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

4 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0552

Location

Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria
كفر تخاريم
In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported deaths in Kafr Takharim, which they attributed to Russian warplanes: “Since early morning, the Russian enemy planes circled the skies of the province and launched air raids on civilian homes in the towns of Maaret al-Numan and Khan Sheikhun and Kafrtkharim and the outskirts of Sarakeb…

Summary

Published
4 February 2016
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Incident Date

4 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0541

Location

Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
حريتان
Between three and four civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hraytan, according to local sources. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, three victims including a child died when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Hraytan. Shaam News Network published a distressing video showing “the reaction of a mother who finds her son’s…

Summary

Published
4 February 2016
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Incident Date

4 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0543

Location

Anadan, Aleppo, Syria
عندان
Nine civilians including five children were killed in airstrikes on Anadan according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible, and there is some question as to exactly when certain victims died. The Shaam News Network reported that three children from one family were killed…

Summary

Published
4 February 2016
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Incident Date

4 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0545

Location

Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي المشهد
As many as eleven civilians including two children and two women were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Mashad in Aleppo, according to local sources. Shaam News Network reported on “Russian aggression on different areas in Aleppo,” and said that 11 civilians had been killed in the Al Mashad neighbourhood. It published a graphic…

Summary

Published
4 February 2016
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Incident Date

3 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0536

Location

Garnata, Homs, Syria
غرناطة
The Violations Documentation Center reported that two adult male civilians, Ahmad al-Kurdi and Yehya al-Omar, were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Garnata. The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies lists just al-Omar as a victim in Garnata, reporting that he was “killed by indiscriminate” Russian shelling. In a dispatch, Al Jisr TV reported that Garnata…

Summary

Published
3 February 2016
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Incident Date

3 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0537

Location

Talbisah, Homs, Syria
تلبيسة
The Violations Documentation Center named one child, Isra Rabei Yehya, age 16, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Talbiseh. Talbisa posted a video depicting her funeral, but did not say who was responsible, with the speaker in the video referring only to “manic bombing by warplanes“. The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies…

Summary

Published
3 February 2016
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