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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

21 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0929

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria
Two to three civilians died and dozens of others were reported wounded following alleged Russian strikes on the town Kafra Hamra, local media reported. A youtube video by Aldorar al-shyma reported the use of phosphorus bombs, a chemical weapon illegal under International Law, though the source did not apportion blame. [Video no longer available] HalabTodayTv…

Summary

Published
21 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0928

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between five and eight civilians including one child and up to four women died – and many more were wounded – in airstrikes on Tareeq al Bab, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. Many local sources reported that between four and…

Summary

Published
20 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
6–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0927

Location

‏كفر بسين‬, Kafr Bisin, Aleppo, Syria
One woman died and several other civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Basin in Aleppo, according to local media. A Tweet by thiqanewsagency said that “rocket chemistry and phosphorous bombs” were used in the attack. HalabTodayTV also tweeted that stereochemistry had been used – it specified that these missiles were realised from Russian warplanes.…

Summary

Published
20 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

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
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0925

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0922

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident