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 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1546

Location

قرية السلوم, Al Sallloum, Aleppo, Syria
Between two and three civilians were killed, including three children and a woman, and others were wounded in airstrikes that struck Al Salloum village in Aleppo, sources on the ground said. While the Violations Documentation Center and Halab News identified the names of an adult female and male that were killed in the airstrikes, @eldorar1…

Summary

Published
7 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1539

Location

Hamouriya , Damascus, Syria
Between six and nine civilians, including up to four women and up to five children, were killed in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes in Houmouriya town, Damascus, according to sources on the ground. The numbers of civilians reported wounded varied from 18 to 24. LCCSY reported that "dozens of civilians were injured as the…

Summary

Published
6 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–9
Civilians reported injured
18–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1540

Location

Al Dana, Idlib, Syria
Between five and forty civilians, including at least one woman, one child and one adult male, were killed and up to forty were wounded in airstrikes launched against Al Dana town in Idlib. Most sources only reported preliminary counts of casualties and many expected that the number was higher due to many civilians still stuck…

Summary

Published
6 November 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
5–40
Civilians reported injured
24–40
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1543

Location

البلليرمون, Al Baleirmoon, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and three civilian were killed and others were wounded in cluster bomb attacks against Al Leirmoun town in northern Aleppo. Thiqa News pointed out that this incident was part of a fierce Russian campaign which struck parts of Aleppo with no regard for the civilians in this vicinity.  Local sources, including Baladi News…

Summary

Published
6 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1544

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians were killed, including one woman and two children, and others were injured in airstrikes which struck Urma al Kubra town in Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. Both children were found buried in rubble by the Civil Defence team following the raids. Local sources, including Halab News and Assakina News, identified Russian…

Summary

Published
6 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1541

Location

Binnish, Idlib, Syria
Between one and two children died and up to 14 more civilians were wounded in airstrikes launched against Binnish town in Idlib, according to multiple sources on the ground. However, one source, Step News, reported that there were no civilian casualties in this incident. The airstrikes reportedly struck a neighborhood of civilian homes. Both cluster…

Summary

Published
6 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
10–14
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident