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

4,338 – 6,384

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 4,842 separate alleged incidents.

1,145 – 1,394
children likely killed
632 – 766
women likely killed
6,544
likely injured
3,435
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
15,282 – 24,392
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,842 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,338 – 6,384
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,344 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
727 – 848
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
457 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,113 – 17,043
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,026 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4808 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

17 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4873

Location

Wadi Al-Naseem neighborhood close to a market on Al-Bazaar street, Idlib city, Aleppo, Syria
مدينة ادلب
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
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Incident Date

17 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4874

Location

Darat Azza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
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
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Incident Date

10 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4872

Location

Darat Azza, west of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
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
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Incident Date

9 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4870

Location

Sarmin, east of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
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
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Incident Date

9 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4871

Location

residential neighbourhoods, main market and industrial area, city of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
الأحياء السكنية، السوق الرئيسي والمنطقة الصناعية، مدينة إدلب
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
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Incident Date

2 December 2023

Incident Code

RS4869

Location

Al-Shuhada Elementary School, Afes, Idlib, Syria
مدرسة الشهداء، افس
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
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