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 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0742

Location

Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria
مسكنة
According to two sources – Syria_Omar and Syrian Press Center – two power station workers died in a strike on plant in Maskanah. Syria_Omar reported: “Warplanes launched 12 air strikes on the city of Maskaneh on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of workers of the power plant in the city after the station targeted by…

Summary

Published
19 March 2016
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Incident Date

18 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS191 RS0741

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
الرقة‎
Between 15 and 20 civilians including up to eight children and five women died in airstrikes on Ar Raqqah, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one source suggesting the warplanes responsible may have belonged to the…

Summary

Published
18 March 2016
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Incident Date

18 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0740

Location

Talbisah, Homs, Syria
تلبيسة
One civilian died in Talbisah while trying to defuse a Russian cluster bomb, according to multiple sources. Other reports said that both Russian strikes and regime artillery shelling killed a number of other civilians, though didn’t specify numbers. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Houssien Abdul Kareem Al Deheik, a 38-year-old trainer in…

Summary

Published
18 March 2016
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Incident Date

17 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0739

Location

Mahimideh, Deir Ezzor, Syria
محيميدة
One child, Hozaifa Hasan al Enaizan, from the village of Tabya Shameih was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mahimideh, Deir ez-Zour, according to the Violations Documentation Center. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that he died after the explosion of a cluster bomb left from a previous Russian bombing. Four other sources…

Summary

Published
17 March 2016
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Incident Date

13 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0737

Location

Douma, Damascus, Syria
دوما
At least one child was killed in Douma according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was a Russian airstrike or the result of regime artillery. Shaam News, reported: “Russian planes carried out raids on Douma neighbourhoods which was preceeded by artillery shelling. One civilian was killed and others were…

Summary

Published
13 March 2016
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Incident Date

13 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS190 RS0738

Location

Abu Qalqal, Aleppo, Syria
أبو قلقل
Two civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the town of Abu Kalkal. Opinion was split as to whether the attack was Russian, Coalition or Syrian regime in origin. Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Media, the Syrian Observatory, the Syrian Network, the Syrian Human Rights Committee, Shaam News and al Hall Media all said the attack…

Summary

Published
13 March 2016
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