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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

4 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3558

Location

Urem al-Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
أورم الكبرى
Around 11 pm in the night of January the 4th, alleged Russian or regime airstrikes targeted the villages of Dera Azza, Urm Al Kubra, Al Rashidin and Rehab Al Mohandeseen, local media reported.   In the village Urma Al Kubra, west of Aleppo, no civilians appear to have been killed but several were wounded. Reports varied on…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

4 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3557

Location

Al Mentar farm, Idlib, Syria
مزرعة المنطار
At 5 a.m. on January 4th, 2019, an alleged Russian airstrike struck a farm in al-Mentar (Mazra’et Al Mentar) west of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern Idlib countryside, injuring seven people, including a child and two women from the village of Al-Jibin, according to local media. Civil Defense Forces reportedly rescued the family that was…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

4 January 2019

Incident Code

RS3559

Location

Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
Around 11 pm during the night of January 4th, 2018, alleged Russian airstrikes hit the village of Darat Izza, and up to three civilians of the Qadili family were killed, including a father and son, while several more civilians were reportedly wounded. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the suspected Russian planes "fired missiles near…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
View Incident

Incident Date

31 December 2018

Incident Code

RS3554

Location

Mar'and, Idlib, Syria
مرعند
Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Mar'and, Jisr Al Shughour countryside, on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources. Masr Al Arabia reported that civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on civilian homes in the village of Mar'and on December 31st. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote…

Summary

Published
31 December 2018
View Incident

Incident Date

31 December 2018

Incident Code

RS3555

Location

Al Zayniyeh, Idlib, Syria
الزعينية
Civilians were possibly killed or injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Zayniyeh on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that there were possible casualties in alleged airstrikes after midnight on the former headquarters of factions near the towns of  Mar'and and Al Zayniyeh.…

Summary

Published
31 December 2018
View Incident

Incident Date

31 December 2018

Incident Code

RS3556

Location

Baksriya, Idlib, Syria
بكسريا
An unknown number of civilians, including a child, was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the town of Baksriya, Idlib governorate, on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources. @LccSy reported "civilian casualties following the shelling of a ballistic missile on the village of Baksriya, west of Jisr Al Shughour." @ahmad_haj_bakri wrote…

Summary

Published
31 December 2018
View Incident