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 Date Publication Date

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
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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
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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
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Incident Date

6 November 2018

Incident Code

RS3551

Location

Deir Al A'adas, Daraa, Syria
دير العدس
Four children were reportedly injured in the explosion of a cluster bomb from an earlier alleged Russian or Syrian regime air raid on the town of Deir Al A'adas, November 6th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the raid took place. @Step_Agency reported: "Four civilians, including children, were injured as a result…

Summary

Published
6 November 2018
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Incident Date

20 October 2018

Incident Code

RS3550

Location

Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
A boy was killed and his sister injured when a cluster bomb from a previous alleged Russian raid on the city of Jisr Al Shughour exploded on October 20th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the bomb was fired. @maraya404 tweeted that "a child is martyred and his sister is injured due to…

Summary

Published
20 October 2018
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Incident Date

12 October 2018

Incident Code

RS3549

Location

Anadan, Aleppo, Syria
عندان
A child was killed in the explosion of the remnants of a cluster bomb from earlier alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Adanan, Aleppo governorate, on October 12th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the raid took place. @MasarPressNet tweeted that "a child was martyred when a cluster bomb exploded from the…

Summary

Published
12 October 2018
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