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

19 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4113

Location

Ma’ar Zieta, Idlib, Syria
معرزيتا
Several civilians were wounded and civilian property was significantly damaged in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Maarzita, Idlib governorate, on October 19th, 2019, as reported by several local sources. Shaam Network reported that "activists said that Russian warplanes bombed the town of Ma`ar zieta this morning with several raids, recording several wounded…

Summary

Published
19 October 2019
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Incident Date

19 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4114

Location

Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
تفتناز
A man and woman from the town of Binnish were killed and three of their children injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on a house in Taftanaz, Idlib governorate, on October 19th 2019, according to several local sources. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that Russian warplanes bombarded the outskirts of Taftanaz town in the morning. The victims have…

Summary

Published
19 October 2019
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Incident Date

18 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4112

Location

Ma`ar Zita, Idlib, Syria
معرزيتا
At least two civilians, a man and a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling on Maarzita on October 18, 2019 according to local sources. According to a tweet from @thawrat111, "Civilians were wounded by artillery shelling of the Russian militia on the town of Maarzita in the southern countryside of Idlib."…

Summary

Published
18 October 2019
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Incident Date

18 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4111

Location

Rakaya and Naqir, Idlib, Syria
الركايا
Alleged Russian warplanes launched air and artillery strikes targeting the villages of Rakaya and Naqir, Idlib governorate, on October 18th 2019, as reported by Shaam Network. Step Agency adds that in total 'about 60 rockets and artillery shells' landed in the governorate of Idlib, which left an unspecified amount of 'civilians dead and wounded'. Currently,…

Summary

Published
18 October 2019
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Incident Date

5 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4108

Location

Tal Al Aghar and Al Balisa, Idlib, Syria
تل الأغر والبليصة
Alleged Russian warplanes launched six airstrikes on the towns of Tal Al Aghar and Al Balisa, Idlib governorate, on October 5th 2019. One source, Step Agency, reported that civilians were killed and wounded. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the alleged Russian airstrikes were targeting the the jihadi organisations Hurras Al Din and…

Summary

Published
5 October 2019
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Incident Date

3 October 2019

Incident Code

RS4107

Location

Ma’aret Al Nou’man, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
At least one woman was killed and seven other civilians, including two medical personnel, were injured in alleged Russian artillery shelling on Maarat al-Nu`man’s primary healthcare facility, south of Idlib, on October 3rd, 2019 according to a local source and Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch published a report on the incident: "the facility’s director,…

Summary

Published
3 October 2019
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