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

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3657

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nubul , Idlib, Syria
Up to three civilians died and up to five more were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime strike on the surgical hospital of Kafar Nubul, according to local media. The New York Times later published audiofile transcripts which it said proved Russia had deliberately targeted the hospital. According to Syria TV at the time:…

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
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

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3655

Location

التمانعه, Al Tamani’a, Idlib, Syria
Up to three civilians were reported wounded in an alleged Russian or regime strike on the town of Al Tamani’a in rural Idlib. There was a report that Al Tamani’a hospital was struck by the regime. Other sources pointed to Russia.

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3658

Location

ربع الجور, Rab’a Al Jwar, Idlib, Syria
Up to five civilians including two sisters and their mother and possibly their father died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Rab'a al Jwar village located in the northeast of Khan Sheikhoun city in Idlib, local media reported. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a family of four was killed, including two children…

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3654

Location

الكندة, Al Kenda, Idlib, Syria
Mus’ab Mahmoud al Satouf, from al Hweiz village in Hama, was  killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Al Kenda, according to local media. No more information is available at the moment.  

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3656

Location

ترملا, Tarmala, Idlib, Syria
Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as 10 more were injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Tarmala, local media reported. Several sources reported only one fatality, though it was widely reported that a man and his seven-year-old daughter were killed, and that the rest of…

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare, Education
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3649

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib, Syria
Alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, killed up to four civilians on May 4th, 2019, local media reported. Multiple sources reported the shelling of civilian infrastructure. According to @AishaSapri, the health centre was struck, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported damage to…

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education, Agriculture, Residential, Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident