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

19 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0421

Location

Al Buliyal Islah neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor, Syria
البوليل
Between six and 18 civilians including two children were killed – and 15 others injured – in airstrikes on Al Buliyal, according to local sources. Most sources alleged that Russian forces carried out the strikes, though an initial report by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said that regime warplanes were responsible – but subsequent reports by…

Summary

Published
19 January 2016
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Incident Date

19 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0420

Location

Al Bulial Rouwaida neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor, Syria
البوليل
Between seven and 20 civilians including two children were killed, and more than 25 others injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on the Rouwaida neighbourhood in Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at seven including two children, killed by shelling from “alleged Russian warplanes“. Al Jazeera reported sources…

Summary

Published
19 January 2016
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Incident Date

18 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0419

Location

Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria
حيان
One adult female civilian, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
18 January 2016
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Incident Date

18 January 2017

Incident Code

RS1842

Location

Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
إدلب.
Three civilians were injured - and several others possibly killed - in an alleged Russian airstrike on a bus garage in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. @nabdsyria1 reported that "Russian raids targeted the Bulman Garage and the Central Bank in Idlib". According to Idlib Media Centre, "three [civilians] were wounded when Russian occupation planes…

Summary

Published
18 January 2016
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Incident Date

17 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0418

Location

Palmyra, Homs, Syria
تدمر
A single source, Palmyra Media Centre, reported; "Russian planes bombed the outskirts of Palmyra in the al Dawa and Sha’er and Huweissass areas. Planes also bombed an area of a Bedouins’ gathering near Palmyra which led to the deaths of two people." No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
18 January 2016
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Incident Date

17 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0414

Location

Wadi Al A’rayess, Homs, Syria
وادي العرايس
The Shaam News Network published two videos depicting destruction in the Al Kalassi neighbourhood of Aleppo. The first showed a woman after she became homeless when “the aggressors destroyed her home“; the second depicted wounded civilians “following the strike on the area of Wadi Al A’rayess.” There are currently no further details  on the alleged strike or who was responsible for it.…

Summary

Published
17 January 2016
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