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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

22 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1187

Location

Khan al Asal, Aleppo, Syria
حي خان العسل
Up to six civilians – reportedly from the same family, according to some sources – died and as many as dozens more were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes which hit the Zahret-Almadaan area near Khan Al-Sal, local media said. While the majority of sources blamed Russia, the Shaam News Network attributed the event…

Summary

Published
22 August 2016
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Incident Date

22 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1186

Location

Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria
الرستن‬
One named child died and up many more civilians were wounded in airstrikes on Rastan, according to sources on the ground – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. LCCSY reported one “child martyr and the critical wounding of other civilians in airstrikes on residential…

Summary

Published
22 August 2016
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Incident Date

22 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1185

Location

Douma, Damascus, Syria
دوما
Eight civilians including women and children died and up to 20 more were wounded in airstrikes on Douma, local media reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. The majority of sources, however, accused the regime. According to Syria News Desk, “about 20 vacuum missiles, cluster…

Summary

Published
22 August 2016
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Incident Date

21 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1184

Location

Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
عربين
Up to four civilians including a child died and several more were injured in airstrikes on Arbin, according to sources on the ground. The majority of the sources blamed the Assad regime for the attack; none of the reports explicitly pointed to Russia, though a number didn’t identify the culprit. Smart reported that “regime warplanes…

Summary

Published
21 August 2016
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Incident Date

21 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1182

Location

Ihsem, Jabal al Zawia, Idlib, Syria
احسم
One child died in an airstrike on Ihsem, Jabal Al-Zawia, local media reported. Two sources said that the regime carried out attacks on the town. While none of the reports blamed Russia, most of them referred to unidentified “warplanes”, meaning that Moscow’ involvement could not be ruled out. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported…

Summary

Published
21 August 2016
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Incident Date

21 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1183

Location

Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
كفر ناها
Two civilians – reportedly children – died and up to nine other non-combatants were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Naha, local media said. According to LCCSY, “two children died and others were wounded when Russian warplanes carried out a cluster bomb attack on Kafr Naha”. @syriapost1 and @ShahbaPress tweeted that “nine people were…

Summary

Published
21 August 2016
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