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 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1124

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
3–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1125

Location

معرة مصرين, Maraat Misrin, Idlib, Syria
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
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1117

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

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
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
15–30
Civilians reported injured
20–40
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1112

Location

خان الشيح‬, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 August 2016

Incident Code

RS1113

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
Russian warplanes bombed the city of Al Bab in eastern Aleppo and while casualties were reported, according to local media. However, reports didn’t provide specific casualty figures. There were no estimates of the number. Both @SRG_Syria and LCCSY blamed Russia – though the majority of sources referred only to “warplanes”.  

Summary

Published
8 August 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident