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

6 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4142

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
Up to two civilians were killed and seven to eight were wounded by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr al Shughour, Idlib governorate, on November 6th, 2019, according to local sources. A geolocation of the incident was provided by @john_marquee. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that Al Tharaya Mosque was…

Summary

Published
6 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare, Education
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
7–9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4143

Location

قرية شنان, Shannan village, Jabal Zawiya, Idlib, Syria
Between one and five hospital staff were wounded in two alleged Russian airstrikes on Ikhlas Hospital for women and children in Shannan village, Jabal Zawiya, at dawn on November 6, 2019, local media reported. The New York Times later geolocated the event. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "fixed-wing warplanes we believe were…

Summary

Published
6 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4138

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly injured in five Russian airstrikes on Ma'aret Harma village on November 6, 2019, according to IdlibPlus. A tweet from @NEDAAPOST also reported "three civilian casualties, as Russian warplanes targeted the town of Maarat Harmah in the southern countryside of Idlib" Resala also alleged that "artillery shelling of the pro-Assad forces" struck…

Summary

Published
6 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4137

Location

الدار الكبيرة, Dar al Kabira, Idlib, Syria
Three children (brothers), named as Israa (6 years old), Bara’a (1.5 years old), and Hakem Khaled Adnan al Saleh (4 years old), died and their mother and others were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on their home in Dar al Kabira at dawn on November 5, 2019, according to local media. The…

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4134

Location

جسر الشغور,, Jisr al-Shughour, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians, reportedly from the same family, died and up to seven more including three named members of the civil defence were wounded in a series of alleged Russian and regime strikes on multiple locations - including a school, health centre, and vegetable market - in Jisr al-Shughour. According to Local Coordination Committees Syria, there…

Summary

Published
4 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
3–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4135

Location

قرية الكفير, Al Kafeer, Idlib, Syria
At least three civilians, reportedly from the same family, died and up to 10 more were wounded in an alleged regime or Russian airstrike on Al Kafeer village, local media said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights "documented the death of three civilians of the same family including a women, in addition to the injury…

Summary

Published
4 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
4–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident