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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

25 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3960

Location

Al Yakoubiya, Idlib, Syria
اليعقوبية
Armin Yaqoub Khalilo, a man from the Christian community, died in the village of Al Yaqoubia in Idlib, on July 25th, 2019, due to the explosion of cluster bomb remnants from an alleged previous Russian or Syrian regime bombing. According to various local sources such as Shaam News Network, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,…

Summary

Published
25 July 2019
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Incident Date

24 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3952

Location

Um Al Sair, Idlib, Syria
أم الصير
Up to six civilians, including children, were reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Um Al Sair, Idlib governorate, on July 24th, 2019, according to local sources. A single source reported that the strikes led to a civilian death. Edlib Media Center wrote that "three civilians wounded in raids by Russian occupation aircraft on the…

Summary

Published
24 July 2019
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Incident Date

24 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3953

Location

Khan Al Sobul, Idlib, Syria
خان السبل
Local sources reported that 20 civilians, including three children and four women, were injured when Russia and the Syrian regime conducted airstrikes on cities and towns of Khan Sheikhan, Ma'arat al-Nu'man, Deir al-Sharqi and Um al-Sair, Jabal al-Arbaeen, Ma'sibin, al-Qasabiyah, Mar'and, Tannnah and Khan al-Sobull. Baladi News reported that in a special statement, Abdul Rahman…

Summary

Published
24 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

24 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3949

Location

Tabish village, Idlib, Syria
قرية طبيش
In the evening of July 24th, 2019, alleged Russian or Syrian airstrikes caused what was described as "a horrific massacre" of an entire family in the village of Tabish near the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib. Local sources reported that the airstrikes struck residential houses in the village of Tabish…

Summary

Published
24 July 2019
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Incident Date

24 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3950

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
Up to 19 civilians, including at least three children and two women, were killed in several air raids by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime warplanes on July 24th, 2019, according to local sources. Up to 19 others were reported injured. Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes fired several missiles on a local market in the center of…

Summary

Published
24 July 2019
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