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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

30 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4880

Location

الاتارب, al-Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
During the evening of Saturday, December 30, 2023, artillery shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces and/or Iranian forces struck the city of al-Atareb in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria. While the Syria Civil Defence (SCD) initially posted to X that they inspected the areas surrounding the strike and…

Summary

Published
30 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4881

Location

وسط مدينة إدلب, main market near planet earth roundabout and clock roundabout, center of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
During the evening of Saturday, December 30, 2023, artillery shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian and/or Iranian military, hit the market in the center of the city of Idlib, Syria, killing at least three civilians, including one child, and injuring up to 25 others, including four children. The site of the…

Summary

Published
30 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
15–25
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4879

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
A woman was injured by an artillery attack with contested responsibility reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military and/or the Iranian military on December 28th, 2023, in the village of Kansafra located south of Idlib, Syria. Twitter/X user @mzmgr941 reported at 10:15 AM the intense missile bombardment allegedly carried out by…

Summary

Published
28 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4878

Location

علاتا قرب أرمناز, house of the Amna family in Alata near Armanaz, Idlib, Syria
During the late evening of Monday, December 26th, 2023, five members of the Amna family were killed and the surviving member, a young son, injured, when an alleged airstrike by a Russian warplane hit their home on a farm in Alata, near the town of Armanaz, west of Idlib, Syria, and reduced it to rubble.…

Summary

Published
26 December 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4877

Location

سارمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
At approximately noon on Monday, December 25, 2023, an alleged Russian military and/or the Syrian regime and/or Iranian militia missile strike hit a neighbourhood in the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, hitting a school, a residential building, and the road between the two. The strikes killed a man and injured at least four identified…

Summary

Published
25 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education, Residential (Apartment Building)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4876

Location

عين لاروز, elementary school and residential buildings in the village of Ain Laroz, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 3 PM on Sunday, December 24, 2023, during school hours, Russian forces and/or the Syrian regime and/or Iranian forces allegedly struck an elementary school in the village of Ain Larouz in southern Idlib with artillery and missiles. One child was “lightly” injured. At 2:52 PM, Twitter/X user @anasanas84 shared a video showing the…

Summary

Published
24 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Education
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident