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

4 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1407

Location

Al Zirba, Aleppo, Syria
الزربة
Up to eight civilians died in alleged Russia or regime airstrike on the city of al Zirba, Aleppo, according to local media. Some sources said that the strikes only caused damage and no civilian harm. For example, the Smart News Agency reported that “Russian warplanes shelled in Zirba in the southern western countryside of Aleppo…

Summary

Published
4 October 2016
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Incident Date

4 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1408

Location

Rif al Muhandisin, Aleppo, Syria
ريف المهندسين
Up to eight civilians died and as many as 57 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Rif Al Muhandisin in the Western countryside of Aleppo, according to local media. Qasioun News reported “Russian warplanes committed a massacre in Rif Al Muhandisin in the western countryside of Aleppo, killing six civilians…

Summary

Published
4 October 2016
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Incident Date

4 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1402

Location

Kafr Nassr, Aleppo, Syria
Up to three civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Kafr Nasseh outside of Aleppo, according to local media. Halab News listed two additional unidentified victims - and joined all other sources in attributing this event to Russia. Photographic evidence shows that cluster bombs were used.

Summary

Published
4 October 2016
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Incident Date

4 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1403

Location

Mohassein, Deir Ezzor, Syria
الموحسن
Up to three civilians including a mother and her child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mohassein in Deir Ezzor, according to sources on the ground. According to Deir Ezzor 24, “Russian warplanes targeted civilian homes with cluster bombs of Al Abad which led to the martyrdom of two people, and wounding a large number…

Summary

Published
4 October 2016
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Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1394

Location

al Sheikh Said, Aleppo, Syria
شيخ سعيد
Local sources reported that alleged Russia or Assad regime air or artillery strikes in Sheik Said, Aleppo, killed up to three civilians. “So_ria98” attributed the strike to Russia, while the media Zaman al-Wasl pointed to both the Assad regime and Russia. There are no other details available at this time.

Summary

Published
3 October 2016
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Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1399

Location

Bustan al Basha, Aleppo, Syria
بستان الباشا
According to local media, alleged Russia or Assad regime airstrikes killed six civilians from one family in Aleppo's Bustan al Basha neighbourhood. Only one child from the family was said to have survived the attack. Al-Jazeera published a video, showing how the surviving child, named Shihab, was rescued from the rubble while the rest of his…

Summary

Published
3 October 2016
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