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

14 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0906

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Between two and four civilians including one woman died and several others were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Urma al Kubra, according to local sources. Most sources blamed Russia for the strike, putting the death toll at four. According to @ShahbaPress, “two Palestinians were killed and wounded, including a woman in a Russian bombardment…

Summary

Published
14 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0905

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between one and five civilians died, including a woman and a child and up to 15 other non-combatants were wounded in an airstrike on Al Fardous, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime. LCCSY named a female victim as killed in…

Summary

Published
14 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
3–15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0904

Location

حي ‫‏صلاح الدين, Salahudin (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between one and three civilians including a woman died and up to 17 more were injured in an airstrike on Salahudin, though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame. Orient, LCCSY, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Syrian Press Cente all blamed Russia. Ara News said that the regime was…

Summary

Published
14 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
4–17
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0902

Location

المعادي, Al Ma'adi (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between one and four civilians died in an airstrike on Al Ma’adi, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame. Among the sources blaming Russia were LCCSY and the Syrian Network for Human Rights. According to SN4HR, at least three civilians including two children…

Summary

Published
13 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0901

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Five or six civilians died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on idlib, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime – or possibly both parties. An initial report by The Shaam News Network said that Russian warplanes targeted the “medical…

Summary

Published
13 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
1–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 June 2016

Incident Code

RS0900

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
A mother and four or more of her children were among those killed in an airstrike on Maarat al Numan, local media reported – the majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the attack, though some sources attributed the event to Russia. The Shaam News Network blamed Moscow, reporting: “The city of Maarat al…

Summary

Published
12 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident