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

24 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4856

Location

مخيم أهل سراقب في قرية الحمامة, Ahel Saraqeb camp in Al-Hamamah village, Jisr-al-Shoughour, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
During the morning of Tuesday, October 24, 2023, an alleged Russian airstrike reportedly killed six civilians, including three women, one of whom was pregnant, and at least two children, and injured up to 10 civilians in the Ahel Saraqeb camp for displaced people located on the outskirts of the village of Al-Hamamah in the Jisr…

Summary

Published
24 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4855

Location

Ain Shayb water station, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 11:47 AM on October 24, 2023, a number of civilians, including a female child, were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the Ain Shayb water station in the Arri area, west of Idlib, Syria. Though no longer operational, the water station served as a refuge for displaced families – predominantly livestock farmers.…

Summary

Published
24 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Water, Agriculture, IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4854

Location

residential neighborhoods of the city of Ariha (Jericho), Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 9:14 PM on Sunday, October 22, 2023, a missile strike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian and/or Iranian military injured four to five civilians, including two women and at least one child, in the residential neighborhoods of the city of Ariha (Jericho) located in the southern countryside of…

Summary

Published
22 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare, Residential, Education
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4852

Location

قرية القنيطرة, Al Qunitra, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 11 AM on Saturday, October 21st, 2023, a female child was injured in an airstrike reportedly perpetrated by the Russian military forces in the Al Qunitra village west of Idlib, Syria. According to Orient News, the Russian military used vacuum bombs during the strike. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that a girl was…

Summary

Published
21 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4853

Location

الشيخ سنديان, Al Shekh Sindian village, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before midnight on Saturday, October 21, 2023, a civilian man was injured after a wall of his house collapsed due to an airstrike allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military in the Al Shekh Sindian village in the western countryside of Idlib, Syria. The Syrian Civil Defense reported on the incident at 12:16 AM on…

Summary

Published
21 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4849

Location

سرمين, Sermin (Sarmin), Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, two women and a man were reportedly injured as a result of the bombardment allegedly perpetrated by Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces on a residential neighborhood in the city of Sermin (Sarmin), east of Idlib, Syria. No further details on the identity of the injured civilians have been reported…

Summary

Published
18 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident