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

4,338 – 6,384

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 4,843 separate alleged incidents.

1,145 – 1,394
children likely killed
632 – 766
women likely killed
6,544
likely injured
3,435
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
15,282 – 24,392
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,843 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,338 – 6,384
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,344 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
727 – 848
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
457 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,113 – 17,043
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,027 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4809 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

15 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1464

Location

Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria
Six or seven civilians died 20 more were wounded, including women and children, in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Aleppo’s Al Mayysar neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Halab News listed six unidentified civilians as killed in a Russian strike. But Shahba Press put the death toll at seven. Alaraby reported…

Summary

Published
15 October 2016
View Incident

Incident Date

14 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1458

Location

Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
القاطرجي
Up to five civilians died and up to 12 more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, according to local sources. Multiple reports said that a bakery was struck. The majority of sources attributed the deaths to Russia, though one report also said that the regime had carried out strike on Aleppo…

Summary

Published
14 October 2016
View Incident

Incident Date

14 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1459

Location

Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي طريق الباب
Two or three civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Tareeq al Bab neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. LCCSY put the death toll at two, though the Step News Agency and the Syrian Network for Human Rights were among the majority of sources saying that at…

Summary

Published
14 October 2016
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1451

Location

al Tamana, Idlib, Syria
One woman died and three other civilians including two children were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike on Al Tamana’a town, according to local media. The Step News Agency reported that “Russian planes launched several raids using bunker-busting missiles after mid night targeting al Taman’a town in southern Idlib, killing…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1456

Location

Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between 10 and 51 civilians including an entire family died and up to 30 more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, according to source son the ground. The majority of reports blamed Russia for the incident, though the Shaam News Network said that regime warplanes also carried out strikes in…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1452

Location

Bustan al Basha, Aleppo, Syria
بستان الباشا
One civilian died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Bustan al Basha neighbourhood, according to local media. Halab News listed on unidentified civilian as killed in a Russian raid. The Shaam News Network also put the death toll at one, but reported that both Russia and the regime carried out strikes…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
View Incident