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

24 April 2016

Incident Code

RS0766

Location

المواصلات, Al Mowasalat (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians including one woman and one child died and eight others were injured in airstrikes on Al Mowasalat in Aleppo, according to local sources – though some were unclear as to whether this was a Russian or regime incident. Smart News agency published a video showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian strike in…

Summary

Published
24 April 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
5–8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 April 2016

Incident Code

RS0767

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Up to 12 civilians including two children and two women died and 15 others were injured in airstrikes on Sakhour according to multiple sources – though they were unclear as to whether the raids were carried out by Russia or the Assad regime. Shaam News Network reported that regime and Russian aircraft continued to strike…

Summary

Published
24 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
8–12
Civilians reported injured
15–30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2016

Incident Code

RS0764

Location

الكماري, Kamari, Aleppo, Syria
Up to five civilians including three children died in airstrikes on Kamari, Aleppo, according to multiple sources – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. A tweet by Jabalybarra (an Al Jazeera-affiliated photographer in Aleppo) said a child was killed in the Al-Salheen neighbourhood: “Reports…

Summary

Published
23 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2016

Incident Code

RS0765

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Airstrikes on the Tareeq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo killed between 10 and 17 civilians and injured at least 20 more, according to local sources. Reports did not definitively identify the warplanes responsible, with some referring to Russia and the regime, while others attributed the incident solely to the regime. The White Helmets said two raids…

Summary

Published
23 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
10–17
Civilians reported injured
20–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 April 2016

Incident Code

RS0763

Location

سرحة, Sarha, Hama, Syria
Nine civilians including two women and two to three children died in airstrikes on Sarha and surrounding villages according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. According to Shaam News Network,”aircraft believed to be a Russian carried out raids on the…

Summary

Published
22 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
9
Civilians reported injured
7–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 April 2016

Incident Code

RS0762

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local sources reported that between 18 and 20 civilians died in alleged regime and Russian raids on neighborhoods in Aleppo. According to the Shaam News Network, “regime and Russian planes” carried our raids “targeting most of Aleppo’s neighbourhoods: Tareeq al Bab, Al Mayssar, al Rashideen, Bustan al Qasr, Al Marja, Sallahudeen, Aqyool, Bab al Nayrab,…

Summary

Published
22 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
18–20
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident