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

2 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4130

Location

Jabala town, Idlib, Syria
جبالا
At least four civilians, including a woman and two children from the same family, died and as many as dozens more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Jabala, according to sources on the ground. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: "At least four civilians from the same family, including a woman, were killed…

Summary

Published
2 November 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2019

Incident Code

RS4129

Location

Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
The Shaam News Network reported: "Russian warplanes launched airstrikes amid artillery and rocket shelling targeting villages and towns of Maarat Harma, Umm Jalal, Rakaya, Kafarsijnah, Hazarin, Sheikh Mustafa, Naqir, Dahabiya, Hish, Tahitaya, Musharrafa, Damama and Marand, which resulted in a number of civilian casualties." Further research did not find any civilian casualties in the cities…

Summary

Published
1 November 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4128

Location

Haas, Idlib, Syria
حاس
One to three civilians died and four more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Haas, according to local media. @baladinetwork said that Russian warplanes used vacuum rockets in the attack. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: "Ayyoub al Younes was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Hass…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4127

Location

Darkoush, Idlib, Syria
دركوش
Three to five civilians, including a member of the civil defence and one to two children, died and as many as 12 more, including two civil defence personnel, were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on an ammunition depot on the outskirts of Darkoush the morning of October 31, 2019, local media reported.…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4126

Location

Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
الفطيرة
One to two civilians died and two to three were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fatira in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. @mohmad_rasheed reported "a martyr and three civilians were wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing the town of Al-Fatira." @NEDAAPOST also tweeted that one civilian was killed and…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4125

Location

Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Between one and three civilians, including one to two children, died and up to six more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, according to sources on the ground. Macro Media Centre reported "the death of a displaced man and his child and the injury of several others as a result of airstrikes…

Summary

Published
31 October 2019
View Incident