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 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1699

Location

مساكن هنانو, Masaken Hanano residences neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
At least four civilians were killed and nine others were wounded in air or artillery strikes on the Masaken Hanano residences neighbourhood in Aleppo. Local sources gave conflicting reports of who was responsible for the airstrikes against Masaken Hanano. Both Halab News and @ShahbaPress identified Russian planes as being responsible for the airstrikes. However, according to…

Summary

Published
26 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2–9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1700

Location

باب النيرب, Bab al Nairab, Aleppo, Syria
At least two civilians were killed in alleged Russia or Assad regime air or artillery strikes on the Bab al Nairab neighborhood in Aleppo, sources on the ground reported. According to Smart News, both regime and Russian airplanes carried out airstrikes in the area. The source didn't identify who was responsible for the strikes against…

Summary

Published
26 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1692

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
Up to three civilians including two children were killed and as many as 15 more were wounded following airstrikes targeting Douma, Damascus, local media reported. Sources were unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime was responsible. Most sources reported that the incident led to the death of three civilians, with several reports saying that two children…

Summary

Published
25 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1688

Location

حي الصاخور, Sakhour, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and five civilians - including a child and a woman - were killed and at least one other was injured, including a child, in airstrikes on Al Sakhour in Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. According to VDC, both the identify of the victims and the identity of the warplanes could not…

Summary

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

Incident Date

25 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1690

Location

حي الشعار, Al Shi'ar, Aleppo, Syria
Between four and five civilians, including two children, were killed and 12 or more civilians were wounded in airstrikes on Al Shi'ar in Aleppo. The majority of sources did not identify who was to blame for the airstrikes but those that did, including Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian People's Movement, attributed the airstrikes…

Summary

Published
25 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
12
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1693

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Aleppo, Syria
Between four and nine civilians were killed and at least 20 others were injured in airstrikes against the town of Al Mansoura in the western countryside of Aleppo. The majority of local sources, including @ShahbaPress, allege that Russian warplanes were responsible for the airstrikes launched against Al Mansoura. However, SDC Aleppo offered a conflicting report…

Summary

Published
25 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–9
Civilians reported injured
2–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident