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

24 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2012

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
On March 24, 2017, one civilian was reportedly killed and up to nine were wounded in an alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, local media reported. Ahmed Khatib, a correspondent for the Mirror of Syria in Idlib, said that "warplanes carried out several air raids on the…

Summary

Published
24 March 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2013

Location

ادلب, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
As many as 16 civilians, most of them women and one child, were killed and up to 24 were left wounded, when alleged Assad or Russian airstrikes struck a women's prison in Idlib, local media reported. The attack against the prison, run by the Executive Force of the Syrian Opposition, resulted in at least seven…

Summary

Published
24 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
7–16
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2017

Incident Codes

CS614 RS2011

Location

Ma'ari school, Bado neighbourhood, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
Up to six civilians including two children and two women died, and as many as five civilians were wounded, in an airstrike on the Bado neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local media, though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US led Coalition or Russian warplanes. Palmyra Media Center reported…

Summary

Published
24 March 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
3–6
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2014

Location

اورم الجوز, Urme Al joz, Idlib, Syria
At least one, but more likely two civilians - a woman and her child - were killed and several more wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Urme al-Joz in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "one child and his mother died when suspected Russian warplanes…

Summary

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

Incident Date

24 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2010

Location

رسم حميدة, Rasim Hamida, Homs, Syria
Two or three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Rasim Hamida in Jabr al-Jarrah, Homs, local media reported. An activist who spoke to Smart News said that the airstrikes killed two men and seriously wounded a woman. But according to al-Araby, three civilians died. Both sources pointed to Russia as the…

Summary

Published
24 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 March 2017

Incident Code

RS2008

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'arat Al Nu'man, Idlib, Syria
Up to two civilians were killed and as many as seven more were wounded following airstrikes that struck the town of Ma'arat al-Nu'man, Idlib, local sources reported - though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. Sources said that between one and two civilians were killed in the strikes. Two civilian…

Summary

Published
23 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident