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

28 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1517

Location

Abeen Sama'an, Aleppo, Syria
One child died and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Russia or Syrian  regime strike on Abeen Sama’an, according to sources on the ground. According to the Shaam News Network,”in the evening [of Oct 28th] Russian and Assad enemy planes launched air strikes targeting Aleppo neighborhoods, cities and towns in the western and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1515

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
A single source, Halab News, reported the deaths of “Abdallah al Hasan al Khalaf and his two children, following the explosion of a cluster bomb left by Russia planes following a bombing of Sarmin in Idlib”. The source added that the victims were from the town of al Eiss. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
28 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1514

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
Eight named civilians died and up to 30 more were injured in air and artillery strikes on Douma, according to sources on the ground. Reports blamed both Russian airstrikes and artillery/ mortar shelling by Syrian regime forces. Some reports also pointed to regime warplanes. Among targets hit was a primary school, prompting the Directorate of…

Summary

Published
27 October 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
8–10
Civilians reported injured
12–30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1511

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria
Colonel Shawqi Ayoub, “commander of the Homs operations room of the Free Syrian Army”, died in an alleged Syrian regime airstrike on Al Rastan, according to local media. According to Qasioun, Ayoub (pictured below) died “while inspecting the field situation in Ain Hussein’s front. The engineer Faisal Awad also died”. Qasioun added that the regime…

Summary

Published
26 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1512

Location

حاس, Haas, Idlib, Syria
In a major casualty incident, which UNICEF called “tragic, shocking, outrageous and a war crime”, 38 named civilians including 18 children and up to six women died in multiple airstrikes on the Martyr Kamal Qal’aji school complex in the village of Haas, which was under the joint control of Armed opposition factions and the Fateh…

Summary

Published
26 October 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
38
Civilians reported injured
12–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1513

Location

بارة, Bara, Idlib, Syria
Three or four civilians included women and children died in an airstrikes on Bara, according to local media. Most sources blamed the Syrian regime; there were no direct allegations against Russia, but a number of sources didn’t identify the warplane responsible. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “three victims including two women died…

Summary

Published
26 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident