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

9 February 2019

Incident Code

RS3573

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
An eight year old child was killed and his two brothers injured when cluster munition exploded in the city of Hraytan north of Aleppo. Local sources reported that the cluster munition was a remnant of earlier Russian or regime shelling. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the cluster bomb had been dropped by…

Summary

Published
9 February 2019
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2019

Incident Code

RS3572

Location

وادي العذيب أو وادي العزيب, Wadi Al Azeeb, Hama, Syria
Up to nine civilians were killed and others were wounded in an explosion in Wadi Al Azeeb. Sources on the ground reported that "cluster bombs" exploded believed to be remnants of previous shelling  conducted by the Russian- or regime forces. Other sources reported that the explosion was caused by a landmine. According to one local…

Summary

Published
8 February 2019
Strike Type
Ground operation, Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 February 2019

Incident Code

RS3571

Location

التمانعة, Al Taman’a or Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
An alleged Russian airstrike targeted the town of Al Taman’a west of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern Idlib countryside. The airstrike was one of three airstrikes with high-explosive missiles launched by a Russian aircraft, according to Ziad al-Aboud, commander of the "civil defense sector" in Khan Sheikhoun  It is not clear whether there were civilian casualties as a…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2019

Incident Code

RS3570

Location

كفر زيتا, Kfar Zeita, Hama, Syria
One civilian died because of wounds he sustained as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime bombing on Kfar Zeita on February 1st, 2019 according to local sources. Other casualties among civilians were also reported. Local sources reported that Osama Hafez Al Rajo died on the morning of February 10th from wounds sustained…

Summary

Published
1 February 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3569

Location

كفر نبل, Kafr Nabl, Idlib, Syria
A number of injuries among civilians were reported after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces rocket attack on Kafr Nabl in Idlib on January 28th, 2019 according to sources on the ground. abds02747 tweeted that "Hossam al-Hassani and Mohammed al-Khatib were injured by the rocket attack that targeted the city of Kafr Nabl."…

Summary

Published
28 January 2019
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3568

Location

كفر زيتا, Kfar Zeita, Hama, Syria
Artillery shelling reportedly struck a residential neighborhood in Kfar Zeita on the  evening of January 26th and wounded a 40-year-old man who was transferred to a nearby medical point. According to some sources, another unidentified civilian was wounded. All sources blamed the Russian forces, except one local source who blamed the Syrian regime.

Summary

Published
26 January 2019
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident