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

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

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

RS0451

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilians including one child were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Buliyal, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. No reports on strikes on Al Buliyal have yet been found.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0453

Location

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between 61 and 90 civilians including two women and 11 children were killed – and between 40 and 100 others injured – in airstrikes on Khusham, according to multiple sources. While three of the five sources say that Russia was responsible for the attack, there was some uncertainty from the Syrian Network for Human Rights…

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
61–90
Civilians reported injured
40–100
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0445

Location

أم حوش, Umm Hawsh, Aleppo, Syria
A single source, Thefreesyria.org, named two civilians killed when Russian warplanes allegedly bombed a road near the village of Umm elhosh in the Aleppo countryside. The Syrian Network for Human Rights Tweeted an image of the child Sarah and said she died when warplanes launched several missiles near the village, though they did not identify…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0449

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between 10 and 15 non-combatants died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dallou neighbourhood of Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources. The Shaam News Network reported on a “new massacre in addition to the daily massacres committed by Russian aircraft against civilians in the countryside of Deir al-Zour and areas under…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
10–15
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident