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

4,338 – 6,384

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 4,842 separate alleged incidents.

1,145 – 1,394
children likely killed
632 – 766
women likely killed
6,544
likely injured
3,435
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
15,282 – 24,392
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,842 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,338 – 6,384
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,344 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
727 – 848
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
457 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,113 – 17,043
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,026 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4808 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

1 January 2020

Incident Codes

IRS004 RS4299

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
Up to 11 civilians including seven children and two women were reported killed, and up to 25 others including three children and three women - one of whom was pregnant - were injured in an alleged Russian, Iranian forces or Syrian regime shelling with a cluster missile or a rocket carrying cluster bombs on 'Martyr…

Summary

Published
1 January 2020
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Incident Date

30 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4298

Location

Sheikh Ahmed village, Aleppo, Syria
قرية الشيخ أحمد
On December 30th, between four and five civilians, including up to two women and two children, were wounded by Russian or regime air strikes, with ten vacuum missiles and two cluster bombs, launched upon the village of Sheikh Ahmed in the southern countryside of Aleppo. Local sources initially reported four wounded civilians and Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
30 December 2019
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Incident Date

28 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4297

Location

Maarat Numan, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
At least two civilians were killed and up to four civilians were wounded in initial reports about an alleged Russian or Syrian regime bombing raid upon the village of Maarat Numan on December 28th, 2019. Local sources reported that Russian helicopters dropped barrel bombs, and there were early reports of four wounded civilians, the death…

Summary

Published
30 December 2019
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Incident Date

28 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4296

Location

Several towns, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
Russian warplanes launched substantial attacks upon various villages outside of Idlib on December 28th causing numerous civilian casualties. Shaam News, reporting on December 29th, stated that civilian casualties resulted from Russian airstrikes upon many villages, including Mhambel and Sarja.  No names, ages, or other pertinent information was released. The air raids were part of a…

Summary

Published
28 December 2019
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Incident Date

28 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4295

Location

Mhambel, Idlib, Syria
محمبل
Local sources reported that at least three civilians were wounded as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime forces artillery and missile attack on Mhambel in Idlib, Syria on December 28th, 2019. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a cluster missile fell near Al Kabir mosque in Mhambel town in the western…

Summary

Published
28 December 2019
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Incident Date

24 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4293

Location

Kafrouma, Idlib, Syria
كفروما
At least one person died in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Kafrouma in Idlib on December 24, 2019, according to local media. Local sources were conflicted as to whether the victims were civilians or militants. Sources reported that the Russian strikes targeted members of the Ahrar al-Sham movement. According to the Step News…

Summary

Published
24 December 2019
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