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

15 July 2020

Incident Code

RS4528

Location

Al Bab, Idlib, Syria
الباب
One child has been killed and up to 12 injured, including as many as eight children and three women in multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al-Bab, Idlib on July 15th 2020. Smart news initially reported: “A child was killed and eight others were injured Wednesday, by Russian warplanes shelling in the city…

Summary

Published
15 July 2020
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Incident Date

14 July 2020

Incident Code

RS4527

Location

Al Dakmak, Idlib, Syria
الدقماق
At least two civilians were reported injured during alleged Syrian and/or Russian artillery shelling and/or airstrikes on the towns of Al Dakmak in the Al-Ghab Plain, west of Hama on July 14th 2020. The Syrian Civil Defence Forces of the Southern Directorate reported that two young men with injuries of varying degrees were rushed to…

Summary

Published
14 July 2020
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Incident Date

14 July 2020

Incident Code

RS4526

Location

Several towns, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
A number of civilians were reported injured when Russian warplanes targeted several towns in Idlib on July 14th, 2020, according to Shaam News which reported: "Russian aircraft launched air strikes targeting the villages of Sarjila, Benin, Kafaraweed, and Sufouhn, accompanied by very heavy artillery and missile shelling on the city of Ariha , villages, and…

Summary

Published
14 July 2020
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Incident Date

14 July 2020

Incident Code

RS4525

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كنصفرة
Two civilians, a man and a woman, were reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian airstrikes or artillery shelling in the town of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib on July 14th 2020, according to local sources. All sources reporting on civilian harm from the incident in Kansafra consistently mention that two civilians, a…

Summary

Published
14 July 2020
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Incident Date

14 July 2020

Incident Code

RS4524

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
Between four and five civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured and 2 civilians, a child and his father, died as a result of alleged Russian, Syrian or Iranian artillery shellings or air strikes on residential neighborhoods of the city of Ariha in the southern countryside of Idlib on July 14,…

Summary

Published
14 July 2020
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Incident Date

7 July 2020

Incident Code

RS4523

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كنصفرة
Between one and three civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Kansafra on July 7, 2020. A tweet from @BelalBayoush90 reported that three civilians were injured by heavy artillery and rocket launcher attacks on the town of Kansafra, attributing the attack to the regime while @thawrat111 identified two…

Summary

Published
7 July 2020
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