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

10–11 September, 2019

Incident Code

RS4101

Location

الضهرة, Al-Dhuhr, Darkush, Idlib, Syria
An alleged Russian airstrike killed an elderly displaced civilian man and wounded others in the village of Duhr in Darkush area around midnight between September 10th and September 11th 2019. Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "Ahmad Eisa al Musa, displaced from Tal Hatabat village in the southern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, age 76, was…

Summary

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

Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4099

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al-Kubrah, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and six other civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the Al-Iman Hospital in the town of Urma Al-Kubra on August 31, 2019. Russian airstrikes allegedly struck the Al-Iman Hospital for children and women in the town of Urma Al-Kubra in western Aleppo in the middle…

Summary

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

Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4100

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
At lease one civilian was killed and another wounded due to artillery and rocket shelling by the Syrian regime and Russian forces on residential neighborhoods in Kafr Nabil, struck from camp in Al-Nimr hill near Khan Sheikhoun. Baladi News reported "a civilian was killed and another wounded due to artillery and rocket shelling by the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4098

Location

جبالا, Jbala, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians were alleged killed and others injured by Syrian or Russian airstrikes or artillery on Jbala village in Idlib. The two victims were identified as Ismail Ahmed Qteish from the village of Maarzita, and Mahdi Salah Al-Naddaf from Jabala. According to Macro Media Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Syrian regime forces shelled Jbala…

Summary

Published
31 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4097

Location

كفرنبل, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians died and others were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime shelling of Kafar Nabil, according to local media. Macro Media Center (MMC) blamed Russian and Syrian regime forces for the shelling, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) attributed blame to the Syrian regime forces alone. SN4HR identified one civilian, while…

Summary

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

Incident Date

29 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4095

Location

التح, Al Tah, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians - a woman and her two sons (one of whom was a child) died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Tah the first hours of dawn on August 29, 2019, local media reported. According to the Shaam News Network, "Russian warplanes targeted al-Tah town in the southern countryside of Idlib, leaving three…

Summary

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