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

26 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4080

Location

Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Up to five civilians died and others were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike on Kafar Nabil, local media reported on August 26, 2019. Smart reported: "The media activist in the city Baha Sweden said that Russian aircraft launched missile strikes on residential neighborhoods coinciding with artillery and rocket shelling…

Summary

Published
26 August 2019
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Incident Date

26 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4079

Location

Kafar Sijna, Idlib, Syria
كفرسجنة
Two civilian males died and others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Sijna on August 26, 2019, according to local media. The Step News Agency reported: "Russian warplanes targeted the town of Kafar Sijnain in the southern countryside of Idlib with missiles, killing two people as a toll and injuring a number…

Summary

Published
26 August 2019
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Incident Date

25–26 August, 2019

Incident Code

RS4078

Location

Ma`arat Horma, Idlib, Syria
معرة حرمة
At least one civilian was killed and at least two civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Ma’aret Harma in Idlib governorate on August 25, 2019. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "Fadi Turki al Athab was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on…

Summary

Published
25 August 2019
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Incident Date

25–26 August, 2019

Incident Code

RS4077

Location

Bsaqla, Idlib, Syria
بسقلا
Local media reported that at least three civilians including a woman and a girl were killed and many were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bsaqla on the morning of August 25, 2019. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "at least three civilians, including a girl and her mother, were killed as…

Summary

Published
25 August 2019
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Incident Date

25 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4076

Location

Al Halba, Idlib, Syria
الهلبة
Local media reported one civilian killed and an unspecified number wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Al Halba on August 25, 2019. Horrya News reported that one civilian was killed in "Russian-Assadi aggression." Orient News also identified one man killed in Al Halba. Syrian Network for Human Rights also named Jamal Abdul…

Summary

Published
25 August 2019
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Incident Date

25 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4075

Location

Ma'ar Shourin, Idlib, Syria
معرشورين
Local media reported between one and two civilians killed and an unspecified number wounded in an alleged Russia or regime airstrike on Ma'ar Shourin in August 25, 2019. A tweet by @omar_alhalaby alleged that "Russian warplanes target civilians' cars while they are fleeing the town as a result of the violent bombardment on them, which…

Summary

Published
25 August 2019
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