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

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4125

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
Between one and three civilians, including one to two children, died and up to six more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, according to sources on the ground. Macro Media Centre reported "the death of a displaced man and his child and the injury of several others as a result of airstrikes…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4126

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
One to two civilians died and two to three were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fatira in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. @mohmad_rasheed reported "a martyr and three civilians were wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing the town of Al-Fatira." @NEDAAPOST also tweeted that one civilian was killed and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4127

Location

دركوش, Darkoush, Idlib, Syria
Three to five civilians, including a member of the civil defence and one to two children, died and as many as 12 more, including two civil defence personnel, were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on an ammunition depot on the outskirts of Darkoush the morning of October 31, 2019, local media reported.…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2–12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4128

Location

حاس, Haas, Idlib, Syria
One to three civilians died and four more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Haas, according to local media. @baladinetwork said that Russian warplanes used vacuum rockets in the attack. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: "Ayyoub al Younes was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Hass…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4124

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil , Idlib, Syria
Two or three civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Nabil, local media reported. According to the Smart News Agency, "The director of the Civil Defense Center in Kafr Nabil, Obeida Othman, said that three civilians were slightly injured and taken for treatment at a medical point, as a result of two…

Summary

Published
30 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4123

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
Three men were killed and two to five others injured after alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Kafar Nabil, Idlib governorate, on October 28th 2019, according to local sources. It remains contested whether the victims were civilians or militants. @SyrianCoalition reported that 3 men were killed and 2 injured after Russian warplanes bombed residential…

Summary

Published
28 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
0–3
Civilians reported injured
0–5
Military actors reported killed
0–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident