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

26 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2532

Location

بداما, Bdama, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Bdama in Idlib, according to activists. Smart News Agency was the only source to report on civilian injuries and they attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes. A mosque was damaged and images published show the extent of damage on the vicinity.

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2541

Location

كفركرمين, Kafr Karmin, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and four civilians were killed and up to 10 others were wounded in an alleged regime ground-to-ground missile strike and/or a Russian airstrike on Kafr Karmin in the western suburbs of Aleppo, according to local sources. According to Mohammad Shakrdy, "Russian warplanes targeted south of the town with four air strikes that killed two people.…

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 September 2017

Incident Codes

CS1533 RS2530

Location

البلعوم, Al Mayadin, Al Baloum neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to five civilians, including one woman and one child, were reported killed following airstrikes on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor governorate. The Coalition and Russian warplanes were blamed by local media. According to Al Natek, Russian raids targeted the city resulting in four civilians deaths. Smart also believed the attack was carried out by Russian…

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2542

Location

حوير العيس, Hawir al Eis, Aleppo, Syria
As many as six civilians including a woman and an unspecified number of children were killed and at least two others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Hawir al Eis in the southern suburbs of Aleppo, according to local media. The Smart News Agency did not give an estimate of how…

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–6
Civilians reported injured
2–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2533

Location

قرية القناطر, Al Qanatar village, Aleppo, Syria
As many as five airstrikes on Al Qanatar killed and wounded a number of civilians, according to sources on the ground. Step News Agency and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that warplanes, suspected to be Russian, struck a school in the village of Al Qanatar in the southern Aleppo countryside on September…

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2543

Location

ريف المهندسين, Reef Al-Muhandseen, Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians from the same family - a man, his wife, and their child - died and five more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Reef Al-Muhandseen, according to local media. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the killing of two civilians, a woman and her child, in Reef Al Muhandiseen in the…

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident