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

27 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1711

Location

نبل, Nabil, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
In what may have been a friendly fire incident, committed by the regime, or by Russia, an unspecified number of people were killed and wounded in Nabil, according to sources on the ground. HNN reported "four air raids [three using vacuum missiles and one cluster bombs] by Russian planes on the pro regime villages of…

Summary

Published
27 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1712

Location

الزهراء, Al Zahra village, Aleppo, Syria
On November 27, 2016, according to the Shaam News Network amongst other local sources, two people were reportedly killed and dozens wounded when an aerial bombing resulted in "several successive explosions" hitting a residential area the town of Zahra, located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, in northwestern Syria. Where sources identified a belligerent, most…

Summary

Published
27 November 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1713

Location

المرجة, Al Marja neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and four civilians died and more were injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime air or artillery strikes on Aleppo's Marja neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. But Alsharq pointed to the regime, reporting: "The Syrian Air Force continued to launch intensive air strikes accompanied by heavy artillery shelling on the neighborhoods of…

Summary

Published
27 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1705

Location

الميسر, Al Mayssar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
@RFS_NORTH tweeted that "the forces of the regime bombardedthe Al-Maysar and Karam Tarab neighborhoods in Aleppo with heavy artillery shells" - but made no mention of civilian harm. But according to HNN, one unidentified civilian died from a Russian strike on the Al Mayssar neighbourhood.

Summary

Published
27 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1715

Location

الحميدية, Waterway leading to Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor city, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between five and seven civilians died and up to another seven were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on a waterway leading to the Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor city, sources on the ground said According to the Shaam News Network, "activists reported  that  Russian aircraft  targeted a water crossing leading to the…

Summary

Published
27 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–7
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1695

Location

كفر بسين, Kafr Bisin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Up to four civilians died including a woman in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Bisin, Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. @ShahbaPress reported that there were"four martyrs and several wounded civilians following raids by the Russian occupation aircraft on the village of Kafr Bassin countryside".    

Summary

Published
26 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident