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

10 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1260

Location

Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي ‏المرجة‬
Between two and fifteen civilians including one woman died and 43 more were reportedly wounded in an alleged Russia airstrike on Marja, according to local media. Alamawi, Jisrtv, LCCSY all blamed Russia. In a video published by Piepers Umran (see below), a man says that Russian planes “targeted civilians as there are no militants in…

Summary

Published
10 September 2016
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Incident Date

10 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1261

Location

Mayser, Aleppo, Syria
الميسر
Up to five civilians including one child died and as many as dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on the Mayser neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to sources on the ground – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. According to Zouhayrhnidel, “Russian warplanes destroyed 30 civilian houses…

Summary

Published
10 September 2016
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Incident Date

10 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1252

Location

Ainjara, Aleppo, Syria
عين دارة
One woman died and several more civilians were injured in alleged Russia airstrikes on Anjara town in western Aleppo, sources on the ground reported. According to Ahmadhamaher, “Russian warplanes targeted Anjara in the western countryside of Aleppo with two raids and missiles. LCCSY added that a woman died and other civilians were wounded in Russian…

Summary

Published
10 September 2016
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Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1247

Location

al Tah, Idlib, Syria
التح
One child died and six or seven other civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bennesh in Idlib, according to local media. Sources reported that the strike hit Fatima Al-Zahra mosque. The Shaam News Network reported that the mosque was destroyed in the attack – while reports put the number on non-combatants wounded…

Summary

Published
9 September 2016
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Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1248

Location

Binnish, Idlib, Syria
بنش
A female child was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike which struck Fatima Al-Zahra’a Mosque in Binnish, Idlib, 9th September 2016, according to sources on the ground. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes fort he alleged raid, but others do not name a belligerent at all. According to sources such as SN4HR, 6-7 civilians were injured…

Summary

Published
9 September 2016
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Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1249

Location

Shamico, near Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
كفر ناها
Up to two civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on a mosque in Shamico near Kafr Naha, according to local media. Sources reported that cluster bombs were used in the attack and that civilian homes were destroyed. The majority of sources referred only to “warplanes”, though Smart and Syria…

Summary

Published
9 September 2016
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