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

30 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1865

Location

قصر البريج, Qasr al Bureij village, south east al Bab, Aleppo, Syria
Four civilians from one family died and three more were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Qasr al Bureij village, south east al Bab, according to multiple local sources. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "four civilians, including two children and a woman, died in suspected Russian warplanes".

Summary

Published
30 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1863

Location

جبال البلعاس, Al Bila’as mountains, Hama, Syria
In what several sources called a “massacre”, between five and eight civilians including two children and three women died and as many as 10 more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a camp for displaced people that is located in ISIS territory in the Al Bila’as mountains in eastern Hama governorate. The number…

Summary

Published
29 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1862

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly killed by Russian airstrikes carried out in Palmyra on the 29th of January 2017. Sources said several air raids struck its western and  northern neighbourhoods that resulted in the civilian casualties and damage to property Those wounded in the strikes were moved to a field hospital for treatment in rural Hama,…

Summary

Published
29 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1861

Location

حماده عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria
An unspecified number of civilians were killed and up to seven more were wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Hamada Omar, Hama, local media reported. Smart News reported that: "a number of civilians were killed and wounded, earlier in the day [Jan 28th], in raids by aircrafts likely to be Russian (...)". 7al News,…

Summary

Published
28 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1859

Location

الشندخيات, Shandkhiyat, Homs, Syria
Local sources reported that an alleged Russian aircraft struck the village of Shandkhiyat in the vicinity of Palmyra. Reportedly, the incident wounded several civilians. No further information is currently available.  

Summary

Published
28 January 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1860

Location

جباب حماد, Jabab Hamad, Homs, Syria
Several civilians were reportedly wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes that targeted Jabab Hamad, Homs, local sources said. All the sources - who identified a culprit - pointed to Russia. There is currently no further information available.

Summary

Published
28 January 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident