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

2 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1522

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
Between two and three civilians were killed and dozens injured by airstrikes with thermobaric missiles in Douma city, local sources reported - though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime. According to LCCSY, Russia was allegedly responsible for the airstrikes. However, The Syrian Network for Human Rights…

Summary

Published
2 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1523

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
Between two and 18 civilians including one child and up to four women died and as many as 50 others were wounded in airstrikes on Saraqib, according to sources on the ground - though it was unclear from reports whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame for the event. The lowest estimate of…

Summary

Published
2 November 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2–18
Civilians reported injured
10–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1519

Location

Al Sheikh Ali, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians died and up to three more, including children, were wounded in an alleged Russia airstrike on Al Sheikh Ali town, according to sources on the ground. The White Helmets reported: “Russian warplanes targeted the town of al Sheikh Ali in the western Aleppo countryside with vacuum missiles which led to the death of…

Summary

Published
31 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1520

Location

Arbin, Damascus, Syria
A number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes or regime artillery shelling on Arbin, according to sources on the ground – though specific casualty figures were not given. LCCSY reported that Russia conducted “two airstrikes with thermobaric missiles on the neighborhoods in #Arbin city” alongside regime artillery shelling, resulting in an unspecified number…

Summary

Published
31 October 2016
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1518

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
The Step News Agency said that two civilians died and one was wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Izza, while according to Paldf, “a number of people were injured as a result of renewed Russian raids”. @alnateq2 reported that “Mohammed al-Mousa was killed by an explosive device in the city of Darat Izza”.…

Summary

Published
31 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1516

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
A woman and her unborn child died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strike on Douma, according to sources on the ground.  According to the Step News Agency, “a woman and her foetus were killed and a number of more people wounded when Russian planes targeted residential areas in Douma Eastern…

Summary

Published
28 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident