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

25 July 2017

Incident Codes

CS1268a RS2367

Location

الخميسية, Al-Khamesiya, Raqqa, Syria
A mother and child were killed in an airstrike on the neighbourhood of Al-Khamesiya. Although sources explain it was a mother and child, the mother was 17 years old, so Airwars have classified her as a child.  Most sources blamed Russian aircraft for this event, however, the wording of a Baladi report suggested that the…

Summary

Published
25 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

25 July 2017

Incident Codes

CS1273 RS2365

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported that 18 civilians had died and up to 50 had been wounded in the last 48 hours – however, sources were conflicted as to whether the deaths were caused by the US-led Coalition or Russia. It should also be noted that these are general numbers and Airwars has not yet been able…

Summary

Published
25 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
18
Civilians reported injured
12–50
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

25 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2366

Location

البوحمد, Bouhamad, Raqqa, Syria
Seven civilians were killed, and 15 others were wounded, following an airstrike on Bouhamad, which was described by local media as a "massacre". Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with most attributing the blame to Russian warplanes, however Baladi News attributed blame to the Syrian regime.  Seven civilians were named as killed.…

Summary

Published
25 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2368

Location

السبخة, Sabkha, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 30 civilians died in an airstrike on a camp for displaced people in Sabkha in the eastern Raqqa countryside, according to sources on the ground. The majority of reports blamed Russia for this event. According to the Step News Agency, "15 civilians were killed in air strikes targeting a displaced people's camp near…

Summary

Published
25 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
10–30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2360

Location

الجاير, Al-Jaber/Al-Jayer/Albu Jabir , Raqqa, Syria
Six or seven civilians (six of whom were named by local media) died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Jaber, according to sources on the ground. Different reports named the location of the event as either Al-Jaber, Al-Jayer or Albu Jabir, however, it's Airwars' understanding that these names all signify the same place, and that the name…

Summary

Published
24 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
6–7
Civilians reported injured
6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2363

Location

Arbeen, Ghouta, Damascus, Syria
Between eight and 10 civilians including four to eight children and between one and two women died and as many as 50 others were wounded in multiple airstrikes on Arbeen in the Damascus countryside, according to sources on the ground. While several reports attributed this event to Russia, a number of sources didn't identify the…

Summary

Published
24 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
8–10
Civilians reported injured
12–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident