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

29 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4096

Location

معرشمشة, Ma’arshamsha, Idlib, Syria
Local media reported that four civilians were killed and six others injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Ma’arshamsha, Syria on August 29, 2019. According to the Shaam News Network, "a civilian vehicle for IDPs in the village of Maarshamsheh" was struck, killing three people - two women and a child. Step…

Summary

Published
29 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4092

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma’aret Al Nu’man, Idlib, Syria
In what local media described as "a massacre", as many as 15 civilians including up to five children and two women died and another 34 were wounded, including women and children, in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Ma’aret Al Nu’man after sunset on August 28, 2019. According to the Smart News Agency, 47 civilians…

Summary

Published
28 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
9–14
Civilians reported injured
12–40
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4090

Location

معصران, Ma’saran, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians - a man and a woman - died and up to five people were injured in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ma’saran on August 28, 2019, according to local media. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: "Ali Mustafa Sa'do and the girl Bayan Mohammad Matar were killed as Syrian regime…

Summary

Published
28 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4091

Location

التمانعة, Al Tamani’a, Idlib, Syria
One civilian reportedly died and another was injured in an alleged Russian strike on al-Tamani’a. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, " a civilian was killed due to a Russian bombardment that targeted the farms of al-Taman’aa town south of Idlib". Edlib Media Centre said that a man died in a Russian airstrike.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4093

Location

جرجناز, Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria
Local media reported that one civilian died in an alleged regime airstrike on Jarjanaz on August 28, 2019. Tweets from @MasarPressNet and @jisrtv both identified one civilian as being killed in the airstrikes. According to a tweet from @baladinetwork, "the regime's helicopters and warplanes bomb with six vacuum missiles and two explosive barrels, the town…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4089

Location

تلمنس, Telmans, Idlib, Syria
The Step News agency reported the death of one civilian in an alleged Russia or regime air or artillery strike on Telmans on August 28, 2019. Step News identified one civil as being killed while Smart reported that there were wounded civilians in a regime strike. A tweet by @alhariri58 described vacuum missiles as being…

Summary

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