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

14 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3795

Location

اللطامنة, Al-Lataminah, Hama, Syria
Two civilians were wounded when Russian and Syrian regime forces carried out airstrikes that struck a patch of agricultural land near the town of Al-Lataminah, north of Hama, on June 14th, 2019, according to local sources. @BassamJaara tweeted: "Several airstrikes by Russian warplanes targeted the cities of Kafr Zita and Al-Lataminah in the northern Hama…

Summary

Published
14 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3796

Location

كفر زيتا, Kfar Zeita, Hama, Syria
A local source reported that civilians were injured in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on Kfar Zeita on June 14th, 2019. Other sources did not report civilian harm but did report alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city on that same day. Step News wrote that “Russian and Syrian…

Summary

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

Incident Date

14 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3792

Location

الزكاة, Al Zakat, Hama, Syria
A single source reported that an unknown number of civilians were wounded when Russian and Syrian regime forces carried out airstrikes on the town of Al Zakat, Hama governorate, on June 14th, 2019. Step News wrote that "Russian and Syrian regime aircraft, with more than 15 airstrikes, targeted the cities of Al Latamina, Kafr Zita,…

Summary

Published
14 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3797

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria
An unknown number of civilians was wounded in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes and shelling Ma’aret Harma on June 14th, 2019, according to a single source. Step News Agency reported that civilians were wounded in airstrikes on Ma’aret Harma,  but did not specify a belligerent. Other sources did not report civilian harm but reported…

Summary

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

Incident Date

14 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3793

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns and villages, Idlib, Syria
An unknown number of civilians were injured when Russian and Syrian regime forces carried out air raids and shelled a number of cities, towns and villages, including Khan Sheikhun, Ma'arah al-Nu'man, Kafr Nabal, Habayt, Tirmala, Kafromah, Baarba, Arinbeh, Abidin, Al-Deir, Ahsem, Hachash, Tall Mardikh, Jericho, Kafarsganah, Tufnaz, Hayish, Sahihan, Masmudah and Hamra.

Summary

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

Incident Date

14 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3791

Location

تلحديا, Talhadiya, Aleppo, Syria
Airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Russian an Syrian regime forces struck two camps for internally displaced people in the vicinity of Tal Hadiya village south of Aleppo, near the Damascus-Aleppo International Airport. A civilian man was reported killed after he died from the injuries sustained by the strike and two other women…

Summary

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