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 Date Publication Date

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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Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1397

Location

al Hallak, Aleppo, Syria
الهلّك
Between three and eight civilians including a child and a woman died in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on Aleppo al Hallak neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Al Jazeera reported that three civilians died in a strike by regime warplanes. The Syrian Network for Human Rights, who blamed Russia, put the number…

Summary

Published
3 October 2016
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Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1398

Location

Baeedin, Aleppo, Syria
بعيدين‬
Three civilians including a woman died and up to 11 more people were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Baeedin, according to local media. A number of sources said that the three victims were elderly people. The media opposition activist Abu Mohammad al-Halab told Syria News Desk that “the Russian air force struck houses in…

Summary

Published
3 October 2016
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Incident Date

2 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1391

Location

al Sheikh Faress, Aleppo, Syria
الشيخ فارس
Up to four civilians including two children died in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Aleppo's al Sheikh Faress neighbourhood, according to local media. Information was sparse but al-Hayat reported that “according to the Syrian Observatory, two children were killed in Sheikh Fares due to warplanes shelling” while Halab News Network reported that the…

Summary

Published
2 October 2016
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Incident Date

2 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1393

Location

al Zarbadia, Aleppo, Syria
الزبدية
According to local sources, air and artillery strikes hit the neighbourhood of al-Zarbadia in Aleppo, killing up to three civilians and wounding as many as six more. According to the Smart News Agency, "regime artillery shelling by Assad forces stationed in Hamdaneya stadium targeted the Al-Zebdiya neighbourhood and killed three children and wounded six others…

Summary

Published
2 October 2016
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