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

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1545

Location

صلاح الدين, Salahudin, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and two civilians were killed and at least five more were wounded in  attacks on the Salahudin neighborhood in Aleppo, local sources reported. It was unclear what artillery was used in the raid, with 24 News alleging that rocket-propelled grenades were launched against the town while @AbdAlghani_1990 claims they were surface-to-surface missiles. Reports…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1542

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
Between five and 11 civilians were killed, including three women and five children, and 15 were wounded in airstrikes against Darat Izza city in western Aleppo. The civilians killed were all reportedly members of the same family and included a couple who had just been married a few days before. A video published by JisirTV…

Summary

Published
6 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–11
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1533

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
Three or four civilians were killed and up to six more were injured in cluster bomb airstrikes launched against the town of Kafr Naha in the Aleppo countryside. The majority of local sources, including Akhbaralaan News and Micro News, attributed the airstrikes to Russian planes while other sources did not identify who was to blame.…

Summary

Published
5 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
3–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1535

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
One or two civilians were killed, including a female child, and more than 15 civilians were injured, from airstrike shelling on Al Atarib city. Local media reported that cluster bombs struck a popular local market, which resulted in many civilians being trapped under the rubble. The airstrikes came during a unilateral truce declared by Russia…

Summary

Published
5 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1536

Location

بابتو, Babto, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was killed in an airstrike on a grain storage center and a mill in the village of Babbto in the countryside of western Aleppo, according to sources on the ground. Images posted by Thiqa News and a video posted by AlBouAzezi show the damage to the grain storage structure that ultimately led to…

Summary

Published
5 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
0–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1537

Location

أبين سمعان, Abeen Sama'an, Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians, including two children, were killed and others injured in airstrikes which struck "eastern school of Ibin" in the town of Abin Sama’an in the western Aleppo. Almost all sources attributed blame to Russian aircraft. Syrian Press Center also noted that this strike was part of a concerted campaign by the Russians to strike…

Summary

Published
5 November 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident