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

11 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4008

Location

Several towns in Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة في ادلب
A single source reported that alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes and helicopters launched airstrikes on several cities and towns in Idlib on August 11th, 2019, leading to "many wounded", including children. Shaam News Network reported an unspecified "many wounded, including children, due to raids, artillery and rocket shelling on the cities and towns of…

Summary

Published
11 August 2019
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Incident Date

11 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4004

Location

Heesh, Idlib, Syria
حيش
A source reported that one child was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib governorate, on August 11t, 2019. Edlib Media Center stated that "a child was injured when Russian warplanes targeted Heesh town, south of Idlib, with rockets." @baladinetwork also reported Russian airstrikes but did not mention civilian casualties. Hence, while the strike…

Summary

Published
11 August 2019
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Incident Date

11 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4007

Location

Kafar Nabl, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Five civilians from the same family were reported injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian airstrike or artillery shelling on Kafar Nabl, Idlib, on August 11th which was the first day of Eid Al-Adha. While an initial report stated that one woman was injured in the airstrike, all later sources indicated that the figure had…

Summary

Published
11 August 2019
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Incident Date

11 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4006

Location

Hazzareen/Hazarin, Idlib, Syria
حزارين
Three civilians were reported killed, and five to11 including an elderly woman injured, in airstrikes on Hazzareen, Idlib, on August 11th. Smart News documented "destroyed houses on August 11th, 2019, in the village of Hazareen in southern Idlib governorate in the north of the country as a result of a Russian airstrike that targeted civilian…

Summary

Published
11 August 2019
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Incident Date

11 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4005

Location

Hass, Idlib, Syria
حاس
One child was reported killed, and up to five including two children were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian airstrike or artillery shelling on Hass, Idlib in the afternoon of August 11th, which was the first day of Eid Al-Adha. The Syrian Network for Human Rights named the child as Mohammad Thaer Qal`aji. Macro…

Summary

Published
11 August 2019
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Incident Date

11 August 2019

Incident Code

RS4003

Location

Khan Sheikhoun, Ma'arat al-Numan, Syria
خان شيخون
One civilian was reported killed in airstrikes on Khan Sheikoun, Idlib, on August 11th. Shaam News reported that "Russian and Regime warplanes and helicopters launched airstrikes on the first day of Eid al-Adha, leaving a martyr in Khan Sheikhoun." The Syrian Human Rights Committee also said that  "three people, including a child, were killed as…

Summary

Published
11 August 2019
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