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 4,842 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.
4,842 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.
3,026 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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

29 July 2016

Incident Code

RS1071

Location

Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي بستان القصر
Five civilians died in an airstrike on Bustan al Qasr, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. The Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes continued targeting the neighbourhoods of the besieged city of Aleppo with dozens of raids every day,…

Summary

Published
29 July 2016
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Incident Date

29 July 2016

Incident Code

RS1072

Location

Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria
خان الشيح‬
A 16-year-old boy reportedly died in an airstrike on his home in Khan al Shiekh, according to local media – though sources were unclear whether the strike was carried out by Russia or the Syrian regime. Syrian News Desk reported that the victim was “a boy aged 16, who was a soccer player in the…

Summary

Published
29 July 2016
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Incident Date

29 July 2016

Incident Code

RS1073

Location

Abeen Saba'an, Aleppo, Syria
Up to 11 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded in an airstrike on Abeen Saba’an, according to local media – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime. Step News Agency, Syrian News Desk, Taha_Alhlo, and the Syrian Network for Human Rights all attributed the…

Summary

Published
29 July 2016
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Incident Date

28 July 2016

Incident Code

RS1067

Location

Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
Up to five civilians including three children died and as many as 21 other non-combatants were wounded in an airstrike on Jisr al-Shughur in Aleppo, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible. The Shaam News Network blamed Russia, reporting: “Activists said Russian warplanes…

Summary

Published
28 July 2016
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Incident Date

28 July 2016

Incident Code

RS1066

Location

Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان
Local media reported that one civilian died and several others were wounded in a cluster bomb attack on Maarat al Numan, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. Multiple sources published images showing the remains of cluster bombs on the ground – though many sources didn’t identify who had…

Summary

Published
28 July 2016
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Incident Date

27 July 2016

Incident Code

RS1064

Location

Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي بستان القصر
Between one and four civilians died and up to six others were wounded in Bustan al Qasr, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the deaths. Abdulkarimlaila blamed Russia, but most sources did not identify the culprit. Orient News and Rojava, however, referred to…

Summary

Published
27 July 2016
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