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

5 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2320

Location

مراط, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to three civilians, including one or two children, were killed and several were wounded following airstrikes launched by either Russia or the Syrian regime in Mrat, Deir Ezzor, local media reported. Step News Agency reported that the Russian airforce  launched surface-to-surface missiles in multiple locations in Deir Ezzor, including Mrat. According to Free Deir…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2319

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
One woman and a child were killed and up to five were left wounded, local media reported, in alleged Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes in Douma, Damascus. Without identifying a culprit, Enab Baladi reported that four air raids had struck residential areas in Douma, leading to the death one one adult woman and one male child,…

Summary

Published
4 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2317

Location

كنامات, Kinnamat, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local media reported that a number of civilians were wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes in Kinnamat neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor. Besides from the wounded, the incident also inflicted great destruction, Sharqiya Voice reported. DeirEzzor24 reported the use of rocket-propelled grenades while Sharqiya Voice reported that "bunker-busting missiles" had been used. All sources attributed blame to Russia.…

Summary

Published
4 July 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2318

Location

ابو دالية, Abu Daliya, Hama, Syria
Several civilians were left wounded after warplanes belonging to Russia or the Syrian regime carried out airstrikes in Abu Daliya, Hama, local media reported. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that "Syrian- Russian alliance warplanes fired missiles on the mosque of Abu Dali village in Hama governorate eastern suburbs, severely destroying it and…

Summary

Published
4 July 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2315

Location

السخنة, al-Sukhna, Homs, Syria
In this single-source event, Step News Agency reported: "a number of air raids targeted the vicinity of the city of Sukhna and some of its neighbouring villages in the eastern Homs countryside, resulting in civilian injuries", without identifying the responsible. This event is very likely related to the airstrikes in al-Dahek, al-Sukhna, on the previous day,…

Summary

Published
3 July 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 July 2017

Incident Code

RS2316

Location

الطابية جزيرة, Tabiya Jazera, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilians were killed and another five were wounded as alleged Russian warplanes carried out an air raid on an oil refinery in the village of Tabiya Al-Jazyra, Deir Ezzor, local media reported. All sources reported that the two victims were working at the oil refinery and that the strike was carried out by Russia.…

Summary

Published
3 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident