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

4 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2972

Location

ادلب, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
An alleged Russian airstrike, described as a "massacre", hit a five-story building in Idlib, killing up to 12 civilians, including children and women, most from the same family and wounded as many as 25, local media reported. Euphrates Post described how "raids by Russian warplanes targeted the city by several air strikes, which led to the…

Summary

Published
4 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
4–12
Civilians reported injured
21–25
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2973

Location

Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
Alleged Russian airstrikes killed up to nine civilians, including at least one child and one woman, and wounded up to ten more in the city of Kafr Nabil, local sources reported. The Syria Civil Defense, who were present on the scene following the incident, reported that the strike killed six and wounded more than ten.…

Summary

Published
4 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare, Education
Civilians reported killed
3–9
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2974

Location

Ma'asaran, Idlib, Syria
Up to seven civilians, including up to five children and one woman - possibly from the same family - were killed and several were wounded as Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes were launched in the village of Ma'asaran, Idlib, local media reported. In this incident, local sources reports' spanned from one to as many as seven…

Summary

Published
4 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–7
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2971

Location

Kafr Zeita, Hama, Syria
Local sources reported that alleged Russian airstrikes wounded one civilian in Kafr Zeita, Hama. While most sources merely reported that Russian warplanes had carried out air raids in the area, Smart News Agency and Khaleej mentioned that the strikes had inflicted civilian harm. Smart News Agency specified that one civilian was wounded.  

Summary

Published
4 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2970

Location

التليل‎ ,سراقب, Al Talil neighbourhood, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
A chlorine gas assault in Saraqeb, Idlib by the Syrian regime - possibly with Russian support - wounded multiple civilians including children according to local reports, with most victims suffering breathing difficulties. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that two barrel bombs were used in this attack. "At least 11 civilians, including three civil…

Summary

Published
4 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
9–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2967

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
On February 3, 2018, up to five civilians were killed and several more were left wounded following alleged Russian or Syrian Regime airstrikes in Saraqeb, Idlib, local media reported. Saraqeb had reportedly been subject to several aerial attacks in the previous days and local activists told al-Araby that "the city is being burned by intensive…

Summary

Published
3 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident