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
4809 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

26 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3961

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
Local sources reported that alleged Syrian or Russian airstrikes struck the Al Hal Market in Saraqib, Idlib governorate in the morning of July 26th, 2019, killing up to two civilians and wounding up to 10. According to Step News Agency, one civilian was killed while Shaam News Network reported two killed civilians. Smart News Agency…

Summary

Published
26 July 2019
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Incident Date

25 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3954

Location

Lahaya, Hama, Syria
لحايا
One civilian was reported killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Lahaya, Hama, on July 25th. @HalabTodayTV said that "a civilian was killed by Russian airstrikes on the village of Lahaya in the northern Hama countryside However, @shabablatamni accused the Syrian regime of responsibility for this incident and tweeted "Regime helicopters bombard with…

Summary

Published
25 July 2019
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Incident Date

25 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3959

Location

Al Latamina, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
One to three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on al Latamina, Hama, on July 25th, 2019. @jisirtv tweeted that barrel bombs were used in the attack. Syrian Network for Human Rights named one fatality as "Abdul Hakim Ahmad al Sayyed", "killed as warplanes we believe were Russian fired several missiles on al Latamina town…

Summary

Published
25 July 2019
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Incident Date

25 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3958

Location

Al Bawabiya, Aleppo, Syria
البوابية
Up to five civilians including two children were reported killed, and up to five including children and women were wounded, in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes and/or artillery attacks on Al Bawabiya in Aleppo's southern countryside in Syria on July 25th, 2019. Three of the victims and two of the injured belong to…

Summary

Published
25 July 2019
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Incident Date

24 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3948

Location

Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria
تحتايا
Up to nine civilians were reported killed and other injured, some seriously, by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on Tahtaya in Idlib on July 25th, 2019. According to @syrian191124, vacuum missiles were used in the attack. Khaled Mahmoud Al-Hudayri, an adult male, was named as one of the victims by…

Summary

Published
25 July 2019
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Incident Date

25 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3956

Location

Al-Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
Local sources reported that up to five civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Atarib, Aleppo countryside, on July 25th, 2019. At least three others were injured. @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted: "A man and a woman were killed and three others were wounded, as a result of the warplanes…

Summary

Published
25 July 2019
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