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

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3052

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria
Up to six civilians, including one child, were killed along with five wounded as Hamouriya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, for the third day in row was subject to Assad and/or Russian air and artillery shelling, local media reported. According to al-Jazeera's correspondent, who blamed both Russian and Assad forces, the shelling of eastern Ghouta on February…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–6
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3053

Location

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria
At least two, but up to five, civilians were killed and several were wounded as Jisreen, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was subject to aerial and artillery shelling, carried out by the Syrian regime, Russia or both, as reported by local media. Zaman al-Wasl reported how several towns of eastern Ghouta, including Jisreen, were being struck by…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3054

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria
As the aerial and artillery shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its third day, up to 17 people, including at least four children and two women, were killed and several were wounded as the town of Hazza was struck by Russian and/or Syrian regime forces, local media reported. What Zaman al-Wasl, described as "a fierce military…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
7–17
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3048

Location

معراتة, Ma'rata, Idlib, Syria
One male child was killed and a number of others were wounded as an alleged Russian warplane struck the town of Ma'rata in the outskirts of Idlib, local media reported. The child was identified by name by several sources, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Among others, the Civil Defense reported that the child was…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3049

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria
As the aerial shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on February 21st, the town of Arbeen was struck by Russian and/or Assad-waged air raids, killing up to five civilians and wounding another three, local media reported. On February 21st, al-Modon reported that "more than 50 air raids" were carried out in multiple towns in eastern Ghouta, including…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3043

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria
At least four but up to 11 civilians, including one woman and two female children, were killed and several wounded as Saqba in eastern Ghouta, Damascus was subject to intense air and artillery shelling, local media reported, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame. Al-Jazeera reported how both Syrian…

Summary

Published
20 February 2018
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
4–11
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident