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

24 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2510

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
Between two and three civilians were killed, including a man and a pregnant woman, and five others, including three women and two children, were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes in the agricultural vicinity of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib, according to local sources. A correspondent from the Civil Defence Centre Anas Diab told Smart News…

Summary

Published
24 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land)
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2511

Location

سلمية, Salamiya, Hama, Syria
At least four civilians, including a woman and her three children, were killed and others, including two children, were wounded in airstrikes against the neighbourhoods of Salamiya east of Hama in central Syria, according to local sources. Many sources, such as Smart News Agency, did not identify who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes.…

Summary

Published
24 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2504

Location

مخيم النور, al Nour camp, Idlib, Syria
At least 13 civilians were injured, including three in a critical condition, by alleged Russian airstrikes against al Nour refugee camp in the town of Jarjanaz, according to local activists. Sources either identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes or did not attribute blame. According to Smart News Agency, around 20 tents in the…

Summary

Published
24 September 2017
Civilians reported injured
13
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2505

Location

السقيلبية أند مِنْطَقَة مَعَرَّةُ نُعْمَانِ, Al-Suqaylabiyah and Maarat al-Numan District, Hama and Idlib governorate, Syria
At least two civilians were injured in airstrikes against the village of al Boueb in the Shahshabo mountain in the western Hama countryside, stretching from the Al-Suqaylabiyah District to the Maarat al-Numan District in the Idlib governorate. Media blamed Russian warplanes for the raids. The "warplanes" which launched three raids on the vicinity were unidentified…

Summary

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

Incident Date

24–25 September, 2017

Incident Code

RS2512

Location

قرية حير الصبي, Hayr al-Sabi near the town of al Dana , Idlib, Syria
Three to seven civilians were killed, including a family of seven, and six others, including women and children, were injured in airstrikes against the village of Hayr al-Sabi near the town of al Dana in northern Idlib according to local activists. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia,…

Summary

Published
24 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24–25 September, 2017

Incident Code

RS2516

Location

نبع عين الزرقا, Ain al Zarqa, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians were killed, including a woman, and five others, including two women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the Ain al Zarqa area of Jisr al Shougohur, according to local sources. Two of the women that were injured in the airstrikes were from the same family. Local sources were conflicted as to when…

Summary

Published
24 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident