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

23 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3567

Location

مورك, Mourek, Hama, Syria
Two women were wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Mourek, 27 kilometres north of Hama, on January 23rd, according to local media. Smart News Agency reported that two women had been injured by artillery shelling on the city of Mourek. Ahmad Makhad, from the media department with the Syrian Civil Defence,…

Summary

Published
23 January 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3566

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria
12-year-old girl Mariam Mahmoud Hassan Rahhal was reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Kfar Zeita, north-east of Souran in the northern suburb of Hama. Two other civilians were wounded, whom according to some sources, were children as well.  Smart News Agency reported "the killing of a girl and wounding two…

Summary

Published
22 January 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3563

Location

بكسريا, Baksriya, Idlib, Syria
Alleged Russian airstrikes struck the villages of Khan al Sabil and Baksriya in the countryside of Jisr al Shughour on January 20th, 2018, according to local media. Around 3 AM, an alleged strike hit Baksriya and killed two civilians; one man and a woman. Between two and nine civilians were reported wounded and were evacuated by the Syrian…

Summary

Published
20 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3565

Location

الجانودية, Al Janoudiya, Jisir Al Shughur countryside, Idlib, Syria
One civilian died and up to four others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike which reportedly destroyed a bakery in al Janoudiya, local media reported. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "warplanes we believe were Russian bombed al Taqwa automatic bakery in  the north of al Janoudiya village in Idlib governorate, destroying its…

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3564

Location

الشعار, Al Shia'ar, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between four and 12 civilians, including children, were died in alleged Russian airstrikes in the al-Sha’ar neighbourhood of Aleppo, local media reported. Up to 60 civilians were left wounded. Several sources reported that a family - a father and his children - was among the victims. One source showed a video of a woman mourning…

Summary

Published
20 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–12
Civilians reported injured
24–60
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3562

Location

اللطامنة, Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria
A 53-year-old man died and up to four of his family members were wounded and rescued from the rubble of their home in Al Lataminah, following an alleged Russian airstrike or artillery shelling by the Assad regime, according to sources on the ground. Syria.tv noted that the adult male victim, Khaled Karmo Al-Hilal (named by multiple sources)…

Summary

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