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

6 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0343

Location

نوى, Nawa, Daraa, Syria
Three non-combatants were killed and several others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Nawa, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes launched four raids on residential neighborhoods in the city, leaving three dead and several wounded including women and children (some of them critical), who were taken to…

Summary

Published
6 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0344

Location

حزة, Hazzah, Damascus, Syria
Six civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hazzah village near Kafr Batna. Two victims were named by the VDC as having died at Kafr Batna itself, though all other sources placed their deaths at Hazzah. The VDC also listed two  unnamed members of the al Sadiq family as having died in…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0345

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria
Eight or nine non-combatants including 3 women and 4 children were killed and seven others injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on a western neighbourhood in the town of Baza’a. Citing an anonymous source, Syria News Desk noted: “Russian warplanes carried out three raids on the centre and outskirts of the city, killing…

Summary

Published
6 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
8–9
Civilians reported injured
7–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0346

Location

تل فضة, Tal Fedda, Aleppo, Syria
One teenage boy, Ali Mosa Shawakh, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike at Tal Fedda village near Maskanah, according to the Violations Documentation Center. According to Al Buraq, the attack targeted “the Alamabagher sugar plant compound near Maskanah which led to the death of several people and the wounding of others, including a martyr,…

Summary

Published
6 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0342

Location

ابطع, Abtaa, Daraa, Syria
Five to six civilians including two children were killed and several others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Abtaa, according to the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – though reports are unclear whether the deaths were the result of raids by Russian warplanes or shelling by regime forces. The Syrian…

Summary

Published
5 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
40
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0341

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians were killed and several others injured in alleged Russian and/or Assad regime airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources. The Shaam News Network produced two reports on the alleged incident. The first report put the death toll at two and an unspecified number of wounded, while the second report said five civilians…

Summary

Published
4 January 2016
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident