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

12 June 2018

Incident Code

RS3436

Location

التمانعة, Al-Tamana, Idlib, Syria
A child was killed when a cluster bomb from a previous Russian shelling on Al-Tamana in southern Idlib, Syria, exploded on June 12th, 2018. Edlib Media Center reported on Facebook that " A child from the town of Sinjar was killed by a cluster bomb explosion from previous bombing on farms of al-Tamana town in…

Summary

Published
12 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 June 2018

Incident Code

RS3435

Location

اللطامنة, Al-Latamna, Hama, Syria
One civilian was reported killed, and others injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes and/or shelling on Al Latamna in Hama, Syria on June 11th, 2018, according to local media sources. According to @Step_Agency, "one person was killed and others injured as a result of the artillery and missile shelling that targeted the…

Summary

Published
11 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2018

Incident Code

RS3431

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians, including two children, were killed and seven others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Binnish, Idlib governorate, on June 10th, 2018, according to local sources. Syrian Reporter wrote that "Russian airstrikes resulted in the death of a child and the injury of others, in the city…

Summary

Published
10 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
7–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2018

Incident Code

RS3432

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
At least ten civilians, including five to seven children and one woman, were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Nour Children's Hospital and civilian homes in the town of Taftanaz, Idlib governorate, on June 10th, 2018, according to local sources. Edlib Media Center initially reported “four martyrs: three children and a…

Summary

Published
10 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
10–12
Civilians reported injured
25–30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2018

Incident Code

RS3433

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma'arat Misreen, Idlib, Syria
Civilians were possibly killed and/or injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Ma'arat Misreen on June 10th, 2018, according to local sources. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that there were "martyrs and wounded civilians as a result of raids by the military aircraft of the regime and Russia…

Summary

Published
10 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2018

Incident Code

RS3429

Location

كنيسة بني عز, Kanissat Bani Izz, Idlib, Syria
One civilian was reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kanissat Bani Izz village in Idlib, on June 10th, 2018 according to local sources. Qasioun News reported that "The regime's warplanes also launched several raids on the villages of Kanissat Bani Izz, west of Idlib, wounding one civilian." The Local Coordination Committees…

Summary

Published
10 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident