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

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4276

Location

تل مرديخ, Tal Mardikh, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
12–17
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4277

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4278

Location

ديرسنبل, Deir Sunbul, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4273

Location

خان السبل, Khan As Subul, Idlib, Syria
A child was killed and at least four other civilians injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Khan As Subul in Idlib on December 19th, 2019 according to local sources. The child who lost his life was identified as Abdul Ghani Khaled al Ramadan. While the majority of sources reported the death of…

Summary

Published
19 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
4–11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4274

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'aret al-Nu'man, Idlib, Syria
At least two children, two women and one man were reportedly killed, and up to 30 other civilians injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces artillery or airstrikes on Ma'aret al-Nu'man in Idlib in the evening of December 19th, 2019, according to local sources. Two other civilians reportedly died from their injuries caused by…

Summary

Published
19 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
26–30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4275

Location

الواقعة بين قرية الهلبة ومعر شمارين, area between al Hlubba village and Ma’ar Shamarin, Idlib, Syria
A least one civilian, a journalist, was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the area between al Hlubba village and Ma’ar Shamarin on December 19, 2019. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Milad Ahmad al Fares, from al Hlubba village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike…

Summary

Published
19 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident