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

21 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0441

Location

Vicinity of power directorate in Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
مديرية الكهرباء
Ten civilians including four children and three women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the power directorate in Raqqa city, according to local sources. Syrian News Desk also blamed Russia, but did not say how many died. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “alleged Russian warplanes shelled the vicinity of the Power Directorate…

Summary

Published
21 January 2016
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Incident Date

21 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0430

Location

Al Amassi (Ar Raqqah), Raqqa, Syria
منطقة الأماسي
Sixteen civilians including six to nine children and four women died in airstrikes on Al Amassi in Raqqa, according to local sources – though most reports blamed Russia, others did not identify who was responsible. RBSS initially referred only to “warplanes“, but in a later post alleged that Russia was responsible. According to the Syrian…

Summary

Published
21 January 2016
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Incident Date

21 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0437

Location

Karam al Bayk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
كرم البيك
One woman was killed and six to eight other civilians injured in airstrikes on the Karam al Bayk neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to local sources. While most reports allege that Russia was responsible, another blames the Assad regime. Al Buraq named the victim and also reported that the Russian raids wounded eight other civilians. Smart said…

Summary

Published
21 January 2016
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Incident Date

21 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0439

Location

Saif al Dawla, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
الرقة‎
Seventeen civilians including eight children and five women died in airstrikes on the Saif al Dawla area of Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. RBSS initially referred to raids by “warplanes” and did not identify them, however, in a later…

Summary

Published
21 January 2016
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Incident Date

21 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0435

Location

Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي بستان القصر
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Russian warplanes allegedly “carried out raids on several areas in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Saeed and Bostan al-Qasr in Aleppo.” They said that casualties had been reported in the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, but did not provide further details.  Aleppo Media Center published a video depicting the aftermath of alleged…

Summary

Published
21 January 2016
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Incident Date

21 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0436

Location

Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
الباب
Five civilians died and up to 20 were injured in airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Syrian Press Centre blamed Russia, putting the death toll at five, adding that “the city Of Al Bab is…

Summary

Published
21 January 2016
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