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

1 June 2017

Incident Code

RS2258

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, Idlib, Syria
A nine year old girl was killed, and another girl was wounded, due to the explosion of cluster bomb remnants, dropped earlier by an airstrike, according to local media. The bomb dropped earlier, the date is unspecified, was likely to be Russian. The girls were reportedly playing close to the remnants, in the town of…

Summary

Published
1 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 June 2017

Incident Code

RS2259

Location

طيبة, Tayba, Homs, Syria
Local sources reported the ‘Bazaar’ market of Tayba in rural Homs to be struck by an airstrike, likely to be Russian. The airstrike reportedly killed seven civilians and wounded "dozens" more. There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
1 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 June 2017

Incident Code

RS2260

Location

السخنة, Al-Shokhna, Homs, Syria
Warplanes, likely to be Russian, were reported by multiple sources to have struck the ‘Souq Al Khamis’ market of Al-Shukhna, according to local media. Al-Shukhna was under ISIS control at the time of the incident. Most sources reported the death of five civilians and the wounding of 17 others. There are no other details at…

Summary

Published
1 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
6–17
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2256

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria
Civilians were reportedly killed and others wounded in ‘intensive’ airstrikes on Akeirbat allegedly conducted by Russian and Syrian warplanes on the 31st of May, a local source reported to Smart News. Rozana Radio, however, reported that there were no civilian casualties in the strikes that landed on the villages of Abu Habilat, Al Harrdana, Abu…

Summary

Published
31 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2257

Location

كفر زيتا, Kafr Zeita, Hama, Syria
One or twochildren were injured by when the remnants of an alleged Russian cluster bomb dropped in a previous strike exploded in Kafr Zeita on may 31st 2017. 2011 Madardaily said that one child was injured, while other sources put the number at two.

Summary

Published
31 May 2017
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2255

Location

سرج,, Sarja, Idlib, Syria
On April 28th, Alhuralhalabi reported "the death of a woman injured by a previous Russian air raid on the village of Sarja in the southern countryside of Idlib." According to RFS Media Office, "Huda Ahmed Haj Musa was martyred from the town of Sarja in Jebel al-Zawia in rural Idlib because of the injuries she…

Summary

Published
28 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident