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

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

Incident Date

26 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4867

Location

كتيان, Kitian, eastern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4866

Location

قوقفين, village of Qoqfin in Jabal al-Zawiya, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
10–11
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4865

Location

سرمين, Sarmeen [Sarmin], Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4864

Location

قباسين, village of Al-Kandarliya, north of Al-Massa camp, city of Qabaseen area, eastern countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 November 2023

Incident Code

RS4863

Location

بزابور, village Bazabour, southern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident