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

21 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4067

Location

Deir Al Gharbi, Idlib, Syria
دير الغربي
Four to five civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Deir Al Gharbi, Idlib, on August 21st. Up to ten others were reported injured. A tweet by @anasanas84 named the civilians killed as Wael Ahmed Al-Asaad, Hussein Omar Deeb Al-Asaad, Waleed al-Deek, and Muhammad Abdul Majeed Al-Rimi, from Khan Al-Sabil. In line with other sources,…

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

20 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4058

Location

Binin, Idlib, Syria
بنين
At least two civilians were reported killed and between four and six civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Binin, Idlib, on August 20th. @ShahbaPress tweeted that "two civilians [were] martyred and wounded due to an airstrike by Russian occupation aircraft on the village of Binin south of Idlib." Syria Civil Defense stated that…

Summary

Published
20 August 2019
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Incident Date

20 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4056

Location

Kafar Nabil , Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
One to two civilians were reported killed and one civilian injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, Idlib, on August 20th, 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that "two men" were killed "in Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nabil". Meanwhile, Syria.liveuamap reported that "one civilian" perished "in Kafar Nabil, due to…

Summary

Published
20 August 2019
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Incident Date

20 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4057

Location

Heesh , Idlib, Syria
حيش
Two to three civilians, including a child, were reported killed in airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on August 20th, 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that "a man and a child" were killed "as a result of Russian raids on the village of Heesh". The same source elsewhere reported the death of three in the…

Summary

Published
20 August 2019
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Incident Date

20 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4060

Location

Al Tah Town, Idlib, Syria
بلدة التح
One civilian was reported killed and others wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Tah Town, Idlib, on August 20th, 2019. Edlib Media Center documented "a martyr and several wounded after the Russian occupation forces targeted the town of Al Tah, south of Idlib, with vacuum missiles." Macro Media Center and Syrian Network for Human…

Summary

Published
20 August 2019
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