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

17 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4873

Location

مدينة ادلب, Wadi Al-Naseem neighborhood close to a market on Al-Bazaar street, Idlib city, Aleppo, Syria
During the morning of Sunday, December 17, 2023, 15 civilians, including five children and one woman, were reportedly injured by the artillery shelling with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military and/or Iranian military in the city of Idlib, in the region of Aleppo, Syria. The incident reportedly occurred in the…

Summary

Published
17 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Commerce (Market), Education
Civilians reported injured
15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4874

Location

دارة عزة, residential neighborhoods of Darat Azza, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
During the evening of Sunday, December 17, 2023, at least five identified civilians, including a child and a woman pregnant with twins, were killed and five civilians, including two children, were injured in an alleged attack by the Syrian regime and/or the Iranian military and/or the Russian military on the residential neighborhoods of Darat Azza,…

Summary

Published
17 December 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4872

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Azza, west of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Two siblings, a boy and a girl, were injured by an artillery attack reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military before midnight on Saturday, December 10, 2023, on the residential neighborhoods of city of Darat Azza, west of Aleppo, Syria. Iman Abu Talib and Muhammad Abu Talib, a girl and boy, were…

Summary

Published
10 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4870

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, east of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at least one civilian was killed and seven other civilians, including three children, were injured by an alleged artillery strike by Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian and/or Iranian military in residential areas in the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, Syria. According to an initial toll by the Syrian…

Summary

Published
9 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4871

Location

الأحياء السكنية، السوق الرئيسي والمنطقة الصناعية، مدينة إدلب, residential neighbourhoods, main market and industrial area, city of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Saturday, December 9, 2023, artillery and missile bombardment allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian and/or Iranian military hit residential neighbourhoods, the main market, and industrial area of the city of Idlib, killing at least six civilians, including at least two children and a woman, and up to 22 people, and…

Summary

Published
9 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
6–22
Civilians reported injured
20–36
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Iranian Military, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4869

Location

مدرسة الشهداء، افس, Al-Shuhada Elementary School, Afes, Idlib, Syria
During the morning of Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, an artillery shelling reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military and/or Iranian military hit the Al-Shuhada elementary school in the village of Afes, eastern countryside of Idlib, Syria. The attack initially resulted in four injuries - three children and a teacher. However, one boy…

Summary

Published
2 December 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident