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

27 March 2019

Incident Code

RS3602

Location

Al-Lataminah, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
One adult male civilian was wounded in alleged regime or Russian artillery shelling of Al-Lataminah, according to local media. The Smart News Agency, citing activists as its source, reported: "A civilian was wounded as a result of artillery shelling on the town of Al-Lataminah, north of Hama, the source of the Russian forces camp in…

Summary

Published
27 March 2019
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Incident Date

22 March 2019

Incident Code

RS3601

Location

Kafriya and Al Fou’a, Idlib, Syria
كفريا والفوعة
In a major civilian casualty incident on March 22, 2019, which several sources referred to as a "massacre", up to 28 civilians died and as many as 30 more were wounded in multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on the towns of Kafriya and Al Fou’a in Idlib. According to Baladi, Russia launched "more than 15 successive…

Summary

Published
22 March 2019
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Incident Date

20 March 2019

Incident Code

RS3600

Location

Several towns in Idlib countryside, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة في ريف إدلب
Local media reported that Russian warplanes carried out strikes on a number of towns and villages in Idlib on March 20th and 21st, resulting in the death of up to five civilians. According to the Step News Agency, "Russia launched several air raids on the towns of Sheikh Mustafa and Basida  and the outskirts of…

Summary

Published
20 March 2019
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Incident Date

20–21 March, 2019

Incident Code

RS3599

Location

Al-Faqee, Idlib, Syria
الفقيع
The children Mariam, Fatima, Abdullah and Islam al Mer'e, IDP's from Al Traimsa village in Hama, were killed alongside their father Ismail while their mother was injured, along with five others in what was believed to be a Russian airstrike on a house in al-Faqee in Idlib, according to local media. The airstrike was reportedly…

Summary

Published
21 March 2019
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Incident Date

20–21 March, 2019

Incident Code

RS3598

Location

Bsida village, Idlib, Syria
قرية بسيدا
Local sources reported that six Russian aircrafts carried out airstrikes on a number of villages in rural Idlib including Bsida village. One woman was reported injured in this particular village, while an airstrike on Al Faqee caused a number of fatalities and wounded civilians that Airwars documented in assessment R3397.

Summary

Published
20 March 2019
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Incident Date

13 March 2019

Incident Code

RS3595

Location

Idlib Central Prison, Idlib, Syria
سجن ادلب المركزي
Local sources reported that two Russian planes launched eight raids on the city of Idlib, including residential areas. Baladi News reported that six airstrikes struck the central prison west of the city of Idlib causing the destructing of one of the buildings. Multiple civilians including prisoners and prison staff were reported killed and wounded while…

Summary

Published
13 March 2019
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