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

29 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0701

Location

Hamidiya (Deir ez-Zor), Deir Ezzor, Syria
الحميدية
Three or four civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hamidiya, according to local sources. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said two homes were destroyed killing 2 adult males.The victims were also named by the Violations Documentation Centre. According to Alarabay, tens of other civilians were also injured. All4Syria reported that Russia had…

Summary

Published
29 February 2016
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Incident Date

29 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0700

Location

Deir ez-Zor, Deir Ezzor, Syria
دير الزور
One male civilian died when an alleged Russian airstrike targeted the Homs road in Deir ez-Zor, according to the Violations Documentation Centre and Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently. LCCSY reported that “Amir Ismaeil al-Harbek from Deir Ezzour city was martyred as Russian warplanes launched an airstrike on a vehicle carrying workers going to an…

Summary

Published
29 February 2016
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Incident Date

28 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0696

Location

Qabtan al Jabal, Aleppo, Syria
قبتان الجبل
One male civilian, named by the Violations Documentation Centre as 40-year-old Qasem Mahmoud Samoa, died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Qabtan al Jabal according to local sources. Activists told the Shaam News Network there were “several air raids on the towns of Anadan, Kafr Hamra, Hraytan and Ma’arat al Arteek in the northern countryside and…

Summary

Published
28 February 2016
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Incident Date

28 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0697

Location

Jamiyat al Hadi, Aleppo, Syria
جمعية الهادي
Up to 13 civilians including three or four children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Jamiyat al Hadi and Babis, according to multiple local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven civilians including three women and four children were killed in an aerial bombardment, adding that there were reports of five others…

Summary

Published
28 February 2016
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Incident Date

28 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0698

Location

Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
A pregnant woman was killed and at least 12 civilians injured, most of them children, in airstrikes on Jisr al-Shughour, according to local sources. Two alleged that Russia was responsible. However a third (the Syrian Network for Human Rights) blamed the Syrian regime. Shaam News reported that Russian warplanes carried out air raids targeting the…

Summary

Published
28 February 2016
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Incident Date

28 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0695

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
الرقة‎
One adult male was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Raqqa, according to local sources. The victim was listed by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently. He was also listed by Syria2011 and Syrian Human Rights Committee, both of whom blamed Russia.  

Summary

Published
28 February 2016
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