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

4,431 – 6,522

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 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
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
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

2 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0529

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
Between 12 and 15 civilians were killed including up to eight children and three women – and dozens more injured – in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hraytan, according to local sources. Shaam News Network posted a distressing video showing the body of a dead child “following raids by Russian craft“. A brief subsequent report said…

Summary

Published
2 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
12–15
Civilians reported injured
24–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0528

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria
Between six and eight civilians were killed including two to four children, one to two women and two members of the Red Crescent – and dozens more injured – in alleged Russian airstrikes on Anadan, according to local sources. Shaam News Network reported that Russian forces launched “about 50 airstrikes” which including cluster munitions, targeting…

Summary

Published
2 February 2016
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0527

Location

تمورة, Tamoura, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was killed and five others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Tamoura, according to Shaam News. SNN reported that Russian warplanes targeted “Hayyan, Ratyan, Bayanoun, Tamoura and Maarastah Khan with 150 raids focused mostly on civilian homes causing the martyrdom of one civilian and injuring more than five others in Tamoura.” The Violations Documentation Center…

Summary

Published
2 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0518

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria
One adult male civilian, Qasem Mohammad al-Hasoun, was named by the Violations Documentation Center as having been killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Zita. The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies similarly reported the death of Mr al-Hasoun from Russian shelling.  

Summary

Published
1 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0517

Location

غرناطة, Garnata, Homs, Syria
One male child, Reda Waleed Othman, was named by the Violations Documentation Center as having been killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Garnata. The Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also reported the death of Othman, stating that he was killed by “indiscriminate” Russian shelling.  

Summary

Published
1 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0523

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria
Ten civilians including one child and two women were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ma’adan, according to local sources. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that Russian airstrikes targeted the following areas of the town: “near Ma’adan garage; near Tah Kreiban school; near Al Farouq school [previously al Bourtoukala]“. According to the Syrian Observatory…

Summary

Published
1 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident