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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

10 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1124

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
At least one male civilian was killed and between 3 and 10 were wounded by airstrikes on the town of Saraqib, according to local media. There are however multiple reports of the death of a female child too - she was not named. Multiple sources, including The Shaam News Network (SNN), identified both regime and…

Summary

Published
10 August 2016
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Incident Date

10 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1125

Location

Maraat Misrin, Idlib, Syria
معرة مصرين
Three air strikes with cluster bombs stuck the residential neighbourhood of Maarat Misrin and killed four named civilians including two children. According to Elfgr News, up to nine civilians were wounded, "some of whom were ministered to the hospital Al-Bab-Hawa border crossing". According to the Shaam News Network, “warplane strikes” carried out by “Assad’s and…

Summary

Published
10 August 2016
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Incident Date

9 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1117

Location

Taqad, Aleppo, Syria
تقاد
One civilian was killed by warplane rockets, according to Halab Today and VDS-SY. A further two civilians were also injured in the attack, according to the Smart News Agency. Sources attributed the attack to Russian warplanes, and reported that fires broke out in civilian homes. There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
9 August 2016
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Incident Date

9 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1118

Location

Mheimidiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between 15 and 30 civilians were killed, including three children and four women, and between 20 to 40 wounded – some critically – by an aerial bombardment of the town of Mahimideh, local media reported. The majority of sources attributed the event to the Assad regime. However, four airstrikes were conducted by planes that were…

Summary

Published
9 August 2016
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Incident Date

8 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1116

Location

Idlib, Idlib, Syria
إدلب
Multiple sources reported that between four and five civilians including two women died and up to 12 others were injured in four raids on Idlib City – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The majority of sources attribute the raids to Russia. However, The…

Summary

Published
8 August 2016
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Incident Date

8 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1112

Location

Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria
خان الشيح‬
At least one civilian was killed and three to five were wounded, including women and children, from vacuum missile, cluster bomb or artillery strikes on a Palestinian refugee camp in Khan al Sheikh, according to local media. Five or more raids were carried out by warplanes, with most sources attributing the attacks to Russia. However,…

Summary

Published
8 August 2016
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