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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

11 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0726

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Seven civilians died and at least 10 others were injured in airstrikes on the Salheen neighborhood of Aleppo. While three sources alleged that Russia was responsible, a fourth said this was the work of Assad regime warplanes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was “informed that no less than 5 people were killed…

Summary

Published
11 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0727

Location

أبو دالية, Abu Dalia, Hama, Syria
Three civilians including two women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Abu Dalia, according to local sources. Baladi News reported: “One male and two females were killed in warplane raid targeted center of Abu-Dalyeh town in Eastern countryside of Hama.” The Shaam News Network said: “In the eastern countryside Russian enemy planes…

Summary

Published
11 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0728

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria
Several civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Palmyra, according to local sources. Al Jazeera reported that “a number of people were killed, including women and children, as a result of dozens of continuous Russian air raids days ago on residential neighborhoods and archaeological city. others were injured in the city of Palmyra in…

Summary

Published
11 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0729

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria
According to the Shaam News Network: “four people were killed when Russian enemy planes targeted a civilian transport vehicle on the road from Palmyra to Deir Ezzor.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that “four people were killed from the same family when the Russian warplane targeted their truck (which is a refrigerated…

Summary

Published
11 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0730

Location

الجنينة, Al Jneina, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between two and six civilians including one woman and one girl died when the remains of a bombed exploded in the village of Al Jneina. The Violations Documentation Center listed two unidentified adult male victims, and said that they died from an explosion of remnants of a cluster bombed that had been dropped by Russia.…

Summary

Published
11 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 March 2016

Incident Code

RS0724

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria
One 14-year-old girl, Nour Ahmad al Abdulla ‘al Najm’, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hazm farms, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
11 March 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident