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

17 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1477

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
As many as 25 people from one family – named as the Eid Kabis family – died including eight children and two or three women and dozens more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Marja neighbourhood. All but one source alleged that Russia carried out the strike. According to Madar Daily, “14 members…

Summary

Published
17 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
13–25
Civilians reported injured
12–25
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1478

Location

Al Zar'aroura, Aleppo, Syria
Five or six civilians including children and women died in a strike on the Al Za’aroura area near Kafr Naha in the western Aleppo countryside, according to sources on the ground. The majority of sources attributed the incident to Russia, though one pointed towards the regime. Several other reports didn’t identify the culprit. LCCSY put…

Summary

Published
17 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1476

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria
Halab News named a civilian as killed in an alleged Russian strike on Kafr Halab. According to Al Jazeera, “cluster bombs and rocket-propelled grenades targeted the town of Kafr Halab in the western countryside.” @FREE_TV_SYRIA, @24Aleppo, @ShahbaPress were among other sources reporting that Russian cluster bombs hit the train station in the village. @24Aleppo said…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1479

Location

عويجل, Oweijal, Aleppo, Syria
In what multiple sources described as a “massacre”, between 40 and 55 civilians – many of them reportedly children and women – died and up to 70 more were wounded in airstrikes on the village of Oweijal. The strikes resulted in widespread destruction to civilian homes – and, according to several reports – the destruction…

Summary

Published
17 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
40–55
Civilians reported injured
6–70
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1480

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians from one family including three children and one woman died and up to 20 more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood. Most sources blamed Russia for the attack, though one also pointed to the Syrian regime. According to Zamanalwasl, “Russian aircraft targeted the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood with…

Summary

Published
17 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1474

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
In a major civilian casualty event, up to 31 civilians including at least nine children and five women from several families died and as many as 70 more were wounded in multiple airstrikes on residential buildings in Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, according to local media. Many sources blamed Russia for the event, though several also…

Summary

Published
16 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
25–31
Civilians reported injured
12–70
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident