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 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2249

Location

دبسي عفنان, Debsi Afnan, Raqqa, Syria
Between two and three civilians were killed and a woman was wounded in two alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the town of Debsi Afnan in the western Raqqa countryside, according to local activists and sources. In reporting the estimate of two killed, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently acknowledged that it was the initial…

Summary

Published
25 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2247

Location

الفار, Al Far, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Al Far in the eastern Aleppo countryside, sources on the ground reported. According to multiple local sources, the air bombardment on the town included the use of cluster bombs. The majority of sources, including Step News Agency…

Summary

Published
25 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2246

Location

محيميدة, Mheimediya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between three and five civilians, including one to two children and one woman, were killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the village of Mheimidiya in the western suburb of Deir Ezzor, according to local sources. Three of the civilians killed were reportedly from the Mohammed al-Abar family and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2244

Location

الطيبة, al Teeba, Homs, Syria
At least three civilians were killed and five others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian raids against the town of al Teeba near Palmyra according to a local source. Smart News Agency was the only source to report on this incident and at this time we have no other details.

Summary

Published
23 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2245

Location

حمادة عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Hamada Omar near Al Akeirbat in eastern Hama, according to local media and activists. Local sources that reported on the incident either named Russia as the culprit, including Al Hadath Magazine and Step News Agency,…

Summary

Published
23 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 May 2017

Incident Code

RS2240

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Homs, Syria
More than one civilian was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Akeirbat in eastern Hama, local media reported. All sources that reported on the incident, including Aljazeera and Step News, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

Summary

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