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

28 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1719

Location

القاطرجي, Qaterji neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians died in an  airstrike on Aleppo's Qaterji neighbourhood, according to local media. Most sources said that the civilian harm was caused by a chlorine attack from helicopters, though some other reports pointed towards Russia and cited the use of cluster bombs and rockets. Nabd explictly said that "Assad helicopters threw explosive barrels of chlorine…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1720

Location

الصالحين, Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between two and 35 civilians died in an airstrike on Aleppo's Salheen neighbourhood, though it was unclear whether the regime or Russia were responsible. @MohAlkhatieb tweeted that the civil defense had removed eight dead civilians from the rubble in Salheen following a strike with a barrel bomb. According to @mahmoodtalha22, two civilians died in the…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–35
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1721

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghinto, Homs, Syria
In what was widely reported as a regime attack, at least four civilians - including a child and three women - died and as many as dozens more (including children) were wounded in a shelling at Al Ghinto in Homs. While most of the allegations were against Assad rockets, there was also a report that Russia…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–8
Civilians reported injured
8–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1722

Location

الحولة, Al Hola, Homs, Syria
Between four and 11 civilians died in shelling on Al Hola in Homs, according to sources on the ground. The majority of sources blamed artillery and mortar shelling by the regime, however, one report attributed the civilian harm to Russian airstrikes. Multiple reports said that an agricultural tractor carrying displaced people was struck in the attack.…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–11
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1716

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria
One named woman died and two or three other civilians were wounded in an airstrike on Ltamenah, according to sources on the ground. Only one source explicitly blamed Russia; the others didn't apportion blame. HNN reported: "Russian enemy planes targeted  the town of Ltamenah in the northern Hama countryside with an air raid killing one woman…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1706

Location

الحلوانية, Al Hilwaniya neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians died in an alleged Russian air or artillery strike on Aleppo's Al Hilwaniya neighbourhood, according to local media. Step said that "Russian warplanes and helicopters" had carried out strikes on neighbourhoods in Aleppo including Al Hilwaniya, "resulting in civilian casualties". @shahed-alep reported "a heavy artillery and rocket attack on Al-Sakhour and Al-Halawani neighborhoods and the…

Summary

Published
27 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident