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

19 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2477

Location

معرزيتا, Ma’arzita, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians were allegedly killed as planes bombed a primary school in the village of Ma’arzita. Khaled Rzouq Qattish was named dead by local sources alongside two women. Al Jazeera reported two members of the civil defence forces were among those killed. The perpetrator of the attack is unclear with reports of both Russian and Syrian…

Summary

Published
19 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2481

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabl, Idlib, Syria
A child was injured in the city of Kafr Nabl as missiles struck a hospital, a local council building, and a civil defence centre, local sources reported. The city was hit by three separate attacks with both Russian and Syrian forces reported to be involved. Flight analysis by the Syrian Archive identified a number of…

Summary

Published
19 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18–19 September, 2017

Incident Code

RS2474

Location

الطيبة, Tayba town,, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A man and his son died as Russian planes allegedly dropped cluster bombs on the town of Tayba, the Euphrates Post reported. Another source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a "female child" also died at Tayba. Mahmoud Hussein Al-Turki and his son were reportedly killed as several air raids attacked the area at…

Summary

Published
18 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2473

Location

وادي العذيب, Wadi Al-Azeeb, Hama, Syria
A single source reported that there were victims, including children, due to an airstrike which was "likely to be Russian" in Wadi Al-Azeeb. There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
18 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2472

Location

ﺣﻄﻠﺔ, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Four members of one family were killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian air/ artillery or rocket strike on the village of Hatla in the eastern countryside, according to local sources. Hajj Attallah al-Assaf was the only individual named. Syrian East Agency attributed the “heavy artillery and rocket launchers” to Syrian forces, however most sources…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 September 2017–18 April 2019

Incident Code

RS2469

Location

ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺣﺎﻭﻱ ﺧﺸﺎﻡ, Hawi Khasham, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three young girls died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Hawi Khasham, local sources reported. Two daughters of Khalil Al-Ibrahim Al-Kuban, aged three and 18 months respectively, were both named dead alongside Mahmoud Al-Qandar Al-Kabban’s 13-year-old child. Most sources on the ground attributed the bombardment to Russian planes, however the Syrian Network…

Summary

Published
17 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident