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

28 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0494

Location

كفر تخاريم, Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria
15 civilians including two to three women and one to three children were killed and 20 others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Takharim, according to two local sources. Activists told the Shaam News Network that more than 15 were killed and 20 wounded when Russian warplanes targeted a nearby mosque. They added that residential neighbourhoods were targeted…

Summary

Published
28 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
15
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0493

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
Several civilians were killed as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab and the surrounding area. The Syrian Network put the death toll at six – five children and a woman. Zaiton reported a much higher figure: “Local sources confirmed that 14 martyrs fell during the Russian raids with the wounding of at…

Summary

Published
28 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–14
Civilians reported injured
19–50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0491

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria
Eleven civilians died including three women and seven children in alleged Russian raids on Al Ghantu, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “warplanes believed to be Russian” killed 11 civilians, including three women and seven children. They said that a man and his wife and three of their children were among those killed. The…

Summary

Published
28 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
10–11
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2016

Incident Codes

CS169 RS0492

Location

عجاجا, Ajajah, Al Hassakah, Syria
Up to 15 civilians were killed including two children, following an airstrike on the village of Ajajah. The attack was initially attributed to the Coalition. However later reports blamed the deaths on Russia. According to the Syrian Observatory “Two children and a man were killed and others injured in bombing by warplanes believed to be…

Summary

Published
28 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
9–15
Civilians reported injured
9–15
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0486

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
In a news roundup, The Shaam News Network reported that several civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Manbij. The Network said this was part of a series of raids which included Al Bab, the villages of Berlhan and Trahil, and the city of Manbij. It added that civilians were directly targeted.  

Summary

Published
27 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0484

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
10–40
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident