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

26 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2024

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria
Local sources reported that an air raid killed up to two civilians, including a child, and wounded several others, as it struck the city of Kafr Zita in Hama, though it was unclear if Russia or the Syrian regime were behind the attack. Two civilians were additionally wounded, and MonKiz Al Khabour reported that one…

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2025

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamneh, Hama, Syria
The town of al-Latamneh, Hama, was reportedly exposed to chlorine gas attacks which killed two civilians. There were also claims that dozens more civilian were wounded through suffocation. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. Orient News reported that helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime had carried out chlorine…

Summary

Published
26 March 2017
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
4–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2026

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria
One baby girl was killed and up to nine were wounded as alleged Russian warplanes struck Harasta, Damascus, with airstrikes and artillery, local media reported. SOHR reported that "warplanes carried out in the evening of today four raids on places in Harasta city in the Eastern Ghouta, which killed a child and injured 9 other…

Summary

Published
26 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2017

Location

ادلب, Idlib City, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians, reportedly women, were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Idlib city, local media reported. All the sources pointed to Russia as the culprit and reported that the incident had wounded two civilians. UAR added that the wounded were women. According to Smart News Agency's correspondent, Russia carried out the strike using vacuum…

Summary

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

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2018

Location

الحانوتة, Al-Hanoute, Hama, Syria
In this single-source event, the Smart News Agency reported that an alleged Russian airstrike killed four civilians, including a woman and her child, and wounded another six in village of al-Hanoute in eastern Hama. According to Smart, who cited a activist on the ground, Russian warplanes had launched "a rocket-propelled grenade attack" on the village, which…

Summary

Published
25 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2019

Location

ريف ادلب الجنوبي, Southern Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Two sources reported that alleged Russian warplanes struck a camp for displaced people in the southern countryside of Idlib with a phosphorous missile on the night of March 25th, possibly causing civilian harm. Only one source, Smart News Agency, reported that the strike had caused civilian harm, saying that it had resulted in "several" wounded. @amrsyria1 said…

Summary

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