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
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

7 April 2018

Incident Code

RS3385

Location

Douma, Damascus, Syria
دوما
A family was among seven civilians killed as Russian and regime forces reportedly struck the city of Douma. Civil Defense teams said warplanes and helicopters bombed the city with more than 100 raids and an explosive barrel, in addition to rocket and artillery shelling. Sources also reported the use of cluster munitions.

Summary

Published
7 April 2019
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Incident Date

7–8 April, 2019

Incident Code

RS3608

Location

Kafr Zeita, Hama, Syria
كفرزيتا
Local sources reported that an elderly man was killed when multiple Russian airstrikes allegedly struck several neighbourhoods in the city of Kafr Zeita. Local news outlet Baladi News reported that the Russian Airforce conducted eight airstrikes with high-explosive rockets on residential neighbourhoods in the town. According to Step News, the Russian planes launched a total…

Summary

Published
7 April 2019
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Incident Date

6 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3606

Location

Kafr Nabl, Idlib, Syria
كفرنبل
A child and a woman were reportedly killed and more than a dozen civilians were injured in shelling on the town of Kafr Nabl in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. In an initial post, Smart News blamed the Russian forces but later blamed the Syrian regime instead. Other local sources blamed the Syrian regime…

Summary

Published
6 April 2019
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Incident Date

1 April 2019

Incident Code

RS3605

Location

Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria
كفرزيتا
One adult male civilian died and up to four other civilians (including a father and his two children) were wounded in an alleged Assad regime or Russian artillery bombardment of Kafar Zeita on the afternoon of April 1st, local sources reported. According to Smart News, Russian forces conducted heavy artillery shelling on the cities of…

Summary

Published
1 April 2019
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Incident Date

28 March 2019

Incident Code

RS3603

Location

Ma'aret al-Nu'man, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Local media reported that four civilians including a woman were wounded when a cluster bomb that was dropped in a previous strike (the date unknown) exploded in Ma'aret al-Nu'man on March 28th. Sources were conflicted on whether the cluster bomb had originally been dropped by regime or Russian forces.  

Summary

Published
28 March 2019
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Incident Date

28 March 2019

Incident Code

RS3604

Location

Khan Sheikhoun, Ma'arat al-Numan, Syria
خان شيخون
One woman was injured in an alleged regime or Russian artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. On March 28th, the Syrian Observatory said "that it had monitored more violations in the areas of the Russian-Turkish truce and surrounding areas" It added that it had "monitored intensive bombardment by regime forces with more than…

Summary

Published
28 March 2019
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