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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

8 June 2020

Incident Code

RS4517

Location

Al-Muzarra, Idlib, Syria
الموزرة
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
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Incident Date

5 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4516

Location

Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria
معرة مصرين
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
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Incident Date

3 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4515

Location

Al Thalatheen Street, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
شارع الثلاثين
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
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Incident Date

3 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4514

Location

Shalakh, Idlib, Syria
شلخ
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
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Incident Date

2 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4511

Location

Al Fou’a, Idlib, Syria
الفوعة
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
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Incident Date

2 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4512

Location

Binnish, Idlib, Syria
بنش
Local sources reported that one man was killed and up to two others injured as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Binnish in the Idlib province, on March 2nd 2020. Alleged Russian warplanes carried out two raids on the city of Binnish. The strikes resulted in the death of one civilian…

Summary

Published
2 March 2020
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