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

22–23 August, 2019

Incident Code

RS4072

Location

Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Two to three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, on August 22nd. Edlib Media Center cited "two martyrs and several wounded, as a result of the regime's helicopter bombardment with explosive barrels on the southern neighborhood of Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city." Meanwhile, Syria Civil Defense stated that "three civilians were killed…

Summary

Published
22 August 2019
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Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4063

Location

Tal Mnes, Idlib, Syria
تل منس
One to three civilians were reported killed, and one to five wounded, in three to four airstrikes on Al Rahman hospital in Tal Mnes village, Idlib, on August 21st, 2019. Of the civilians killed, one may have been a child - according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which identified those killed in Tal Mnes…

Summary

Published
21 August 2019
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Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4064

Location

Al Bashiriya, Idlib, Syria
البشيرية
One to two civilians, including a child, were reported killed and between three and five civilians were injured in airstrikes on Al Bashiriya, Idlib, on August 21st, 2019. One child was initially reported killed, yet as understanding of events unfolded, Jisr Media Center reported that "the death toll of the martyrs in the town of…

Summary

Published
21 August 2019
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Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4065

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
Between two and three civilians, including as many as two children and a woman, were reported injured in airstrikes on Saraqib, Idlib, on August 21st, 2019. Syria Civil Defense and Edlib Media Center documented "three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." A tweet from @NEDAAPOST…

Summary

Published
21 August 2019
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Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4066

Location

Ma’ar Shourin, Idlib, Syria
معرشورين
One to two civilians were reported killed and several others were wounded in airstrikes on Ma’ar Shourin, Idlib, on August 21st, 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "a citizen was killed due to raids by the regime’s warplanes on Ma’ar Shourin in Maarrat Al-Nu’man countryside." Liveuamap also reported that a civilian was killed…

Summary

Published
21 August 2019
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Incident Date

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4068

Location

Tal Mnes, Idlib, Syria
تل منس
Between one and two civilians were killed and between three and five civilians, including at least three children, were injured in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime barrel bombing of the Grand Mosque and surrounding neighborhoods in Tal Mnes on August 21, 2019. This was one of two strikes that occurred on the same day in…

Summary

Published
22 August 2019
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