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

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
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1403

Location

الموحسن, Mohassein, Deir Ezzor, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2–8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1395

Location

خان الشيح‬, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria
Local sources reported that air or artillery strikes hit the suburb of Damascus, Khan al-Sheikh which led to the death of at least two civilian men and injury of several more people. The strikes allegedly struck a Palestinian refugee camp. One source claimed that a school in the area was also struck. The news site…

Summary

Published
3 October 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–12
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1396

Location

الحيدرية, Al Haidariya, Aleppo, Syria
Up to two civilians including a child died and four more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo's al-Haidariya neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Most sources reported the death of one civilian, who according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was an unidentified child. The twitter account SheroAlo1 said…

Summary

Published
3 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1397

Location

الهلّك, al Hallak, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1398

Location

بعيدين‬, Baeedin, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
4–11
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident