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
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

10 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0593

Location

Kafr Laha, Homs, Syria
كفر لاها
One adult female civilian, Amineh Mesheal, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Laha, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
10 February 2016
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Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0577

Location

Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
الصالحين
The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, Abo Yousef Skaif, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Salheen. The victim was also named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, which blamed Russia. Halab News also listed him as killed, but did not say who carried out the attack.  

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
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Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0578

Location

Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
الفردوس
Two civilians including one child died and five others were injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous in Aleppo according to local sources. The Violations Documentation Center named a seven-year-old child, Ahmad Mustafa Koja, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous. The VDC also linked to an extremely graphic video posted by…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
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Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0580

Location

Kafr Kalbeen, Aleppo, Syria
كفر كلبين‎
Between one and 20 civilians including one child died in airstrikes on Kafr Kalbeen, according to local sources – though they are conflicted or unclear as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Shaam News Network said there had been “a systematic campaign of shelling Aleppo, where aircraft Russian aggression…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
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Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0579

Location

Mare', Aleppo, Syria
مارع
Three civilians including one woman died and ten others were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mare’ according to local sources. The Violations Documentation Center named two adult males and one adult female as killed in a Russian airstrike on Mare’. The White Helmets said warplanes targeted the town with a vacuum missile, injuring…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
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Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0581

Location

Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria
كفر حمرة
One civilian was killed and 10 others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Hamra, according to local sources. Syrian Press Center reported that Russia carried out four raids, killing one non-combatant and injuring 10 more – adding that the death toll was expected to rise due to the severity of some of the injuries.…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
View Incident