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 Date Publication Date

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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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

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

21 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4284

Location

Tal Menes, Idlib, Syria
تل منس
In one of two incidents in Tal Menes on December 21-22, 2019, civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village the morning of December 21st, 2019, according to local sources. Both @ShahbaPress and a Facebook post by Mustafa.alshekh78 identified civilians injured in the strikes but did not provide a number. A…

Summary

Published
21 December 2019
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Incident Date

21 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4282

Location

Badama, Idlib, Syria
بداما
A civilian was killed and his father, mother, and brother were injured as the result of an alleged Russian or regime drone strikes on the town of Badama, Idlib governorate, on December 21st, 2019, according to local sources. In total, up to five injuries were reported by local sources. A Syrian Civil Defence source told…

Summary

Published
21 December 2019
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Incident Date

21 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4281

Location

Deir al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria
الدير شرقي
At least two men and one woman were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Deir al Sharqi, Idlib governorate, on December 21st, 2019, according to local sources. An unknown number of civilians was wounded. The Syrian Civil Defence reported that "a man, an elderly man and a woman" were…

Summary

Published
21 December 2019
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