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

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
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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
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Incident Date

30 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4124

Location

Kafar Nabil , Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Two or three civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Nabil, local media reported. According to the Smart News Agency, "The director of the Civil Defense Center in Kafr Nabil, Obeida Othman, said that three civilians were slightly injured and taken for treatment at a medical point, as a result of two…

Summary

Published
30 October 2019
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Incident Date

28 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4123

Location

Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Three men were killed and two to five others injured after alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Kafar Nabil, Idlib governorate, on October 28th 2019, according to local sources. It remains contested whether the victims were civilians or militants. @SyrianCoalition reported that 3 men were killed and 2 injured after Russian warplanes bombed residential…

Summary

Published
28 October 2019
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Incident Date

28 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4121

Location

Dar Al Kabira, Idlib, Syria
دار الكبيرة
Two civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Dar Al Kabira, Idlib countryside, on October 28th, 2019, according to local sources. The Syrian Civil Defence reported on Facebook that civilian homes were targeted. All three sources attributed the strikes to Russia. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Published
28 October 2019
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Incident Date

28 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4122

Location

Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
The Shaam News Network reported: "Russian warplanes launched fierce airstrikes targeting the city of Kafranbel, the towns of Rakaya, Hass, Hazarin, Fatira, Dar al-Kabira and Jibala .The Assad artillery bombarded the town of Ma'rat Harmah, resulting in the fall of three martyrs in Kafr Nabil and several wounded in the rest of the regions". No…

Summary

Published
28 October 2019
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