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

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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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0483

Location

Al Houla, Homs, Syria
كفر لاها
Six civilians including one woman and two children (a boy and a girl) were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Laha, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory initially reported that five non-combatants died when “warplanes believed to be Russian which targeted places in Kafr Laha village at al-Houla.” They then reported that…

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0468

Location

Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes had carried out raids targeting civilian homes, but did not give casualty numbers. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Russian planes shelled residential houses in Al Kourneesh Street, killing six non-combatants from one family: five children and a woman.  

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

RS0472

Location

Shaheil, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One woman and her child were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of al Shaheil, according to reports. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a child,  died with his mother when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on the town. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently also blamed Russia.  

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
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