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

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
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4220

Location

Al Ghadfa, Idlib, Syria
الغدفة
A woman and a man were reported injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al Gadfa in the countryside of Maarat al-Numan Idlib, Syria on December 2nd, 2019, according to local sources, apparently targeting a civilian home. The "young" man was identified as Hudhayfa Al-Hamoud by local sources. According to…

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4214

Location

Al Kana’es, Idlib, Syria
الكنائس
According to local sources, Hussein Khreimi was reported killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al-Kanayes village, on the outskirts of the villages of Tal Kresyan and Al-Bara in the eastern Idlib countryside, Syria on December 2nd 2019. According to @sraqeb123, this raid happened at 9.56am.

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4219

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
One civilian was reported killed, and five others injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike that targeted Al Hal Market in Saraqib, Idlib in Syria on December 2nd 2019 according to local sources. Jesr Press reported that Nashaat Al-Ahmad, aged 25, died of his injuries before arrival to hospital. According to…

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4218

Location

Central prison, Idlib, Syria
السجن المركزي
According to local sources, between three and seven civilians, including one women and her two children, were reported killed, and up to 28 others including four children and four women were reported injured allegedly when Russian or Syrian regime warplanes targeted the Central Prison, in western Idlib in Syria on December 2nd 2019. A local…

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4217

Location

Maarat Numan, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Up to 14 civilians including two women were reported killed and between 11 and 20 others including two children were injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrike on a vegetables market, Souk Al-Hal, in Maarat Al Numan in Idlib, Syria on December 2nd, 2019 according to local sources.  Multiple sources indicated that…

Summary

Published
2 December 2019
View Incident