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

18 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2133

Location

البشيري,, al Bsheiriya, Jisr al Shoughour, Idlib, Syria
Local media reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on al Bsheiriya, Jisr al Shoughour.

Summary

Published
18 April 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2130

Location

حور, Hour, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian died and others were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hour, local media said. Smart News Agency reported: "A civilian was killed and others wounded on Tuesday after an air strike likely to have been carried out by Russian warplanes over a city and a town in western Aleppo, northern Syria, according…

Summary

Published
18 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2131

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma Al-Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians from one family died in an alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrike on Urma Al-Kubra, according to sources on the ground. Aljazeera and the Step News Agency were among sources pointing to Russia. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed "Syrian-Russian alliance warplanes" - putting the death toll at "five civilians from the…

Summary

Published
18 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2132

Location

المخرمرسم الحميدة, Rasim al Hamida village, al Makhram district, Homs, Syria
A single source, the Smart News Agency, reported that an alleged Russian airstrike on Rasim al Hamida village killed two children and wounded three further civilians including a woman. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
18 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2135

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
Up to seven civilian including women and children were wounded in as many as ten alleged Russian airstrikes on Darat Izza, according to sources on the ground. EduRights Foundation said that a school was struck. It reported: "This morning [April 18th], a school in the city of Dara Azza in the countryside of western Aleppo was…

Summary

Published
18 April 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2129

Location

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria
Between one and four civilians died and four more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Lataminah, local media reported. According to Syria Mirror, "The Russian warplanes carried out several air strikes with cluster bombs on residential buildings in the city of Latamna, killing four civilians and causing considerable damage." RFS said…

Summary

Published
17 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident