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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4100

Location

Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
At lease one civilian was killed and another wounded due to artillery and rocket shelling by the Syrian regime and Russian forces on residential neighborhoods in Kafr Nabil, struck from camp in Al-Nimr hill near Khan Sheikhoun. Baladi News reported "a civilian was killed and another wounded due to artillery and rocket shelling by the…

Summary

Published
31 August 2019
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Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4099

Location

Urma al-Kubrah, Aleppo, Syria
أورم الكبرى
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and six other civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the Al-Iman Hospital in the town of Urma Al-Kubra on August 31, 2019. Russian airstrikes allegedly struck the Al-Iman Hospital for children and women in the town of Urma Al-Kubra in western Aleppo in the middle…

Summary

Published
31 August 2019
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Incident Date

30 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4097

Location

Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Two civilians died and others were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime shelling of Kafar Nabil, according to local media. Macro Media Center (MMC) blamed Russian and Syrian regime forces for the shelling, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) attributed blame to the Syrian regime forces alone. SN4HR identified one civilian, while…

Summary

Published
30 August 2019
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Incident Date

29 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4096

Location

Ma’arshamsha, Idlib, Syria
معرشمشة
Local media reported that four civilians were killed and six others injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Ma’arshamsha, Syria on August 29, 2019. According to the Shaam News Network, "a civilian vehicle for IDPs in the village of Maarshamsheh" was struck, killing three people - two women and a child. Step…

Summary

Published
29 August 2019
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Incident Date

29 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4095

Location

Al Tah, Idlib, Syria
التح
Three civilians - a woman and her two sons (one of whom was a child) died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Tah the first hours of dawn on August 29, 2019, local media reported. According to the Shaam News Network, "Russian warplanes targeted al-Tah town in the southern countryside of Idlib, leaving three…

Summary

Published
29 August 2019
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Incident Date

28 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4094

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب,
Eight civilians were wounded, including a woman, in an alleged regime or Russian airstrike on a market in Saraqib on August 28, 2019, local media said. According to Smart, "On August 28, 2019, eight civilians were injured when regime warplanes bombarded the city of Saraqeb near Idlib in northern Syria. A medical source in the…

Summary

Published
28 August 2019
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