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
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Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

24 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3703

Location

Kafr Nabl, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Residential neighbourhoods of Kafr Nabl were subject to a number of airstrikes on May 24th, leading to the death of one child, named Ahmad Mahmoud Salah al-Satam, according to local media. With a number of sources referring to "others wounded", Smart News claimed that the rest of Ahmad's family were hospitalised as a result of…

Summary

Published
24 May 2019
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Incident Date

24 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3705

Location

Habeet, Idlib, Syria
الهبيط
Two sources reported alleged Russian airstrikes on Harbeet village in Idlib on May 24th. Syrian Network for Human Rights claimed that two media workers were injured in the airstrikes. The source stated that Mustafa al Khalaf and Mustafa Dahnoun, reporters of Syria TV and al Jisr TV respectively, were injured in "intensive bombing on the…

Summary

Published
24 May 2019
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Incident Date

24 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3704

Location

Hass, Idlib, Syria
حاس
One to three civilians, including two children, were reported killed in several airstrikes on the town of Hass, Idlib, on May 24th. While Shahd is the only named fatality in a number of sources, the Syrian Network for Human rights claimed that "Shahd Jamal al Farhat was killed along with one of her family members,…

Summary

Published
24 May 2019
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Incident Date

23 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3700

Location

Kafr Sajna, Idlib, Syria
كفرسجنة
Two civilians died in alleged Russia or regime raids on Kafr Sajna, local media reported. According to Ariha Today, "a man and a woman were killed and four other civilians were injured in the town of # Kafarsjana in the southern countryside of Idlib as a result of raids by Russian warplanes" But Idlib Media Centre…

Summary

Published
23 May 2019
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Incident Date

23 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3699

Location

Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria
معرة حرمة
Idlib Plus tweeted: "A video showing the moment the shelling of houses of civilians on the outskirts of the town of Maara Harema in a Russian  air raid." Also @MasarPressNet  tweeted "Civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes on the towns of Ma’aret Harma and Kafr Sujnah in the southern countryside." More details to follow.…

Summary

Published
23 May 2019
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Incident Date

23 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3701

Location

Kafr Nubul, Idlib, Syria
كفر نبل
A number of civilians including children and women were killed and injured in Russian forces and/or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Kafr Nubul on May 23rd, 2019, according to local sources. In one news SMART reported that "two civilians were wounded by a rocket attack on the town of  Kafr Nubul south of Idlib from…

Summary

Published
23 May 2019
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