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
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

5 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1105

Location

Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي ‏المرجة‬
In what has been described by reporters as a “massacre”, no less than 11 civilians, including seven children and one woman, died following an aerial bombardment on the residential neighbourhood al Marja. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights however, noted that the numbers were most likely to rise due to the nature of the injures.…

Summary

Published
5 August 2016
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Incident Date

4 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1100

Location

Heesh, Idlib, Syria
حيش
One adult male died in an airstrike on Heesh, Idlib, according to local media. According to Amagharib Today, he died on August 5th from injures he sustained in the attack. Only one source, the Violations Documentation Center, blamed Russia for his death. Other sources didn’t apportion blame and there are no other details present at…

Summary

Published
4 August 2016
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Incident Date

4 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1101

Location

Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
كفر ناها
Up to four civilians died, including a woman and two children, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha. According to Ara News, the warplanes launched strikes on the neighbourhood, “in an attempt to prevent the arrival of a new military Maazrat Army conquest of the region”. LCCSY reported that rockets were fired over the…

Summary

Published
4 August 2016
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Incident Date

4 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1102

Location

Maarat al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
معرة الأتارب
Between four and six civilians including two children died and as many as 30 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime airstrike on the two camps for displaced person near the town of Maarat al Atareb. Halab News Network reported there were no less than eight raids, with the use of cluster…

Summary

Published
4 August 2016
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Incident Date

3 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1096

Location

Shaghuor, Idlib, Syria
شغور
The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, as killed by a Russian cluster bomb. While the source reports that the victim was from Shahour village, it’s unclear whether he was killed there. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
3 August 2016
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Incident Date

3 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1099

Location

Al Mansoura, Aleppo, Syria
المنصورة
Six named civilians died in an air or artillery strike on Al Mansoura in the western suburbs of Aleppo, local sources said. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, on “Wednesday evening 3 August 2016, alleged Russian warplanes carried out two airstrikes on the residential homes located in the northwestern areas of Al Mansoura…

Summary

Published
3 August 2016
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