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
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0358

Location

Dayr al Jamil, Aleppo, Syria
دير جمال
Two adult male civilians, named by the Violations Documentation Center as Abdulkareem al-Halabi and Abd al Salam Saeid, were killed in an alleged Russian dawn airstrike on Dayr Jamal, according to reports. SNN reported that Russian planes carried out “a massacre” launching air raids “on the towns of Tel Huraytan, Tal Rifa’at, Deir Jamal and the regions of…

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
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Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0354

Location

Suflaniyah, Aleppo, Syria
سفلانية
Five civilians including three women and two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Saflaneh, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.  

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
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Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0359

Location

Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
الباب
One civilian was reported killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to the Shaam News Network.  

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
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Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0357

Location

Al Ameria (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
حي العامرية
Between eight and 10 civilians including one to three children were killed and up to 15 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Ameria and Al Sukkari neighbourhoods, according to multiple sources. The White Helmets said that eight civilians died and three were injured in a raid on Al Sukkari, but they did not state…

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
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Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Codes

CS164 RS0352

Location

`Ayn `Isa, Raqqa, Syria
عين عيسى
A strike by aircraft reportedly killed five civilians. Syria News attributed the attack to Russia, while Ara News said it was a Coalition action. VDC – which attributed the attack to the regime – named five victims. In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian…

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
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Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0353

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
One civilian was killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Saraqib, according to the Shaam News Network.    

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
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