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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

12 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3896

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
Alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes struck the cities of Idlib, Ma`ra al-Nu'man and Ariha in the north of Idlib, killing a combined total of six civilians including three children and two women and wounding up to 40. According to Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Syrian regime and reported that their warplanes fired…

Summary

Published
12 July 2019
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Incident Date

11 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3892

Location

Al Latmina, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
Local sources reported that a civilian male was killed in alleged Russian air or artillery strikes on Al Latamina, Hama governorate, on July 11th, 2019. Reportedly, the man's pregnant wife and two children were injured. Others reported that as many as seven civilians were wounded. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "Mohammad Musa…

Summary

Published
11 July 2019
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Incident Date

11 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3894

Location

Al Kafir, Idlib, Syria
الكفير
One civilian was reported killed, and 19 to 27 injured in airstrikes on Al Kafir, Idlib, on July 11th. Jisr Media Center named 70-year old Omar Jabbu as killed in the attack, and  27 others who were wounded in the incident, including many children. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights alleged that "more than 19 people…

Summary

Published
11 July 2019
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Incident Date

10 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3885

Location

Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
Up to 10 civilians, including at least four children, were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib governorate, on July 10th, 2019. Around 10 civilians were injured. @AJArabic tweeted: "Six civilians were killed and 10 others were wounded, most of them women and children, by Russian-Syrian airstrikes on…

Summary

Published
10 July 2019
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Incident Date

10 July 2019

Incident Code

RS3891

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
اريحا
A civilian male was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha, Idlib governorate, on July 10th, 2019, according to local sources. The strikes reportedly targeted a school. Zaitonmag wrote: "The warplanes bombed the city of Ariha, south of Idlib, and the bombing targeted civilian homes and a school, resulting in an injured…

Summary

Published
10 July 2019
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Incident Date

22 September 2017–25 July 2019

Incident Code

RS2497

Location

Shumita village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
قريه الشميطية
On Sept 25th Euphrates Post reported: "The martyrdom of Haj Mukhlaf Khalaf Al-Ahmad from the village of Al-Shmitiya, from the wounds he sustained as a result of an air strike that targeted the village a few days ago". This victim was also named by the Violations Documentation Centre, along with a second victim Mekhlef al…

Summary

Published
10 July 2019
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