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

8 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2994

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria
Between one and four civilians were killed and several were left wounded as Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes hit Hazza in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported. In this poorly reported incident, some sources mentioned one fatality along with two wounded. As the only one, Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCCSY) put the death toll at four.…

Summary

Published
8 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2996

Location

مشمشان, Mishmishan, Idlib, Syria
Alleged Russian airstrikes killed up to eight civilians, including children and women, and wounded up to 40, including children, local media reported, after the town of Mishmishan, Idlib, was struck. Ebaa News cited locals on the ground who told them how alleged Russian warplanes had "hovered around the area and then returned and carried out…

Summary

Published
8 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
12–40
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2999

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, Syria
Alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime waged shelling of Kafr Sajneh in Idlib killed up to three civilians, including children and women, and wounded up to six children, local media reported. Local reports varied in terms of the death toll, though most agreed that both children and women were among the victims. Smart News cited local…

Summary

Published
8 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3005

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, Syria
Up to three civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and another three children were wounded as Russian or Assad-waged warplanes carried out airstrikes in Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, local media reported. The raids were reportedly launched in the centre of the village, and according to locals on the ground, cited by Smart News…

Summary

Published
8 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3000

Location

عربين, Arbin, Damascus, Syria
In this event, described by many as a "massacre", up to 27 civilians, including children and women, were killed and dozens were wounded as the city of Arbeen, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was subject to heavy aerial shelling, allegedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime. Some sources, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights…

Summary

Published
8 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
19–27
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 February 2018

Incident Code

RS2992

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
According to local sources, two civilians were killed and several were wounded, as alleged Russian or other, unknown warplanes struck Saraqeb, Idlib. All sources reported that aerial shelling has caused civilian harm, at least two killed and several wounded. For example, Edlib Media Center (EMC) reported: "two civilians were killed by the Russian occupation aircraft…

Summary

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