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

1 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3631

Location

M’arshourin, Idlib, Syria
معرشورين
Local sources reported airstrikes in the towns of Tarmala, Ma’arshrouin and Al Mashrifa in the countryside of Idlib. According to Step News and EdlibEMC1, one civilian was wounded when an airstrike struck the outskirts of the village of Ma’arshrouin. EdlibEMC1 claimed that the victim was a young man who was wounded when the village was…

Summary

Published
1 May 2019
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Incident Date

1 May 2019

Incident Code

RS3633

Location

Mushayrifah, Idlib, Syria
المشيرفة
One woman and between one and four children were reported wounded when a Russian aircraft struck the village of Al Mushayrifah in rural Idlib in the morning of May 1st. The Syrian Civil Defense forces reported that the children were struck by a "rocket-propelled grenade". HalabTodayTV and Syria.liveuamap pointed to Russia as the culprit. Smarts…

Summary

Published
1 May 2019
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Incident Date

30 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3630

Location

Al Latamina, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
Two civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the town of Al Latamina on April 30th, 2019, according to local sources. Kafar Zeita TV reported that two civilians were wounded by rocket fire from Russian helicopters on the outskirts of the town of Al Latamina in the…

Summary

Published
30 April 2019
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Incident Date

29–30 April, 2019

Incident Code

RS3624

Location

Kafar Nbouda, Hama, Syria
كفرنبودة
One civilian died and up to 10 more were wounded in airstrikes on Kfar Nbouda, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime was to blame. Many reports said that regime helicopters dropped multiple barrel bombs on the town. There were reports of both artillery and airstrikes. Local Coordination…

Summary

Published
30 April 2019
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Incident Date

30 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3629

Location

Ariyanba, Idlib, Syria
أرينبة
Local sources reported that a woman was killed by shelling in the village of Ariyanba in the southern countryside of Idlib. Two or three other people were reported wounded. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime was to blame. HalabTodayTV added that dozens of families were displaced as a result of…

Summary

Published
30 April 2019
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Incident Date

30 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3628

Location

Abdin, Idlib, Syria
عابدين
One or two civilians, including a woman, died and up to three others were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on Abdin, Idlib governorate, on April 30th, 2019, local media reported. Local sources reported that a woman was killed and others were injured when Abdin, south of Idlib, was struck…

Summary

Published
30 April 2019
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