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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1453

Location

Al Ard al Hamra, Aleppo, Syria
ارض الحمرا
One civilian died and nine more were wounded in an alleged Russia or Syrian regime air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s Al Ard al Hamra neighbourhood. According to Zaitonmag, “Assad artillery shelling in Ard Al-Hamra wounded nine people badly.” Halab News listed one unidentified civilian as killed in a Russian strike on Al Ard al…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
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Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1454

Location

Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
القاطرجي
One civilian died and several others – reportedly children – were wounded in an alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, according to local media. Sources reported the use of phosphorous missiles and cluster bomb in the attack. Harhoor991 said that “at 4am there was extensive warplane shelling in Aleppo and…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
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Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1457

Location

Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
الصاخور
Three or four civilians including a woman and a child died and up to seven more were injured in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s Al Sakhour neighbourhood, according to local media. Syrian Press Centre and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights both reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the medical centre in…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
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Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1455

Location

al Sheikh Kudar, Aleppo, Syria
الشيخ خضر
In what most sources said was a regime artillery strike, one female child died in Aleppo’s Al Sheikh Khader neighbourhood. Syrian Press Center and Micro Syria, Jisrtv and Masar Press reported: “A female child was killed and others wounded due to artillery shelling in Sheikh Khader.” Syria News Desk was the only source who blamed…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
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Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1442

Location

Khan Al Assal (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي خان العسل
One civilian, died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Khan al A’ssal, according to local media. The victim was named by the Violations Documentation Center and Halab News, both of which blamed Russia for his death. There are no other details available at this time.

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
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Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1443

Location

Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
كفر ناها
Five civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local media. SRG_Syria tweeted that there were “five martyrs and many wounded due to Russian warplanes raids in Kafr Naha in Aleppo.” Al Jazeera, Syria Press and Syria News Dersk also put the death toll at five, while Halab News listed five…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
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