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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

8 September 2018

Incident Code

RS3530

Location

Vicinity of Abdin, Idlib, Syria
عابدين القريبة
Up to six civilians including a girl and a woman were killed and five others including up to three children and a woman injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Abdin town in Idlib on Sep 8th, 2018. The time of the incident remains unclear as some sources said it happened in…

Summary

Published
8 September 2018
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Incident Date

7 September 2018

Incident Code

RS3528

Location

Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
خان شيخون
Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strike on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018, while extinguishing a fire after the first air raid, according to local sources. @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that "two volunteers were injured (Anas Al Diab - Muhammad…

Summary

Published
7 September 2018
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Incident Date

7 September 2018

Incident Code

RS3527

Location

Al Habit, Idlib, Syria
الهبيط
Up to four civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018, according to local sources. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that "four civilians were killed, and seven others were wounded, most of them in serious condition, as a result of heavy…

Summary

Published
7 September 2018
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Incident Date

4 September 2018

Incident Code

RS3526

Location

Idlib Governorate, Syria
مُحافظة ادلب
Two civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Dassen, Idlib Governorate, on September 4th, 2018, according to Step News Agency. Step wrote that "Russian warplanes launched intensive air raids targeting villages and towns of rural Idlib West and the western and northern and western countryside of  Hama, since the…

Summary

Published
4 September 2018
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Incident Date

4 September 2018

Incident Code

RS3525

Location

Baidar Shamso, Idlib, Syria
بيدر شمسو
One woman was reportedly killed and several civilians, including three women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Baidar Shamso, Idlib governorate, on Tuesday, September 4th, 2018, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a civilian woman had been killed in airstrikes on Baidar Shamso. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that…

Summary

Published
4 September 2018
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Incident Date

4 September 2018

Incident Code

RS3524

Location

Al Badriya, Idlib, Syria
البدرية
A woman was reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Badriya on September 4th, 2018, according to local sources. Possibly, more civilians were killed and injured. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that "a woman was injured and a large number of civilian property was destroyed, after an aerial bombardment targeted the homes of civilians in…

Summary

Published
4 September 2018
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