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
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

28 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4868

Location

Kitian, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
كتيان
On Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, four members of the same family: a father, a mother and their two children, were injured as a result of an alleged artillery strike with guided missiles by the Syrian regime and/or the Russian military and/or the Iranian military on the Katyan-Zardana road, north of Idlib, Syria. Conflicting information was…

Summary

Published
13 December 2024
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Incident Date

26 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4867

Location

Kitian, eastern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
كتيان
During the morning of Sunday, November 26, 2023, a guided missile allegedly fired by Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military and/or the Iranian military hit a car parked in front of a civilian house, injuring a woman and a child from the same family, in Kitian, in the eastern countryside of Idlib, Syria. Several…

Summary

Published
26 November 2023
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Incident Date

25 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4866

Location

village of Qoqfin in Jabal al-Zawiya, Idlib, Syria
قوقفين
During the morning of Saturday, November 25, 2023, an artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces on the village of Qoqfin in Jabal al-Zawiya, south of the town of Idlib, killed at least 10 and up to 11 civilians who were working in the olive fields harvesting olive crop, including at…

Summary

Published
25 November 2023
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Incident Date

19 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4865

Location

Sarmeen [Sarmin], Idlib, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
On Sunday, November 19th, 2023, two civilians, including at least one child, were injured as a result of an alleged missile strike by the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military in residential neighborhoods of the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, Syria. One of the children was reportedly injured after falling from a high…

Summary

Published
19 November 2023
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Incident Date

18 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4864

Location

village of Al-Kandarliya, north of Al-Massa camp, city of Qabaseen area, eastern countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
قباسين
Shortly before 4:37 PM  on Saturday, November 18, 2023, one child was killed and three children were injured, two of them seriously, from a Shoabo 0.5 cluster bomb explosion that had been left over from a previous bombing allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces to the north of Al-Massa camp in…

Summary

Published
18 November 2023
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Incident Date

17 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4863

Location

village Bazabour, southern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بزابور
On the morning of Friday, 17th November 2023, a number of civilians, including a woman, were injured as a result of artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military and/or Iranian military on the civilian homes in the village of Bazabour (alternatively spelled as Bzabour or Bazzabour), located in the southern countryside…

Summary

Published
17 November 2023
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