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

RS2534

Location

أورم الكبرى, Orme al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
A man was killed and three children were injured by an airstrike, likely to be Russian, near the village of Urum Al Kubra in the southern Aleppo countryside, local media reported. Smart News Agency reported that the man and children were from the same family. It should be noted that this report may refer to…

Summary

Published
26 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2525

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shoughour , Idlib, Syria
Between three and 17 civilians, including two to four children and one to three women, were killed and between 26 and 30 others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the al Gharbi neighbourhood and Karaj Halab area in the city of Jisr al Shoughour in the western countryside of Idlib, according to local sources.…

Summary

Published
25 September 2017
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
3–17
Civilians reported injured
26–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25–26 September, 2017

Incident Code

RS2528

Location

منطقة الرهجان, al Rahjan, Hama, Syria
At least three civilians from one family were killed and six others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the al Rahjan area in northeastern Hama, according to local activists. Activists with Smart News reported that the villages of northeastern Hama were targeted by Russian planes. Smart News reported that Civil Defence…

Summary

Published
25 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2529

Location

المويلح, Al Moweleh, Hama, Syria
At least two civilians were killed and five others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the village of al Moweleh in northeastern Hama, according to local activists. All of those that were killed and wounded were from the same family. Activists with Smart News reported that the villages of northeastern Hama…

Summary

Published
25 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2517

Location

al Bashiriya, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians were killed in an airstrike on al Bashiriya, according to local media. The Syrian Network for Human Rights, "three sibling children killed in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on al Bashiriya village in Idlib governorate western suburbs on September 25, 2017." No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
25 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2518

Location

Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria
At least two girls were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Kafr Halab in southwestern Aleppo, according to a local source. SOHR however blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia. Step News Agency was the only source to report on the incident and while they did not report a specific estimate of…

Summary

Published
25 September 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident