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

4 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4136

Location

الجانودية,, Al Janoudia, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians, including a child, were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Janoudia, according to local media. The White Helmets reported: "Two civilians were injured as a result of an air strike by warplanes, which targeted the gathering of civilian houses in al-Janoudia town north of Jisr al-Shughour in Idlib countryside on Monday…

Summary

Published
4 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4132

Location

عين العصافير,, Ain Al Asafir, Idlib, Syria
The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported "three civilians were martyred and 4 others were injured, including women and children, on Monday morning, as a result of four airstrikes by Russian occupation warplanes targeting a school in the city of Jisr Al-Shughour and the houses of civilians in the villages of Kfir, Ein Al-Asafir and…

Summary

Published
4 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4133

Location

Syria
Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported that Russian warplanes bombed "houses of civilians in the villages of Kfir, Ein Al-Asafir and Ein Al-Bareda in western Idlib countryside." A tweet from @zamanalwsl reported that there were material losses in Ain Al-Barda from the airstrikes. Multiple sources reported that airstrikes were carried out on Ain Al Barda…

Summary

Published
4 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4130

Location

جبالا, Jabala town, Idlib, Syria
At least four civilians, including a woman and two children from the same family, died and as many as dozens more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Jabala, according to sources on the ground. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: "At least four civilians from the same family, including a woman, were killed…

Summary

Published
2 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4–6
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4131

Location

حزارين, Hizareen town, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hizareen the morning of November 2, 2019. The White Helmets reported: "One man was killed and another injured as a result of a Russian military air raid, targeting civilian homes in the town of Hizareen". A tweet from @ramiswidfree added…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4129

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
The Shaam News Network reported: "Russian warplanes launched airstrikes amid artillery and rocket shelling targeting villages and towns of Maarat Harma, Umm Jalal, Rakaya, Kafarsijnah, Hazarin, Sheikh Mustafa, Naqir, Dahabiya, Hish, Tahitaya, Musharrafa, Damama and Marand, which resulted in a number of civilian casualties." Further research did not find any civilian casualties in the cities…

Summary

Published
1 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident