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

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

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

RS3654

Location

Al Kenda, Idlib, Syria
الكندة
Mus’ab Mahmoud al Satouf, from al Hweiz village in Hama, was  killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Al Kenda, according to local media. No more information is available at the moment.  

Summary

Published
5 May 2019
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Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3653

Location

Rakaya Sijna, Idlib, Syria
ركايا سجنة
An alleged Russian or regime double airstrike near Al Rakaya village in the southern countryside of Idlib reportedly killed two civilians. The Syrian Civil Defense forces reported that one of their volunteers was driving their ambulance to the site where a Russian airstrike had killed a woman, when he himself was struck by a second…

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
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Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3652

Location

Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria
معرة حرمة
Between one and three civilians died and up to five more were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ma'aret Hrema in Idlib, local media reported, adding that cluster bombs have been used in the attack. According to Smart News, both Russia and the Syrian regime forces were to blame for killing one…

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
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Incident Date

4 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3648

Location

Al Ganoudia, Idlib, Syria
الجانودية
Alleged Russian or regime strikes struck the outskirts of the town of Ganoudia in the western countryside of Idlib. An unknown number of civilians including children were reported wounded on May 4th, 2019. Pro regime sources said that the attacks targeted Al-Nusra Front in the area, killing and injuring a number of its members.

Summary

Published
4 May 2019
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