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

14 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4031

Location

Bsqia near Ma’ret Harma, Idlib, Syria
بسقيا قرب معرة حرمة
In the first of two consecutive airstrikes near Ma’ret Harma, Idlib, two medical workers for Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) were reported killed on August 14th. SMAS USA reported "a SAMS-supported ambulance center in Ma’aret Hurmeh in southern Idlib province was targeted by six airstrikes, resulting in the death of two employees: Mohamad Hussni Mishnen,…

Summary

Published
14 August 2019
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Incident Date

14 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4026

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كصنفرة
Civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kansafra, Idlib, on August 14th. Macro Media Center reported that "civilians [were] wounded as a result of the shelling by Russian warplanes with vacuum missiles on the residential neighborhoods of Kansafra town in the southern countryside of Idlib." Edlib Media Center also reported that "civilians were…

Summary

Published
14 August 2019
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Incident Date

14 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4020

Location

Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة في ادلب
Shaam News reported that "Russian and regime warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes and artillery and rocket shelling were carried out by warplanes, helicopters and missiles in Idlib." The agency reported unspecified  "wounded in all of Kfarsjnh, Kfroma, Tarmla, Bskla, Kfarbasin, Kfarwasid, Sheikh Mustafa, Alrkaya, Umm Zaytouna, Umm Jalal, Teraa, Almanmah, Hish, Altah, Mardam, Sfohn, Mufuqat,…

Summary

Published
14 August 2019
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Incident Date

14 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4030

Location

Bdama, Idlib, Syria
بداما
One civilian was reported killed and others injured in airstrikes on Bdama, Idlib, on August 14th. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that "a citizen was killed as a result of rocket shelling that targeted Bdama town in Jisr Al-Shughur countryside west of Idlib." Bdama Voice named the civilian killed as Ahmad Mohammed Abdo. Bdama voice…

Summary

Published
14 August 2019
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Incident Date

14 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4029

Location

Madaya, Idlib, Syria
مدايا
One civilian was reported killed in airstrikes on Madaya, Idlib, on August 14th. Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that "Hussein Ali al Rayya, from Ma’aret Harma village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as Syrian regime warplanes carried out a strike using machine guns on the vicinity of Madaya village in…

Summary

Published
14 August 2019
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Incident Date

14 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4028

Location

Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
One to two civilians were reported killed and others injured in airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, Idlib, on August 14th. Shaam News reported that "two civilians were martyred" in the attack while Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and other sources, documented "one civilian who was killed in aerial bombardment by the Russian warplanes on the outskirts…

Summary

Published
14 August 2019
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