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

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1456

Location

Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between 10 and 51 civilians including an entire family died and up to 30 more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, according to source son the ground. The majority of reports blamed Russia for the incident, though the Shaam News Network said that regime warplanes also carried out strikes in…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
10–51
Civilians reported injured
17–30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1452

Location

بستان الباشا, Bustan al Basha, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Bustan al Basha neighbourhood, according to local media. Halab News listed on unidentified civilian as killed in a Russian raid. The Shaam News Network also put the death toll at one, but reported that both Russia and the regime carried out strikes…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1453

Location

ارض الحمرا, Al Ard al Hamra, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian died and nine more were wounded in an alleged Russia or Syrian regime air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s Al Ard al Hamra neighbourhood. According to Zaitonmag, “Assad artillery shelling in Ard Al-Hamra wounded nine people badly.” Halab News listed one unidentified civilian as killed in a Russian strike on Al Ard al…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1454

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
One civilian died and several others – reportedly children – were wounded in an alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, according to local media. Sources reported the use of phosphorous missiles and cluster bomb in the attack. Harhoor991 said that “at 4am there was extensive warplane shelling in Aleppo and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1457

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Three or four civilians including a woman and a child died and up to seven more were injured in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s Al Sakhour neighbourhood, according to local media. Syrian Press Centre and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights both reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the medical centre in…

Summary

Published
13 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1455

Location

الشيخ خضر, al Sheikh Kudar, Aleppo, Syria
In what most sources said was a regime artillery strike, one female child died in Aleppo’s Al Sheikh Khader neighbourhood. Syrian Press Center and Micro Syria, Jisrtv and Masar Press reported: “A female child was killed and others wounded due to artillery shelling in Sheikh Khader.” Syria News Desk was the only source who blamed…

Summary

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