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

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0450

Location

الطابية جزيرة, Al Tabiya Jazeera, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between 34 and 50 civilians including up to eight women and 16 children were killed and more than 60 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Tabiya Jazeera, according to multiple sources. An initial report by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said that Russian two strikes led to the deaths of four civilians families in their entirety. Subsequent reports put the death toll…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
34–50
Civilians reported injured
24–60
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0448

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria
The Violations Documentation Centre named two adult male civilians as killed “as a result of the explosion of remnants of a missile from Russian shelling“, however in the notes of Abdul Naser Younes al-Khattab there is a video of the victim entitled ‘the Jihadist  Abdul Naser Younes Al khattab in one of the field hospitals in the Hama countryside’,…

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

Incident Code

RS0443

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
One adult male civilian, Ali Al Sultan, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0444

Location

الجنينة, Al Jneina, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two women were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Al Jneina, according a a single source, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
22 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
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

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