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

RS3794

Location

حاس, Hass, Idlib, Syria
Up to four civilians were killed and five others wounded when Russian and Syrian regime forces shelled the city of Hass. Initially, @Step_Agency reported that  one civilian was killed but in a later tweet added that the death toll had risen to three. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a woman, a man…

Summary

Published
14 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3788

Location

موقا, Mouqa, Idlib, Syria
Four civilians, including a woman, were reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the village of Mouqa, Idlib countryside, on June 13th, 2019, according to local sources. At least one other civilian was injured. @HadiAlabdallah tweeted: "Four civilians, including a woman, were killed as a result of the missile strikes…

Summary

Published
13 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3789

Location

جوزف, Jouzef , Idlib, Syria
A child was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jouzef, Idlib, on June 13th, 2019, according to local sources. At least one other man was injured. @shabablatamni tweeted: "A child was killed and others were wounded, as the regime's warplanes bombed the village of Jouzef, in the southern Idlib countryside." Syrian Network…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3790

Location

خان السبل, Khan Al Sabil, Idlib, Syria
Local sources reported that a child was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Al Sabil, Idlib, on June 13th, 2019. @HalabTodayTV tweeted that according to the Civil Defence, "a civilian was killed and another was wounded, as a result of targeting the outskirts of the town of Khan Al Sabil in Idlib…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13–14 June, 2019

Incident Code

RS3787

Location

مورك, Morek, Hama, Syria
One civilian was reported killed in artillery shelling on Morek, Hama, in the night between June 13th and 14th. Shaam News stated that "Russian and Assad  warplanes launched dozens of air raids accompanied by heavy artillery and missile attacks on [a number of] towns and villages", and cited the death of one civilian in Morek.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3784

Location

طبيش, Tbeesh, Idlib, Syria
Multiple sources report the death of civilians including a child and the wounding of others in airstrikes on a school in Tbeesh, Idlib, June 11th. Syrian Network for Human Rights claimed that regime forces "fired a missile on Tbeesh Primary School , killing Omar Bassam al Hasan. Both Syrian Network for Human Rights and Step…

Summary

Published
11 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident