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

19 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1288

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Between 12 and 20 civilians died and up to 21 more were wounded in an airstrike on a UN/Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy (reportedly consisting of up to 12 trucks) in Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, according to local media - though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to…

Summary

Published
19 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
12–20
Civilians reported injured
14–21
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1289

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local media reported between five and six dead from airstrikes in the neighbourhood of al Sukkari, Aleppo. Five fatalities were identified by name by both Halab News and Syria2011 News. In addition, both sources claimed a sixth death, of an anonymous, 35-year-old individual. Most sources agreed that Russian warplanes were responsible. For example, LCCSY tweeted…

Summary

Published
19 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1290

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and 24 civilians were killed and up to 13 wounded in intense air strikes with barrel bombs and napalm on the al Marja neighbourhood of Aleppo, local sources reported. About half the sources stated only that “warplanes” were involved, while the other half said Russian planes were responsible. One source, the Shaam News…

Summary

Published
19 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–24
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1291

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local media reported at least one and as many as four dead as a result of either Russian airstrikes or regime shelling in the al Ferdos neighborhood of Aleppo on September 19th. Almodon News said that “Russian fighter jets bombed the eastern districts of Aleppo,” including al Ferdos. Smart News and Alaraby News both used…

Summary

Published
19 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1292

Location

حي باب النيرب, Bab al Nairab , Aleppo, Syria
Local news outlets alleged that either Russian or Syrian forces were responsible for two civilian deaths, including one woman’s, on the road between Bab al Mayrab and al Salheen in Aleppo. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said “fixed-wing warplanes, believed to be Russian, fired missiles at the residential homes on the road leading to…

Summary

Published
19 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1283

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between one and three civilians including one woman and one child were killed, and several more wounded, by bombings carried out either by the Assad regime or Russian planes in the Al Sakhour neighborhood in Aleppo. According to Halab Today TV and SyrianPC, an unidentified child was also killed. Meanwhile, Shahba Press tweeted that a…

Summary

Published
18 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
3–12
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident