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

6 March 2017

Incident Code

RS1936

Location

خضيرة, Khdeira, Hama, Syria
Two civilians, one child and one woman, were reportedly killed and another seriously wounded as alleged Russian warplanes struck the village of Khadira, Hama, two local sources reported. An activist on the ground told Micro News that "the aircraft carried out raids on the village of Khadira in the area of Aqirbat (77 km east…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 March 2017

Incident Code

RS1934

Location

قبتان الجبل, Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Up to three civilians, including one male child and one woman, were killed along with up to ten wounded, local media reported following alleged Russain shelling of Qubtan Al-Jabal, Aleppo. At least one child was killed by the airstrikes. Additionally, many  sources also reported the death of one man and woman. @kobtan_aljabal added that the child…

Summary

Published
5 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 March 2017

Incident Code

RS1935

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Up to four civilians, possibly two children and two women, and up to nine more in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Maskanah, local media reported. Two of the victims were reportedly female children. One source added that two women also died when their home was struck. The number of wounded varied among the sources,…

Summary

Published
5 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2–9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 March 2017

Incident Code

RS1929

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria
In what was described as a "massacre", up to 15 civilians died and as many as 50 more were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime airstrike on the town of Akeirbat in Hama, according to local media. The warplanes reportedly struck a sheep marked. Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said…

Summary

Published
4 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–15
Civilians reported injured
20–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 March 2017

Incident Code

RS1928

Location

خفسة, Khafsa, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Four civilians were killed and up to three wounded when airstrikes, believed to be Russian, struck Khafsa, Aleppo, multiple sources reported. All the sources, who reported about the number of victims, agreed that four civilians were killed. The Syrian Network for added that all four victims were from the same family. Some sources merely referred…

Summary

Published
4 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 March 2017

Incident Code

RS1930

Location

الدانا, al-Dana, Idlib, Syria
Up to seven civilians, including children and women, were killed and "dozens" more were wounded as al-Dana, Idlib, in three airstrikes, carried out by Russia or the Syrian regime, local media reported. Three men from the same family were reportedly among the victims. Multiple sources added that one or two children and several women were…

Summary

Published
4 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
3–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident