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

26 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3614

Location

Bsanqoul, Idlib, Syria
At least nine civilians were killed in an airstrike in Bsanqoul, according to local media sources - though it was not clear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. Al Jazeera, who placed the death toll at nine, attributed responsibility to Russian forces. They reported that the strike killed "leader of the movement Ahrar…

Summary

Published
26 April 2017
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Incident Date

23 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3613

Location

Khan Sheikoun, Idlib, Syria
خان شيخون
Shelling on residential neighbourhoods in Khan Sheikhoun killed nine named civilians and wounded as many as dozens more on April 23rd, 2019, local media reported. Up to 64 rocket and artillery shells were used in the raid, according to the Syrian Civil Defense. While @abuhuzaifa_ reported an initial toll of five civilian fatalities but in…

Summary

Published
23 April 2019
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Incident Date

21–23 April, 2019

Incident Code

RS3612

Location

Badiyah of Deir Ezzor, Deir Ezzor, Syria
بادية ريف ديرالزور الغربي
Local media reported that a child died of her injuries on April 25th after alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Badiyah (the desert) in the western Deir Ezzor countryside several days earlier. @DeirEzzor24 tweeted: "The child Sumaya Saleh Al Bayram died of injuries she received several days ago in aerial bombardment by #Russia on the Badiyah…

Summary

Published
23 April 2019
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Incident Date

19 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3611

Location

Khan Sheikoun, Ma'arat al-Numan, Syria
خان شيخون, ‏خان شيخون‬
Two men were reported wounded when rockets and/or artillery struck the Al Rahman Mosque in Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, partially destroying the building. Sources reported the use of rocket-propelled grenades. Smart News Agency reported there were "two wounded in a rocket attack on the city of Khan Sheikun south of Idlib from the Russian forces…

Summary

Published
19 April 2019
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Incident Date

17 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3610

Location

Abu Habba, Idlib, Syria
أبو حبّة
A number of civilians were killed and wounded when artillery and rockets struck the Al Zohour Primary School and civilian homes in Abu Habba village in Deir Ezzor, partially destroying the school building and fence, according to sources on the ground. The Macro Media Center reported that one civilian was killed and several children injured.…

Summary

Published
17 April 2019
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Incident Date

13–14 April, 2019

Incident Code

RS3609

Location

Urma Al Jouz, Idlib, Syria
أورم الجوز
Alleged Russian airstrikes struck the town of Urma Al Jouz, in the western countryside of Idlib, around midnight between April 13th and 14th, wounding a family of five, according to local media. Over a dozen missile strikes were reportedly fired from three Russian planes. The strikes were described as rocket attacks, or more specifically as…

Summary

Published
13 April 2019
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