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

17 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4265

Location

Ma’ar Shamsha, Idlib, Syria
معرشمشة
One civilian reportedly died in an alleged regime or Russian airstrike on Ma’ar Shamsha, southern Idlib countryside, around noon on December 17, 2019. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the victim's name is Mohammad Abdul Razzaq Al Shahhoud. According to Al Jazeera, the attack had been "carried out by Syrian regime helicopters". Facebook…

Summary

Published
17 December 2019
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Incident Date

17 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4259

Location

Al Kana’es, Idlib, Syria
الكنائس
A civilian was killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Al Kana’es on December 17, 2019. According to Syria TV, the casualty was caused "by aerial bombardment of the regime's warplanes" while Shaam News mentioned that Russia and the regime carried out airstrikes and shelling in Idlib. No other information is available at…

Summary

Published
17 December 2019
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Incident Date

17 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4264

Location

Bidama, Idlib, Syria
بداما
Six civilians including three young girls, their mother and two women, all belonging to the same family, have been reportedly killed in alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian air or artillery strikes on Bidama in the western countryside of Idlib during the day on December 17, 2019. Local sources also claimed that in addition, a "large number"…

Summary

Published
17 December 2019
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Incident Date

17 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4263

Location

Ma’saran, Idlib, Syria
معصران
Four to seven people, including a woman, were reportedly killed and between ten and seventeen civilians, including two children, injured after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on a market in the village of Ma’saran in the afternoon of December 17th, 2019, according to local sources. The day was referred to as "Black Tuesday" by the…

Summary

Published
17 December 2019
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Incident Date

17 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4262

Location

Tal Menes, Idlib, Syria
تلمنس,
Between six to ten civilians, all belonging to one family, were reportedly killed in what local media described as "a massacre" in Tal Menes in Idlib, in the evening of December 17th, 2019. Among the casualties were reportedly three children and at least three women. Dozens more were reported wounded. The incident was referred to…

Summary

Published
17 December 2019
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Incident Date

16 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4253

Location

Ma’ar Shmareen, Idlib, Syria
معرشمارين
As many as five civilians, including two women and a child, were killed and dozens of civilians, mostly women and children, were injured following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Ma’ar Shmareen, Idlib Governorate on December 16th, 2019, according to multiple sources. The names of those killed and injured indicate several…

Summary

Published
16 December 2019
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