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

27 February 2016

Incident Codes

CS186 RS0691

Location

Mahimideh, Deir Ezzor, Syria
محيميدة
Up to three civilians were killed in an airstrike on Mahimideh according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the US-led Coalition was responsible. Euphrates post named two fatalities including an unidentified victim. It said that Russia was responsible. However, Al Jazeera and Lebanon360 alleged this was a Coalition…

Summary

Published
27 February 2016
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Incident Date

27 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0694

Location

Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
Eight civilians including one woman and three children died in Darat Izza, according to local sources. While most reports blame Russia, one alleges that the Assad regime was responsible. According to Al Jazeera, Russian shelling targeted a bakery. But LCCSY reported that the incident was carried out by the regime which shelled with rocket launchers.…

Summary

Published
27 February 2016
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Incident Date

27 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0692

Location

Liramon, Aleppo, Syria
الليرامون
According to the Violations Documentation Centre, four civilians including three women died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Liramon. The four victims were named by the VDC. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
27 February 2016
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Incident Date

27 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0693

Location

Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حلب
The Violations Documentation Center named a male nurse from Nawa in Dara’a as a victim in Aleppo – though did not specify exactly where he was killed. According to Syria2011, “the nurse Khalil Ibrahim Ghada’an al Jahmani was killed due to his wounds sustained when Russian planes targeted one of the hospitals in Aleppo yesterday.”  

Summary

Published
27 February 2016
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Incident Date

26 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0689

Location

Al Saloom, Aleppo, Syria
السلوم
The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that eight civilians from a single family – including three children and two women – died when Russian warplanes allegedly shelled residential homes in Al Saloom. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “six people were killed in warplane shelling in Al-Saloom village – five were from one…

Summary

Published
26 February 2016
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Incident Date

26 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0690

Location

Maarat Artik, Aleppo, Syria
معارة الأرتيق
Between two and five civilians including two children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat Artik, according to local sources. Multiple reports blamed Russia: Akhbar Alaan put the death toll at three including one child with four more civilians injured. AMC said that as many as five non-combatants perished. According to Syrian Press Centre,…

Summary

Published
26 February 2016
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