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

29 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2034

Location

دير الشرقي, Deir al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria
Nine named civilians, including up to five children and one woman, were killed and between 15 and 20 others were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the village of Deir al Sharqi. Sources that reported low casualty estimates, including the five deaths by Syrian News Network, acknowledged that these were the initial…

Summary

Published
29 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
9
Civilians reported injured
15–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2033

Location

Zamlaka, Damascus, Syria
Between three and five civilians, including one to two children, were killed and at least 10 others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the city of Zamalaka in the Damascus countryside. The civilians killed include two child siblings, Omar and Mazan al-Gharbi, and a Civil Defense member, Sameer Mohammad Akram al Ghoush. According to…

Summary

Published
28 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2030

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian was killed and at least two others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against Al Fatira village in southern Idlib. All sources that named a culprit identified Russia as responsible while @EdlibNN did not blame anyone for the airstrikes. Hamoud Al Awad described the victim of the airstrikes, Abdullah Fayez al…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2027

Location

درعا, Dara'a, Daraa, Syria
Between one and two civilians were killed and others were wounded in airstrikes against the city of Dara'a on March 17, 2017, local media reported. Local sources gave conflicting reports of who was responsible for the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including Syria News Desk and Smart News, attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes. However,…

Summary

Published
27 March 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2028

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against Douma in the Damascus countryside, according to sources on the ground. Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including @Omar_Madaniah and @ahmadalqalmone, identified Russian planes…

Summary

Published
27 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2029

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria
Between one and five civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed and between four and eight others, including women and children, were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes against the town of Jisr al Shoughour in the western suburbs of Idlib, local media reported. At the time of reporting one civilian death,…

Summary

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