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

20 November 2019

Incident Codes

IRS003 RS4190

Location

Qah refugee camp, near Syrian-Turkish border, Idlib, Syria
مخيم قاح
Between 16-30 civilians, including at least seven children and at least six women, were killed and up to 46 others, most of them children, were wounded in an airstrike with the use of cluster bombs which struck attack Qah refugee camp and was allegedly carried out by Russian, Syrian regime or Iranian forces at 7:30…

Summary

Published
20 November 2019
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Incident Date

20 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4189

Location

several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة,
The Shaam News Network reported wounded civilians across Idlib. The Shaam reported said: "Russian warplanes and helicopter gunships carried out dozens of airstrikes accompanied by very heavy artillery and rocket shelling targeting the cities of Maarat al-Numan, Kafrnabel, the towns and villages of al-Saraj, Musharrafa, Jabalha, Bara, Barba, Helba, Umm Jalal, Tall Dum, Sahal, Umm…

Summary

Published
20 November 2019
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Incident Date

20 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4188

Location

Jabala, Idlib, Syria
جبالا
One civilian, a man, was killed and one to two civilians, including a man, were injured in a suspected airstrike by the Russian Armed Forces in Jabala, Idlib on November 20, 2019. Jesrpress stated that reportedly a man was killed and another civilian injured as a result of airstrikes conducted by the Russian Armed forces,…

Summary

Published
20 November 2019
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Incident Date

20 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4186

Location

Babila, Idlib, Syria
بابيلا,
Two men were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Babila in the southern countryside of Idlib on November 20, 2019. HalabTodayTv stated that the two civilians were injured and that material was damaged, due to the alleged airstrike in Babila by the Russian Armed forces. Several local sources reported that civilian…

Summary

Published
20 November 2019
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Incident Date

20 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4187

Location

Maarat Nu’man, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Six civilians were killed in reported Russian airstrikes in the town of Maarat al Numan in southern Idlib on the evening of November 20th 2019. Multiple sources alleged that at least five casualties were members of the same family, including four children and their mother. The strikes occurred on “World Children’s Day”. Between 11 and…

Summary

Published
20 November 2019
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Incident Date

19 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4184

Location

Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
An unspecified number of civilian casualties were recorded by a single source, as a result of airstrikes on multiple villages in Idlib province on November 19th 2019. Airwars is presently unable to provide more specific detail. Airstrikes by “Russian warplanes and helicopter gunships” were reported by local news source Shaam News to have hit eight…

Summary

Published
19 November 2019
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