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

12 December 2017

Incident Codes

CS1695 RS2792

Location

الجردي الغربي, Al Jarthi al Gharbi, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One civilian male was named as killed in an airstrike on al Jarthi al Gharbi. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to the US-led Coalition, and others to Moscow. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Syrian regime warplanes for his death. But according to Al Haall, Russia was…

Summary

Published
12 December 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

12 December 2017

Incident Code

RS2795

Location

رملة, Ramla village, Khanasser district, southern Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
A single source, the Smart News Agency, reported that "On Tuesday [Dec 12th] civilians were wounded as a result of an air strike that is likely to be a Russian attack on the village of Ramla, south of Aleppo, north of Aleppo." According to Smart, ten wounded civilians were transferred to medical points in the…

Summary

Published
12 December 2017
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 December 2017

Incident Code

RS2794

Location

التمانعة, Taman'a, Idlib, Syria
A shepherd was injured and ten sheep were killed in alleged Russian "rocket-propelled grenade" fire on Taman'a. There were no reports of civilian deaths. Members of the Syrian Civil Defence reportedly inspected the vicinity and rescued one man from the rubble. He was taken to a medical point. There are no other details at this…

Summary

Published
12 December 2017
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 December 2017

Incident Code

RS2791

Location

البوحمد, Al Buhamad, Raqqa, Syria
A man was reportedly killed when remnants from an unexploaded rocket detonated. Sources all agreed that the missile was from a previous Russian bombing, though the date of the bombing is unknown. There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
11 December 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2017

Incident Code

RS2790

Location

برج سبنة, the villages of Burj Sabna and Abu Tina, Aleppo, Syria
A civilian was killed, and four others were wounded, in a series of ten airstrikes on Burj Sabna, Aleppo, local media reported. All sources attributed blame to Moscow. Surface rockets and cluster bombs were reportedly used in the raids, which were a renewed attack from previous weeks. According to Step News, the "villages of Burj…

Summary

Published
10 December 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8–10 December, 2017

Incident Code

RS2787

Location

Um Willat village in the southern countryside of idlib, Idlib, Syria
One or two civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Um Willat village in the southern countryside of idlib, according to sources on the ground. The Step News Agency and EdlibEmc1 said that one civilian was wounded. Moreover, EdlibEmc1, published its report on December 8th, while all other sources reported the civilian harm on…

Summary

Published
8 December 2017
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident