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

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0452

Location

Bal el Hawa or Sarmada, Idlib, Syria
تدمر
Three to four civilians including two children and possibly one woman were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Bab el Hawa and Sarmada, according to two local sources.

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
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Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0446

Location

Sarmada, Idlib, Syria
سرمدا
Up to eight civilians including one child were killed and 12 others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmada, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human rights said that eight people (including a child and three people from the Palmyra area, a commander of a checkpoint belonging to a rebel faction and other fighters) were…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
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Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0448

Location

Ltamenah, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
The Violations Documentation Centre named two adult male civilians as killed “as a result of the explosion of remnants of a missile from Russian shelling“, however in the notes of Abdul Naser Younes al-Khattab there is a video of the victim entitled ‘the Jihadist  Abdul Naser Younes Al khattab in one of the field hospitals in the Hama countryside’,…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
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Incident Date

Incident Code

RS0443

Location

Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان
One adult male civilian, Ali Al Sultan, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
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Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0444

Location

Al Jneina, Deir Ezzor, Syria
الجنينة
Two women were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Al Jneina, according a a single source, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
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Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0449

Location

Al Buliyal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
البوليل
Between 10 and 15 non-combatants died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dallou neighbourhood of Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources. The Shaam News Network reported on a “new massacre in addition to the daily massacres committed by Russian aircraft against civilians in the countryside of Deir al-Zour and areas under…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
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