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

1–2 April, 2017

Incident Code

RS2045

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shoughour, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In the evening of April 1st, warplanes, likely to be Russian, bombed the city of Jisr al Shoughour, according to local media. A man and a woman were allegedly both wounded, however the man later succumbed to his wounds in the hospital. Some reports allocated this strike to the Syrian regime, while others blamed Russian…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2043

Location

كنيسة نخلة, Kanissat Nakhla, Idlib, Syria
A woman was killed and as many as four other civilians were wounded, in an alleged Russian raid on Kanissat Nakhla, local media reported. All sources either attributed blame to Russia, or unidentified warplanes. The Syrian Network for Human Rights singularly reported that a school (Nakhla Church School) was struck in the raid, and published…

Summary

Published
1 April 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 April 2017

Incident Code

RS2044

Location

أورم الكبرى, Orme al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Up to four children and a woman died and as many as eight further civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme al Kubra in Aleppo, according to local media. AhmadMowafaq tweeted that there had been a "chemical bombardment on the Great Orm countryside Aleppo and the United Nations and America is silent and…

Summary

Published
1 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
5–8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2039

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria
At least two civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the outskirts of Sarja in the southern Idlib countryside. Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for the airstrikes, with Idlib Media Centre and @eyadne61 identifying Russian planes as responsible while @RevoZamalka published that the airstrikes were believed to be carried out…

Summary

Published
31 March 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2040

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shoughour, Idlib, Syria
"Several injuries" resulted from alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Jisr al Shoughour in the western countryside of Idlib on March 31, 2017. While @AleppoAMC reported airstrikes on Jisr al Shoughour without identifying casualties or attributing responsibility, Step News Agency reported that Russian aircraft carried out airstrikes across Idlib, including in Jisr al Shoughour,…

Summary

Published
31 March 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2041

Location

بعربو, Ba'arbo, Idlib, Syria
Between two and three civilians, including two women and a female child, were killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes against the town of Ba'arbo in the southern countryside of Idlib. At the time of their death, the civilians that were killed were riding in a car. According to @Omar_Madaniah, the civilians…

Summary

Published
31 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident