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 February 2017

Incident Code

RS1917

Location

الحور, Al Hour, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Three medical staff were wounded in an airstrike which struck Al-Huda Surgical Hospital in Al Hour, Aleppo, local media report. According to sources, the hospital has been since rendered out of service. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some blamed Russia, while others blamed the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights…

Summary

Published
26 February 2017
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2017

Incident Code

RS1918

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
Between one and nine civilians were killed - including four children - and others were wounded, in an airstrike on Douma, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some blaming Russia and others the Syrian regime. Two sources put the death toll as high as nine, while two reported…

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 February 2017

Incident Code

RS1916

Location

حي الوعر, Al Waer, Homs, Syria
Four civilians were killed, including a child, and as many as 24 others were wounded in an alleged parachute missile attack on the residential neighbourhood of Al Waer, local media reported. All sources but one blamed the Syrian regime for the raid. The Shaam News Network was alone in reporting "violent raids by Assad and…

Summary

Published
26 February 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
6–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2017

Incident Code

RS1915

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
An unspecific number of civilians was wounded following an alleged airstrike on Maskanah, Aleppo. Only one sources blamed Russian warplanes; the others attributed blame to the Syrian regime. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes occurred near the sugar planting town of Maskanah.  There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
26 February 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2017

Incident Code

RS1913

Location

بنش, Binish, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians died and up to 10 more were wounded (including four members of the civil defense), following a raid on the Red Crescent Medical Store in Binish. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some sources blamed a Russian airliner, whilst others blamed Syrian regime vacuum missiles. The Shaam News Network reported that…

Summary

Published
25 February 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
9–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2017

Incident Code

RS1914

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
Eleven named civilians were killed - including five children, a woman and two men - and dozens more were wounded in an alleged air and artillery strike on a market in Douma, according to reports from the ground. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Many attributed the strikes to Russian missiles, while…

Summary

Published
25 February 2017
Civilians reported killed
11–13
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident