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

10 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1252

Location

عين دارة, Ainjara, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1262

Location

Kafr Zita or Latamenah (Hama) or Idlib, Hama, Syria
Up to 16 civilians – with four or five from one family – died in shelling on Latamenah, according to local media. However, there were allegations against both Russia and the Syrian regime. It was reported that Kafr Zita was under regime artillery shelling – with possible regime strikes also reported in Latamnah. According to…

Summary

Published
10 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–16
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1248

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
6–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1249

Location

كفر ناها, Shamico, near Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1250

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
One civilian died and in an unspecified number more were wounded in an airstrike on the al Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media. A number of sources blamed Russia, though others referred only to “warplanes”, while one source, Alburaq, reported that both “Russian and Syrian warplanes killed a civilian”. According to Smart Russia…

Summary

Published
9 September 2016
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1247

Location

التح, al Tah, Idlib, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4–8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident