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

2 December 2016

Incident Code

RS1732

Location

أورم الكبرى, Orme al Kubra, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Two or three civilians including a child and a woman died and up to five more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme al Kubra, according to local media. LCCSY reported that a child and a woman died in a Russian airstrike. Syria News Desk, however, put the death toll at three (including…

Summary

Published
2 December 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 December 2016

Incident Code

RS1731

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Several civilians died and were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Anadan, local media reported. According to Halab News, "Russian enemy planes targeted the city of Anadan in the northern Aleppo countryside this morning [Dec 1st] with several raids, leading the martyrdom of several people and the injury of others - along with material damage".…

Summary

Published
1 December 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1726

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Local media named six people killed in an alleged Russian or Assad regime air or artillery strike in Kafr Zita - though most sources said that the victims were fighters. According to several reports. The Step News Agency reported that "Russian fighter jets renewed their bombardment of areas of Hama north Tuesday evening 29th of November…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–8
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1727

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians from one family - a man, his wife and his son - died and two other children from the family were wounded in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, according to soirces on the ground. Egypt Today: "On Monday, at least eight raids were carried out on areas in the town of Khan Sheikhan…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1723

Location

معارة النعسان, Maarat al Ni’ssan, Idlib, Syria
Several local sources reported the death of one civilian and wounding of several more in alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Ni’ssan. According to LCCSY, "a martyr fell and several civilians were injured in the town of Maarat al Ni’ssan north of the city [Idlib] after it was targeted with air raids by Russian warplanes."

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1728

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nairab neighbourhood, Aleppo [seems to be road between bab al Nayrab and Jib al Qibba], Aleppo, Syria
In a large-scale civilian casualty incident, referred to as "a massacre", between 17 and 28 civilians, including multiple families, died in alleged Russian or Assad regime air and/or artillery strikes on Aleppo's Bab al Nairab, on what looks to be road between bab al Nayrab and Jib al Qibba. Multiple sources said that the strikes…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
17–28
Civilians reported injured
12–40
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident