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

6 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1239

Location

باتبو, Batbo, Aleppo, Syria
Up to eight civilians died and as many as 15 were wounded in an airstrike on an oil factory in Hazano, according to local media. While most sources attributed the event to Russia, two pointed towards the Syrian regime. Orient news and LCCSY put the death toll at three, with LCCSY adding that 15 civilians…

Summary

Published
6 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–8
Civilians reported injured
2–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1240

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria
Between seven and nine civilians, including two female children and two or three members of the civil defence died in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. While the majority of reports blamed Russia, several attributed the attack to the Syrian regime or did not identify the culprit. According to…

Summary

Published
6 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Civilians reported injured
3–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1230

Location

غرناطة, Gharnata, Homs, Syria
Two civilians were killed and others wounded an alleged Russia airstrike on Ghirnata village, according to local media. Nabd Syria and LCCSY blamed Russian airstrikes for the death of two non-combatants. Other sources mentioned artillery and air strikes in the area but didn’t say who carried them out. However, Homs Media Center reported regime actions…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1231

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
Up to nine civilians including three children died and as many as 30 or more were wounded in airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, according to local media. All sources blamed Russia, except for one which referred to both “Russian and Syrian warplanes”. According to Syrian News “an elderly man and a child were killed and…

Summary

Published
5 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Civilians reported injured
3–30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1232

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
A family of six died in an air or artillery strike on Aleppo’s al Sukkari neighbourhood, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime. ZamanAlwasel, Kalimahora and LCCSY blamed Russia, with LCCSY pointing to a vacuum missile attack on a residential…

Summary

Published
5 September 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2–6
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1229

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria
Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as ten others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on al Rastan, according to local media. Syria1news1 tweeted an image of a man crying over his sister’s body following a strike. Like a number of sources, the report didn’t identify…

Summary

Published
5 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
3–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident