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

7 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4250

Location

Ma’saran, Idlib, Syria
معصران
One civilian was reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Ma’saran, Idlib governate, on December 7th, 2019 according to local sources. The Syrian White Helmets said that a man in Maasran was injured following Russian airstrikes and barrel bombs that targeted the town. The report was published by several…

Summary

Published
7 December 2019
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Incident Date

4 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4234

Location

Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
One person was killed and as many as eight people, including three children and three women, were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nabl, Idlib governorate, on December 4th, 2019. The majority of the sources accused the regime of carrying out the strikes, some sources mentioned the presence…

Summary

Published
4 December 2019
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Incident Date

4 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4235

Location

Bzabour, Idlib, Syria
بزابور
One child was killed and eight civilians, including between three to seven children and between one to five women, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Bzabour, Idlib governorate, on December 4th, 2019, according to local sources. All of the named victims appear to come from the same family.…

Summary

Published
4 December 2019
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Incident Date

4 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4228

Location

Hraitan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حريتان
One girl died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hraitan, according to local media. Halab Today reported "the martyrdom of the girl Yasmine Shaheen and the injury of five civilians, mostly children, as a result of Russian air strikes on the city of Hreitan in the northern countryside of Aleppo". The victim was also named…

Summary

Published
4 December 2016
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Incident Date

4 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4236

Location

Al Baliysa, Idlib, Syria
البليصة
Four men were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike or Syrian regime artillery strike on the town of Al Baliysa, Idlib governate on December 4th, 2019, according to reports. Idlib Plus said: "four men were injured in al-Balaysa village in eastern Idlib countryside, when Russian warplanes conducted an air strike by the village school, partially…

Summary

Published
4 December 2019
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Incident Date

4 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4237

Location

Tal Al Touqan, Idlib, Syria
تل الطوقان
An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on the village of Tal Al Touqan, Idlib Governate on December 4th 2019, according to local media. On December 4th, Smart News Agency quoted activists as saying an unspecified number of people had been wounded following a strike by regime warplanes…

Summary

Published
4 December 2019
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