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

20 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3564

Location

Al Shia'ar, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
الشعار
Between four and 12 civilians, including children, were died in alleged Russian airstrikes in the al-Sha’ar neighbourhood of Aleppo, local media reported. Up to 60 civilians were left wounded. Several sources reported that a family - a father and his children - was among the victims. One source showed a video of a woman mourning…

Summary

Published
20 November 2016
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Incident Date

20 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3563

Location

Baksriya, Idlib, Syria
بكسريا
Alleged Russian airstrikes struck the villages of Khan al Sabil and Baksriya in the countryside of Jisr al Shughour on January 20th, 2018, according to local media. Around 3 AM, an alleged strike hit Baksriya and killed two civilians; one man and a woman. Between two and nine civilians were reported wounded and were evacuated by the Syrian…

Summary

Published
20 January 2019
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Incident Date

20 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3565

Location

Al Janoudiya, Jisir Al Shughur countryside, Idlib, Syria
الجانودية
One civilian died and up to four others were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike which reportedly destroyed a bakery in al Janoudiya, local media reported. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "warplanes we believe were Russian bombed al Taqwa automatic bakery in  the north of al Janoudiya village in Idlib governorate, destroying its…

Summary

Published
20 January 2019
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Incident Date

17 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3562

Location

Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
A 53-year-old man died and up to four of his family members were wounded and rescued from the rubble of their home in Al Lataminah, following an alleged Russian airstrike or artillery shelling by the Assad regime, according to sources on the ground. Syria.tv noted that the adult male victim, Khaled Karmo Al-Hilal (named by multiple sources)…

Summary

Published
17 January 2019
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Incident Date

16 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3561

Location

Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria
كفرزيتا
According to local sources, artillery shelling targeted a civilian house in Kafr Zeita, north of Hama. The resident, a woman, allegedly died of her injuries on January 29th after being hit by a missile on January 16th.  There were varying reports on the culprit; some sources blamed the Syrian regime while others blamed Russian forces.

Summary

Published
16 January 2019
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Incident Date

11 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3560

Location

Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria
اللطامنة
A 14-year-old girl was reported killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Al Lataminah in northern Hama, according to sources on the ground. Local sources reported that a woman and her two daughters were wounded and that the girl died from her injuries hours later. There are varying reports about the exact number of…

Summary

Published
11 January 2019
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