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

23 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1319

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nayrab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local and international media reported six civilians, including three or four children and one man named Mohammad Alloush, were killed in an air raid on the neighbourhood of Bab al Nayrab, which according to CNN and Sky News Arabia struck a water pumping station which supplied 250 thousand people in eastern Aleppo. Geroun News said…

Summary

Published
23 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1320

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local sources reported that five civilians were killed, and four injured, in an airstrike on the al Salheen neighbourhood of Aleppo. While most sources blamed Russia some reports said that the regime also carried out strikes in al Salheen on this day. A tweet from @AleppoAMC included graphic photographs of three wounded children and a…

Summary

Published
23 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1321

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
According to local sources, one woman was killed in Russian raids on the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood of Aleppo. HNN’s list of martyrs included, “an unidentified woman, following Russian aggression raids on Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, civilian.” @RadioAlKul tweeted, “an apartment building in the neighbourhood of Bustan al Qasr was destroyed by Russian air raids…

Summary

Published
23 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1322

Location

الأنصاري, Al Ansari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
A Russian aircraft struck a White Helmets building in Aleppo’s al Ansari neighbourhood, killing eight people, according to local sources. The strike reportedly occurred in conjunction with other strikes on White Helmets buildings in Alhaidariya and Hanano, Alsouria News said. The White Helmets posted a YouTube video showing the extent of the destruction. A large…

Summary

Published
23 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1323

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Air raids on the al Sakhour neighbourhood of Aleppo killed up to two civilians, local media reported. It was unclear whether the attacks were carried out by the regime or by Russia. Islammemo reported, “two martyrs in al Sakhour.” So did @Sy_Reporter and HNN. Alaraby News stated that Russian fighters carried out the strike, along…

Summary

Published
23 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1324

Location

المعادي, Al Ma'adi, Aleppo, Syria
Two or three civilians were killed in the al Ma’adi neighbourhood of Aleppo on September 23rd by a bombing raid, local sources reported. Reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame. Halab News Network said three civilians died and named two of them. Extremely graphic photographs from @AleppoAMC showed…

Summary

Published
23 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident