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
4808 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

19 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0922

Location

Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
أورم الكبرى
Between two and three civilians including two children died in an airstrike on Urma al Kubra, according to local media. The majority of sources including RadioAlKul and QasiounNewsAR blamed Russia. Other sources such as Alburak News have not identified the planes, though they said that “cluster bombs” had been used in the attack. The two…

Summary

Published
19 June 2016
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Incident Date

19 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0925

Location

Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
كفر ناها
One civilian woman was reported dead after Russian warplanes allegedly attacked the Kafr Naha neighbourhood. A reporter writing for Smart news said that “the woman was killed and her child injured along with seven other civilians” when “Russian warplanes targeted a town in the western countryside Kafr Naha”, using “stereochemistry missiles and cluster bombs”. RadioAlKul tweeted that…

Summary

Published
19 June 2016
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Incident Date

19 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0926

Location

Castello Road, Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on the Al Castello Road north of Aleppo city, according to local media – though it is unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a media activist and IT Engineering student at the Free Aleppo University died…

Summary

Published
19 June 2016
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Incident Date

18 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0919

Location

Al Hazimah, Raqqa, Syria
الهزيمة
One civilian died at midday on June 18th, after incurring injuries from alleged Russian airstrikes on Hazima village, northern Ar Raqqah, local media reported. Baladi News said that the man died, “as a result of military aviation targeting al Hazima  village” in the midst of “great destruction in the region”. Though Baladi did not specify that the…

Summary

Published
18 June 2016
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Incident Date

18 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0920

Location

Al Harameis, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
حريتان
Three or four children died following airstrikes on Al Harmeis, Hraitan city, Aleppo governorate. There are contradictions in the sources obtained as some alleged that the regime was responsible; moreover, a significant number of reports did not apportion blame. Later reports said the death toll rose to four children, while Syrian Press Center alleged eight…

Summary

Published
18 June 2016
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Incident Date

18 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0921

Location

Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria
كفر حمرة
Multiple sources, including LCCSY, and a video by Halab TV, reported a female civilian was killed in raids on Kafr Hamra. Umayyapress news reported that ‘more than two dozen airstrikes’ took place on Kafr Hamra, and pointed to both the regime and Russia. In a facebook post by LCCSY Russian action was also directly blamed for this…

Summary

Published
18 June 2016
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