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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

24 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4292

Location

Joubas, Idlib, Syria
جوباس
Between 10 and 12 civilians, including at least five children and two women, were reported killed and up to seven others, including two children and two women, injured in Joubas, Idlib in Syria on December 24th, 2019 when Russian warplanes attacked a school building that was used as a shelter for displaced people in the…

Summary

Published
24 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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Incident Date

24 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4294

Location

Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
An elderly woman was reported injured along with at least one other civilian after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrike on Saraqeb in Idlib, Syria on December 24th 2019, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: ""An elderly woman was wounded in a bombing by the  Syrian regime on…

Summary

Published
24 December 2019
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Incident Date

22 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4288

Location

International road to Ma'arat Al Numan, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Between four and seven civilians were killed as the result of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on a convoy with displaced people on the international road to Ma'arat Al Numan on December 22nd, 2019, according to local sources. On December 28th, a local source reported that one of the victims died of his injuries…

Summary

Published
22 December 2019
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Incident Date

22 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4289

Location

Tal Menes, Idlib, Syria
تلمنس
Four civilians, initially reported as three, were killed and others were wounded in the town of Tal Menes after warplanes fired missiles into the town on the 21st of December. A series of news outlets as well as the Idlib Civil Defense confirmed the deaths. Orient Net, Al-Muharrer Network, and Stab News with their reporter…

Summary

Published
22 December 2019
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Incident Date

22 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4290

Location

Masran, Idlib, Syria
معصران
Local sources confirmed the killing of five siblings in the village of Maasran on December 22nd, 2019 by alleged Russian airstrikes. Four individuals were also wounded with one eventually dying to raise the total of civilian deaths to six. The names of victims were released and confirmed by Civil Defense Service in Idlib. The dead…

Summary

Published
22 December 2019
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