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

5 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4303

Location

الزربة, Al Zurba, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian was reported wounded as a result of Russian forces attack with rockets, or Syrian regime forces attack with machine guns on Al Zurba town in Aleppo, Syria, on January 5th, 2020, according to local sources. The Zurba Media office announced that Mahmoud Abdel Fattah Hammoud was wounded. The individual was an…

Summary

Published
5 January 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4300

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Civilians were reported wounded in alleged shelling by Russian and Syrian regime aircraft on several towns in Idlib on January 5th, 2020, as reported by Shaam News Network. Shaam reported that the following cities and towns were targeted: Maarat Al Nu'man, Al Ghadfa, Ma'saran, Ma'arshamin, Benin, Marashamsha, Ma'shurin, Tilmans, Hantoutin, Deir Sunbul, Ihsim, Kafroumah, Khan Al…

Summary

Published
5 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4304

Location

دير الشرقي, Deir Al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria
Civilians were reportedly wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Deir Al Sharqi, Idlib governorate, on January 5th, 2020. Various local sources, including @MolhamKaied, reported that "injuries" resulted from airstrikes on Deir Al Sharqi but did not mention how many were injured. The majority of sources attributed airstrikes and the resulting injuries in…

Summary

Published
5 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 January 2020

Incident Codes

IRS004 RS4299

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
Up to 11 civilians including seven children and two women were reported killed, and up to 25 others including three children and three women - one of whom was pregnant - were injured in an alleged Russian, Iranian forces or Syrian regime shelling with a cluster missile or a rocket carrying cluster bombs on 'Martyr…

Summary

Published
1 January 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education (Nursery, Primary School), Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
7–11
Civilians reported injured
12–25
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4298

Location

قرية الشيخ أحمد, Sheikh Ahmed village, Aleppo, Syria
On December 30th, between four and five civilians, including up to two women and two children, were wounded by Russian or regime air strikes, with ten vacuum missiles and two cluster bombs, launched upon the village of Sheikh Ahmed in the southern countryside of Aleppo. Local sources initially reported four wounded civilians and Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
30 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4295

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib, Syria
Local sources reported that at least three civilians were wounded as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime forces artillery and missile attack on Mhambel in Idlib, Syria on December 28th, 2019. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a cluster missile fell near Al Kabir mosque in Mhambel town in the western…

Summary

Published
28 December 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident