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

19 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0742

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS192 RS0743

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident. The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine…

Summary

Published
19 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
39–43
Civilians reported injured
60
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0740

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS191 RS0741

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
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
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
15–20
Civilians reported injured
25–40
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0739

Location

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir Ezzor, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS190 RS0738

Location

أبو قلقل, Abu Qalqal, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident