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 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2021

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
Up to eight civilians, including two children and two women, were killed and as many as 20 more were wounded in strikes allegedly carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia in Khan Shakhoun, Idlib, local media reported. Two airstrikes reportedly struck al-Shamali neighbourhood in Khan Shakhoun, killing up to eight civilians, including a family…

Summary

Published
25 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
1–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2022

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
In this major incident, referred to by many sources as "a massacre", alleged Russian or Assad-launched airstrikes on Hamouriya, Damascus killed up to 18 civilians, including women and children, and wounded between 24 and 80 more, local media reported. Residential areas in Hamouriya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, were reportedly struck by heavy aerial shelling on March…

Summary

Published
25 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
12–18
Civilians reported injured
24–80
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Codes

CS615 RS2020

Location

منطقة الادخار, Al-ldikhar, Raqqa, Syria
Up to five civilians died including a child and two women in a reported airstrike on Al-ldikhar, according to local media. Reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the Coalition or Russia. Smart news agency said that three civilians died in a strike “likely” carried out by the Coalition However RFS…

Summary

Published
25 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2023

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'arat Al-Nu'man, Idlib, Syria
Between two and nine civilians, including women and children, were wounded when the village of Ma'arat Al-Nu'man, Idlib, was hit by aerial shelling, local media reported, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. Mustapha al Gharib, a media manager in the civil defence in Maarat al Numan, told Smart that…

Summary

Published
25 March 2017
Civilians reported injured
2–9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2016

Location

معر شورين, Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, Syria
Between two and four civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on village of Ma'ar Shureen in Idlib, local media reported. According to the Smart News Agency, four civilian were wounded. Other sources put the figure at two. Zamanalwasl said that the strike hit a popular market in the village. While…

Summary

Published
25 March 2017
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2015

Location

حلفايا, Halfaya, Hama, Syria
Airstrikes, carried out by either the Syrian regime or Russia, wounded three civilians in the town of Halfaya, local media reported Syrian Mirror said that the strikes led to "casualties", without further specification. The remaining two sources reported that the airstrikes wounded several people. According to Smart News' correspondent, "warplanes launched raids on the town of…

Summary

Published
24 March 2017
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident