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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

4 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4229

Location

Hass, Idlib, Syria
حاس
One man was injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Hass, Idlib Governorate on December 4th 2019, according to multiple reports. The Syrian White Helmets, Al Hadath Syria and Idlib plus all reported that a man had been injured and accused Russia of carrying out the strike. @NagiNajjar said Russian planes targetted…

Summary

Published
4 December 2019
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Incident Date

3 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4221

Location

Sheikh Ahmed village, south of Aleppo city, Aleppo, Syria
قرية الشيخ أحمد,
Three people including a child, a woman, and an elderly man, were injured following alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Sheikh Ahmed in the southern Aleppo countryside on the evening of December 3rd 2021, according to local reports. The description of the victims matched across several sources. The Syrian Civil Defense in Aleppo said…

Summary

Published
3 December 2019
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Incident Date

3 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4222

Location

Mhambel, Idlib, Syria
محمبل
One man was killed and others injured, including a child, after an alleged airstrike by the Syrian government or Russian military in the village of Mhambel, in the western Idlib countryside on December 3rd 2021, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said: "Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped barrel bombs near Ali…

Summary

Published
3 December 2019
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Incident Date

3 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4223

Location

Kafarrouma, Syria
كفروما
Three civilians, including one man, were reportedly injured in an alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafarrouma, Idlib governorate, on December 3rd 2019, according to local sources. @Step_Agency said helicopters used barrel bombs to target the center of Kafarrouma, injuring three civilians. Wasim Alkhalaf said helicopters initially targeted the village at…

Summary

Published
3 December 2019
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Incident Date

3 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4224

Location

Kafar Shlaya, Idlib, Syria
كفرشلايا
A child was injured in alleged Russian and/or Syrian air- and artillery strikes on a mosque in the village of Kafar Shlaya, Idlib governorate, on December 3rd, according to local sources. Shaam News Network reported that “Russian and Assad warplanes and helicopters launched dozens of airstrikes amid artillery and rocket shelling” on dozens of cities…

Summary

Published
3 December 2019
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Incident Date

3 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4226

Location

Al-Barsa, Idlib, Syria
البرسة
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the village of Al-Barsa on December 3, 2019. The correspondent for @HalabTodayT reported that a civilian was injured in the village of Al-Barsa in southeastern Idlib. A tweet from @MasarPressNet identified "injuries" as resulting from strikes but did not specify how many.…

Summary

Published
3 December 2019
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