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 4,843 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.
4,843 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.
3,027 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4809 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

11 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3786

Location

Hass, Idlib, Syria
حاس
Two women were killed and an unknown number of other civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Hass, Idlib governorate, on June 11th, 2019, according to local sources. Smart News reported that "two women were killed and others were wounded on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, by aerial bombardment…

Summary

Published
11 June 2019
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Incident Date

10 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3781

Location

Kafar Batikh, Idlib, Syria
كفربطيخ
One to two civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Kafar Batik, Idlib, June 10th. While two sources cite the death of one woman, multiple sources document the death of both a woman and her young child. Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that an "infant, Malak Mohammad Hammadi, was killed along with her mother, Asmaa…

Summary

Published
10 June 2019
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Incident Date

10 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3782

Location

Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria
معرة حرمة
Two civilians reported killed in airstrikes on Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, on June 10th. Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "two civilians from the same family" perished in the attack, while numerous other sources also cite two deaths. The Syrian Human Rights Committee named the two victims as  Abdullah Muhammad al-Ismail and Sattouf Ahmad Al-Ismail.…

Summary

Published
10 June 2019
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Incident Date

10 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3783

Location

Al Zirba, Aleppo, Syria
الزربة
Up to four civilians, a mother and her three children, were reported killed and other civilians injured as a result of heavy artillery in Al Zirba, Aleppo, June 10th. Local sources said the victims belong to the same family. Syria Civil Defense stated that "a woman and her two children were killed in Al Zirba"…

Summary

Published
11 June 2019
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Incident Date

10 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3779

Location

Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, Syria
معرشورين
One to five civilians were reported killed by airstrikes on Ma'ar Shureen, Idlib, on June 10th. Both Shahba Press and Idlib Plus stated that of those initially killed, two were children, and one was a woman, and Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the death of "at least three civilians (a child, an unborn baby…

Summary

Published
10 June 2019
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Incident Date

10 June 2019

Incident Code

RS3780

Location

Jbala, Idlib, Syria
جبالا
Thirteen civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Jbala, Idlib, June 10th. While multiple sources cited thirteen as the number of civilians killed, one source, Step News Agency reported four deaths initially. As understanding of the events unfolded, this same source later stated that death toll had risen to 12. While @abuhuzaifa_  alleged said that…

Summary

Published
10 June 2019
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