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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

28 January 2016

Incident Codes

CS169 RS0492

Location

Ajajah, Al Hassakah, Syria
عجاجا
Up to 15 civilians were killed including two children, following an airstrike on the village of Ajajah. The attack was initially attributed to the Coalition. However later reports blamed the deaths on Russia. According to the Syrian Observatory “Two children and a man were killed and others injured in bombing by warplanes believed to be…

Summary

Published
28 January 2016
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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0486

Location

Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
منبج
In a news roundup, The Shaam News Network reported that several civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Manbij. The Network said this was part of a series of raids which included Al Bab, the villages of Berlhan and Trahil, and the city of Manbij. It added that civilians were directly targeted.  

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0484

Location

Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria
الرستن‬
Seven civilians have been named as victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar-Rastan, January 27th 2016. One woman was reportedly from Jawala - other sources have claimed that the victims were all displaced peoples. The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes “launched dozens of air raids targeted several areas of the northern countryside of Homs…

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0485

Location

Jarablus, Aleppo, Syria
جرابلس
In a news roundup, Shaam News reported that several civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Jarablus. The Network said this was part of raids on neighbourhoods in the city of Al Bab, including the villages of Berlhan, Trahil and the city of Manbij. It added that civilians were directly targeted. VDC lists…

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0482

Location

Abu Hamam, Deir Ezzor, Syria
أبو حمام
Four civilians including one women and two children were killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the al Shaitat area of Abu Hamam, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently. The Syrian Observatory reported the deaths of two children, one woman and one man in a Russian…

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0471

Location

Al Tahtu (Deir ez-Zor), Deir Ezzor, Syria
حي الطحطوح
Amid multiple air raids on civilian towns in Deiz ez-Zor, Russian warplanes are alleged to have killed an adult male civilian at Al Tahtu.  

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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