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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3656

Location

Tarmala, Idlib, Syria
ترملا
Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as 10 more were injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Tarmala, local media reported. Several sources reported only one fatality, though it was widely reported that a man and his seven-year-old daughter were killed, and that the rest of…

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
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Incident Date

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3657

Location

Kafar Nubul , Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
Up to three civilians died and up to five more were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime strike on the surgical hospital of Kafar Nubul, according to local media. The New York Times later published audiofile transcripts which it said proved Russia had deliberately targeted the hospital. According to Syria TV at the time:…

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
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Incident Date

5 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3655

Location

Al Tamani’a, Idlib, Syria
التمانعه
Up to three civilians were reported wounded in an alleged Russian or regime strike on the town of Al Tamani’a in rural Idlib. There was a report that Al Tamani’a hospital was struck by the regime. Other sources pointed to Russia.

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
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Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3649

Location

Al Habit, Idlib, Syria
الهبيط
Alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, killed up to four civilians on May 4th, 2019, local media reported. Multiple sources reported the shelling of civilian infrastructure. According to @AishaSapri, the health centre was struck, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported damage to…

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
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Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3650

Location

Arnaba, Idlib, Syria
أرنبة
A woman and two children of the same family were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Arnaba, Idlib governorate, on May 4th, 2019, according to local sources. According to the White Helmets, "two children were killed and a child was seriously injured as a result of a military airstrike near a school…

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
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Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3651

Location

Mhambel, Idlib, Syria
محمبل
The girls Ghazal Hussein al Yahya and Mais Alaa al Aoura were alleged killed as "fixed- wing warplanes" believed to be Russian fired missiles on Mhambel village in Idlib. Ten other civilians including children were reported wounded. Orient TV said that Russian warplanes used highly explosive missiles in this incident in which a mosque was…

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
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