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 4,842 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.
4,842 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.
3,026 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4808 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

26 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4540

Location

Al Dwailah in Kafar Takhareem in Idib, Idlib, Syria
منطقة الدويله في كفرتخاريم في ريف ادلب
Between two and 23 civilians were reported injured and at least one civilain, a journalist, was killed during alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dwailah area near Salqin, west of the city of Kafr Takharim, in the northwestern countryside of Idlib on October 26, 2020. Multiple sources stated that the Russian forces targeted a military…

Summary

Published
26 October 2020
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Incident Date

21 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4539

Location

Al Rami, Idlib, Syria
الرامي
A child was reported killed and between three and six civilians, including up to three children, a woman and a man, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on residential areas in the village of Al Rami in the southern Idlib countryside on October 21, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, a correspondent of Resala post reported that…

Summary

Published
21 October 2020
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Incident Date

14 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4538

Location

Al Hamama, Idlib, Syria
بلدة الحمامة
Between two and four civilians were reported killed and between 13 and 15 civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on the vicinity of the town of Al Hamama, west of Idlib on October 14, 2020. More specifically, a tweet from Halab Today TV mentioned that the Russian Air Forces attacked the…

Summary

Published
14 October 2020
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Incident Date

4 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4537

Location

Al Tayba, Deir Ezzor, Syria
الطيبة
Two children were reportedly injured as a result of an alleged explosion of a cluster bomb left over from Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Tayba, east of Deir Ezzor, on the dawn of October 4th, 2020 according to two local sources. Ahrar Al Mayadeen news agency and a tweet by (@DeirEzzor24) claimed that…

Summary

Published
4 October 2020
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Incident Date

20 September 2020

Incident Code

RS4535

Location

The vicinity of Idlib City, Idlib, Syria
محيط ادلب
One civilian was injured by multiple alleged airstrikes from Russian warplanes on the outskirts of the city of Idlib on September 20th 2020. The identities of those injured were not reported. Images show the raids took place in the day time. @HalabTodayTV reported that “The Syrian Civil Defense announces the injury of two people as…

Summary

Published
20 September 2020
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Incident Date

20 September 2020

Incident Code

RS4536

Location

Arab Saeed, Idlib, Syria
عرب سعيد
One civilian was reportedly injured as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on the vicinity of Arab Sa’id village, west of Idlib on September 20th, 2020 at noon according to local sources and news agencies. Edlib Media center said that according to the civil defense one civilian was injured after “eight Russian su34 and su35…

Summary

Published
20 September 2020
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