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

9 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2430

Location

موحسن, Mohsin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A single source, the Euphrates Post, reported: "The killing of Moheisen Yassin Sulaiman from the Bahuri neighborhood in the city of Mohsen as a result of raids by the warplane".

Summary

Published
9 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2426

Location

الجابرية, Al-Jabriya, Homs, Syria
Three to four civilians were reportedly killed and others injured in an airstrike in Al-Jabriya in the eastern Homs countryside. Several sources, including the head of the local district, Ahmed Hamwi, accused Russian warplanes of carrying out the attack. Zaman Masdar reported that the shelling took place between the villages of Al-Abd, Hamdi Omar, Suha,…

Summary

Published
2 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 September 2017

Incident Code

RS2427

Location

جب الجراح قرية الدرويشية, Al Darwishiyah village, near Jab al Jarrah, 89 km east of Homs city, Homs, Syria
Thirteen  civilians - including women and children - were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Al-Darwishiya in Jab Al-Jarrah, a village under the control of the Islamic State, on September 2nd, according the Smart News Agency. Multiple sources indicated coordination between regime forces and the warplanes. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,…

Summary

Published
2 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
13
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1–2 September, 2017

Incident Code

RS2425

Location

Deir Ezzor, Syria
“Russian criminal aircraft” were accused of carrying out between 80 and 100 air raids on Deir Ezzor governorate over the 24 hours prior to September 2nd. Multiple civilian casualties were reported, but the numbers are unclear. Almodon reported that “dozens” of civilians - men, women and children - were killed in the alleged Russian bombardment…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 September 2017

Incident Codes

CS1435 RS2424

Location

Al Shmeitiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
On September 1, 2017, up to seven civilians died in an airstrike on Al Shmeitiya, according to local media. While most sources didn’t identify the belligerent, two reports attributed the event to Russia. In three sequential reports the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted the deaths of between two and four civilians following airstrikes on…

Summary

Published
1 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

31 August 2017

Incident Code

RS2423

Location

صغير شامية, Saghir Shamiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In this single-source incident, the Smart News Agency reported that "five civilians from one family were killed on Thursday night [Aug 31st] in an air strike likely to be a Russian attack on the village of Zaghir Shamiya". There are no further details currently available.

Summary

Published
31 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident