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

4 February 2019

Incident Code

RS3571

Location

Al Taman’a or Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
التمانعة
An alleged Russian airstrike targeted the town of Al Taman’a west of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern Idlib countryside. The airstrike was one of three airstrikes with high-explosive missiles launched by a Russian aircraft, according to Ziad al-Aboud, commander of the "civil defense sector" in Khan Sheikhoun  It is not clear whether there were civilian casualties as a…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
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Incident Date

1 February 2019

Incident Code

RS3570

Location

Kfar Zeita, Hama, Syria
كفر زيتا
One civilian died because of wounds he sustained as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime bombing on Kfar Zeita on February 1st, 2019 according to local sources. Other casualties among civilians were also reported. Local sources reported that Osama Hafez Al Rajo died on the morning of February 10th from wounds sustained…

Summary

Published
1 February 2019
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Incident Date

28 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3569

Location

Kafr Nabl, Idlib, Syria
كفر نبل
A number of injuries among civilians were reported after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces rocket attack on Kafr Nabl in Idlib on January 28th, 2019 according to sources on the ground. abds02747 tweeted that "Hossam al-Hassani and Mohammed al-Khatib were injured by the rocket attack that targeted the city of Kafr Nabl."…

Summary

Published
28 January 2019
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Incident Date

26 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3568

Location

Kfar Zeita, Hama, Syria
كفر زيتا
Artillery shelling reportedly struck a residential neighborhood in Kfar Zeita on the  evening of January 26th and wounded a 40-year-old man who was transferred to a nearby medical point. According to some sources, another unidentified civilian was wounded. All sources blamed the Russian forces, except one local source who blamed the Syrian regime.

Summary

Published
26 January 2019
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Incident Date

23 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3567

Location

Mourek, Hama, Syria
مورك
Two women were wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Mourek, 27 kilometres north of Hama, on January 23rd, according to local media. Smart News Agency reported that two women had been injured by artillery shelling on the city of Mourek. Ahmad Makhad, from the media department with the Syrian Civil Defence,…

Summary

Published
23 January 2019
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Incident Date

22 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3566

Location

Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria
كفرزيتا
12-year-old girl Mariam Mahmoud Hassan Rahhal was reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Kfar Zeita, north-east of Souran in the northern suburb of Hama. Two other civilians were wounded, whom according to some sources, were children as well.  Smart News Agency reported "the killing of a girl and wounding two…

Summary

Published
22 January 2019
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