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

4,431 – 6,522

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 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
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
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

9 June 2020

Incident Code

RS4519

Location

ادلب المدينة, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
Three children, Salah Ghajar, Huzaifa Saadeddin, and Rand Saad Eddin, were killed on June 9, 2020, when an unexploded cluster bomb, a remnant of a previous airstrike on Idlib, exploded as they played in the garden of their home. One source notes that Huzaifa and Rand were sister and brother, while several note that Salah…

Summary

Published
9 June 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 June 2020

Incident Code

RS4517

Location

الموزرة, Al-Muzarra, Idlib, Syria
At least two civilians were killed and between three and four civilians, including a woman, were injured in an airstrike allegedly carried out by Russian forces on the town of Al-Muzarra in Idlib province on June 8, 2020. A number of sources state that two males, Hussein Ali al Abboud and 32-year-old Mustafa Abdul Raouf…

Summary

Published
8 June 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4516

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria
Up to 16 civilians, including between two and five children and five to seven women, were killed, and up to 35 civilians, including two women and four children, were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib governorate, on March 5th, 2020, according to local sources. @seerij80 tweeted…

Summary

Published
5 March 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported killed
9–16
Civilians reported injured
12–35
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4515

Location

شارع الثلاثين, Al Thalatheen Street, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
Upto 12 civilians have been killed, up to eight of which were children on top of, up to 21 civilians injured, up to five of which were children in alleged Russian and Assadi regime airstrikes on Al Thalatheen street in Idlib City on March 3rd 2020. Truman.almare posted that that the airstrike took place at…

Summary

Published
3 March 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
9–12
Civilians reported injured
13–21
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4514

Location

شلخ, Shalakh, Idlib, Syria
A man has been killed and up to three others have been reported to have been injured, including one women as a result of alleged Russian and Assad airstrikes on the town of Shalakh on March 3rd 2020. Syrian Civil Defense reported: “In the town of Shalakh, a man was killed and 3 people were…

Summary

Published
3 March 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4511

Location

الفوعة, Al Fou’a, Idlib, Syria
Up to 11 civilians were killed, including at least one child, and 6 to more than 10 others, including a woman, were wounded as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on residential neighborhoods in the town of Al Fu’ah, northeast of Idlib on the evening of March 2nd, 2020 according to local sources and news…

Summary

Published
2 March 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
6–11
Civilians reported injured
6–11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident