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

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4219

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
One civilian was reported killed, and five others injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike that targeted Al Hal Market in Saraqib, Idlib in Syria on December 2nd 2019 according to local sources. Jesr Press reported that Nashaat Al-Ahmad, aged 25, died of his injuries before arrival to hospital. According to…

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4214

Location

الكنائس, Al Kana’es, Idlib, Syria
According to local sources, Hussein Khreimi was reported killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al-Kanayes village, on the outskirts of the villages of Tal Kresyan and Al-Bara in the eastern Idlib countryside, Syria on December 2nd 2019. According to @sraqeb123, this raid happened at 9.56am.

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4215

Location

الصرمان, Al Sarman, Idlib, Syria
Local sources reported that one civilian, a woman, was killed and at least six others were injured, apparently her children, in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike on Al Sarman in Idlib, Syria on December 2nd 2019. A local social media user, ammar.kat, posted on Facebook that this raid happened by a MiG-21…

Summary

Published
3 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4220

Location

الغدفة, Al Ghadfa, Idlib, Syria
A woman and a man were reported injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al Gadfa in the countryside of Maarat al-Numan Idlib, Syria on December 2nd, 2019, according to local sources, apparently targeting a civilian home. The "young" man was identified as Hudhayfa Al-Hamoud by local sources. According to…

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4216

Location

بلدات متعددة,, Several towns in Idlib, Syria
The Shaam News Network reported that Russian and regime warplanes carried out strikes across numerous towns in Idlib, leading to wounding "dozens" of civilians. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4212

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabl, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly injured in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike or artillery attack on the Joni neighborhood of Kafr Nabl in Idlib, Syria, on the morning of December 1st, 2019. The injured civilians were identified as “Ali Qamar al-Obeido,” “Omar Muhammad Khair al-Obeido” and “Aboudi Maher al-Obeido” by a number of sources. KMC…

Summary

Published
1 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident