. The incident has been described as a "massacre", with as many as 50 civilians wounded. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia. Moroever, many sources including Yrian Network for Human Rights…

Summary

Published
6 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
12–20
Civilians reported injured
12–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident