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

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0354

Location

سفلانية, Suflaniyah, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0359

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0357

Location

حي العامرية, Al Ameria (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
8–10
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Codes

CS164 RS0352

Location

عين عيسى, `Ayn `Isa, Raqqa, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0353

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
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
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0356

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria
Between 52 and 96 civilians including three women and one child were killed and more than 200 injured in Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, according to multiple sources. The Shaam News Network initially reported that more than 20 civilians were killed and dozens wounded (mostly women and children) when Russian warplanes struck different districts of…

Summary

Published
9 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
52–96
Civilians reported injured
200
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident