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
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Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

27 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4375

Location

Al Zorba, Idlib, Syria
الزربة
One member of the Syrian Civil Defense was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Zorba, Idlib governorate, on January 27th, 2020, according to local media reports. Russian warplanes carried out strikes against the western outskirts of the town resulting in the injury of a civil defense volunteer, according…

Summary

Published
27 January 2020
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Incident Date

27 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4373

Location

Mardikh, Idlib, Syria
مرديخ
A child and her mother were killed and another child was wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike in the village of Mardikh, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020, according to local media. SN4HR reported: "Mrs. Fteim Mahmoud a Shbib was killed along with her girl as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian…

Summary

Published
27 January 2020
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Incident Date

27 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4374

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب,
One man was killed and three civilians, including a girl, were injured after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the city of Saraqib, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020, according to local media. The Palestine News Network reported: "Russian warplanes raided residential neighborhoods in the city of Saraqib, using high-explosive missiles,…

Summary

Published
27 January 2020
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Incident Date

27 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4372

Location

Shannan, Idlib, Syria
شنان
Two men were killed and others injured following alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the village of Shannan, Idlib governorate, on January 27th, 2020, according to local media reports. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that "Wael al Jisr and Mustafa al Deeb were killed as fixed-wing warplanes fired…

Summary

Published
27 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4370

Location

Al Iman Hospital in Sarja village, Idlib, Syria
مشفى الإيمان في قرية سرجة
Civilians were injured, including one man, when Russian airstrikes targeted the Al-Iman Hospital in the village of Sarja, Idlib Governorate on January 26th, 2020, according to local media reports. The sources claim the bombing forced the closure of the hospital which served up to 50,000 civilians from the surrounding area. Sham News quoted the Free…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4369

Location

Mardiekh, Idlib, Syria
مرديخ
One man was killed and a woman was injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the village of Mardiekh, Idlib Governorate, on January 26th, 2020, according to local media. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported: "16:02 A regime's Sukhoi 22 warplane raid targets the outskirts of Mardikh village and resulted in…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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