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

21 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4283

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
Seven or eight civilians, including four children and between one and three women, were reportedly killed and more than twenty civilians, including women and children, were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on a popular market in the city of Saraqib on December 21st, 2019, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for…

Summary

Published
21 December 2019
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Incident Date

20 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4279

Location

Kosniya, Aleppo, Syria
كوسنيا
Two or three civilians, including a woman, were reportedly injured in an alleged Russian  or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kosniya in Aleppo governorate on December 20th, 2019, according to local sources. Whereas SMART News Agency reported three wounded, including a woman, the Syrian Civil Defence reported that two civilians were injured. SMART reported that…

Summary

Published
20 December 2019
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Incident Date

20 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4280

Location

Jisr Al Shughour, Aleppo, Syria
جسر الشغور
At least four civilians, including two children, were killed in an alleged Russian drone strike on the Jisr Al Shughur - Lattakia road near the city of Jisr Al Shughour, on December 20th, 2019, according to local sources. Local activists reported to SMART News Agency that "Russian drones had targeted a gathering of civilians on…

Summary

Published
20 December 2019
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Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4278

Location

Deir Sunbul, Idlib, Syria
ديرسنبل
A teacher and his wife were killed, and a number of civilians were wounded, in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Deir Sunbul, Idlib governorate, in the morning of December 19th, 2019, according to local sources. Some sources, among them Baldi News, reported initially that only one woman had been killed…

Summary

Published
19 December 2019
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Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4277

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
One civilian was killed and at least five civilians were injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes with high explosive missiles on the industrial area of the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib, on December 19th, 2019, according to local sources. The LCCSY reported four Russian airstrikes between 10:36 AM local…

Summary

Published
19 December 2019
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Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4276

Location

Tal Mardikh, Idlib, Syria
تل مرديخ
Four civilians were reportedly killed, among them a mother and her two children, and up to seventeen civilians, including seven children and seven women, were injured in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on the down of Tal Mardikh, Idlib governorate, on December 19th, 2019. Many injured remained in critical condition. The LCCSY reported five…

Summary

Published
19 December 2019
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