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

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4066

Location

معرشورين, Ma’ar Shourin, Idlib, Syria
One to two civilians were reported killed and several others were wounded in airstrikes on Ma’ar Shourin, Idlib, on August 21st, 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "a citizen was killed due to raids by the regime’s warplanes on Ma’ar Shourin in Maarrat Al-Nu’man countryside." Liveuamap also reported that a civilian was killed…

Summary

Published
21 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

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4067

Location

دير الغربي, Deir Al Gharbi, Idlib, Syria
Four to five civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Deir Al Gharbi, Idlib, on August 21st. Up to ten others were reported injured. A tweet by @anasanas84 named the civilians killed as Wael Ahmed Al-Asaad, Hussein Omar Deeb Al-Asaad, Waleed al-Deek, and Muhammad Abdul Majeed Al-Rimi, from Khan Al-Sabil. In line with other sources,…

Summary

Published
21 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4061

Location

دير الشرقي, Deir Al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Deir Al Sharqi, Idlib, on August 21st. An early tweet from Step News reporting the incident stated that "a number" had been wounded in the attack. The same source later tweeted "three civilians killed in Deir Al-Sharqi town of Idlib southern countryside, due to aerial bombardments by…

Summary

Published
21 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4068

Location

تل منس, Tal Mnes, Idlib, Syria
Between one and two civilians were killed and between three and five civilians, including at least three children, were injured in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime barrel bombing of the Grand Mosque and surrounding neighborhoods in Tal Mnes on August 21, 2019. This was one of two strikes that occurred on the same day in…

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4057

Location

حيش, Heesh , Idlib, Syria
Two to three civilians, including a child, were reported killed in airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on August 20th, 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that "a man and a child" were killed "as a result of Russian raids on the village of Heesh". The same source elsewhere reported the death of three in the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4056

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil , Idlib, Syria
One to two civilians were reported killed and one civilian injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, Idlib, on August 20th, 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that "two men" were killed "in Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nabil". Meanwhile, Syria.liveuamap reported that "one civilian" perished "in Kafar Nabil, due to…

Summary

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