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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0454

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
Six civilians including one woman and her five children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources. In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town of Baza’aa, the village of Qasr al Buraij, and a farm…

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0455

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria
Three to four civilian children and one woman were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a, according to local sources – though one report says that they were killed by the regime. The Shaam News Network published a news roundup in which they said that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town…

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0456

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Ma’adan, according to local sources – though it is currently unclear whether Russian forces or the Assad regime were responsible for the incident. Only the Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the raid, reporting in a news roundup that “Russian enemy planes launched air raids on civilian homes in…

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0452

Location

تدمر, Bal el Hawa or Sarmada, Idlib, Syria
Three to four civilians including two children and possibly one woman were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Bab el Hawa and Sarmada, according to two local sources.

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0447

Location

الباب, Bab al Hawa, Idlib, Syria
Between six and 35 civilians were killed and up to 65 injured in an airstrike on Bab al Hawa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether the raid was the work of Russian forces or the Assad regime. The White Helmets reported that 30 non-combatants were killed and 65 injured when warplanes…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–35
Civilians reported injured
65
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0446

Location

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria
Up to eight civilians including one child were killed and 12 others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmada, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human rights said that eight people (including a child and three people from the Palmyra area, a commander of a checkpoint belonging to a rebel faction and other fighters) were…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–8
Civilians reported injured
12
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident