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

13 September 2019

Incident Code

RS4104

Location

Ma’aret Al Nu’man, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Two to three civilians, one of which was a child, were killed and five or six other civilians, including two women and a child, were injured in airstrikes on the city of Ma’aret Al Nu’man, Idlib on September 13, 2019. A tweet by @anasanas84 named the child killed as Islam Muhammad Al-Sader. Justice organization named…

Summary

Published
13 September 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

13 September 2019

Incident Code

RS4105

Location

Banes, Aleppo, Syria
بانص
At least one civilian was injured on September 13, 2019 after the explosion of a cluster bomb that was allegedly dropped by Russian or regime warplanes on the village of Banes, Aleppo governorate, according to local sources. A tweet from @SyriaCivilDefe reported "A civilian was injured due to the detonation of a cluster bomb remnants…

Summary

Published
13 September 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

12 September 2019

Incident Code

RS4102

Location

Sarja, Idlib, Syria
سرجة
One child was killed and another child was injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Sarja the morning of September 12th 2019, according to local sources. According to @SyriaCivilDefe, "A child was killed and another child was injured, as a result of targeting the outskirts of Sarjah village in Idlib countryside this morning." In…

Summary

Published
12 September 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

10–11 September, 2019

Incident Code

RS4101

Location

Al-Dhuhr, Darkush, Idlib, Syria
الضهرة
An alleged Russian airstrike killed an elderly displaced civilian man and wounded others in the village of Duhr in Darkush area around midnight between September 10th and September 11th 2019. Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "Ahmad Eisa al Musa, displaced from Tal Hatabat village in the southern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, age 76, was…

Summary

Published
10 September 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

14 March 2018

Incident Code

RS3250

Location

Kafar Sijna, Idlib, Syria
كفر سجنة
One civilian, a 17-year-old male, named Mohammed Saif Al-Din Qassoum Al-Issa died in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Kafar Sijna, according to local media. Sources said that several other civilians were wounded.

Summary

Published
9 September 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4098

Location

Jbala, Idlib, Syria
جبالا
Two civilians were alleged killed and others injured by Syrian or Russian airstrikes or artillery on Jbala village in Idlib. The two victims were identified as Ismail Ahmed Qteish from the village of Maarzita, and Mahdi Salah Al-Naddaf from Jabala. According to Macro Media Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Syrian regime forces shelled Jbala…

Summary

Published
31 August 2019
View Incident