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

18 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4850

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, north of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Around 9 PM on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, three civilians, including a child, were reportedly injured as a result of an alleged artillery attack in Termanin, north of Idlib, Syria. The attack was reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime and/or the Russian military and/or by the Iranian military. Allegedly, the attack hit a residential neighborhood…

Summary

Published
18 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary, Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4851

Location

الكفير, Al-Kafir, western countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
During the evening of Wednesday, 18th October 2023, Russian warplanes allegedly launched an airstrike that hit an out-of-service tank and a hay warehouse in a nearby building on the outskirts of Ishtabrag in the western countryside of Idlib, Syria, according to the Syrian Civil Defense. This led to the injury of a woman in the…

Summary

Published
18 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4848

Location

محيط بلدة الشيخ يوسف, the “‘Al-Qaswa”’ IDP camp in the vicinity of Sheikh Yousef area, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
In the early morning and in the afternoon of Tuesday, 17th October 2023, ten airstrikes allegedly perpetrated by Russian forces on the “Al-Qaswa” IDP camp and civilian homes in the outskirts of the town of Sheikh Youssef in the western countryside of Idlib, Syria, injured four civilians, including two women and two girls. The Syrian…

Summary

Published
17 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp, Residential
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4847

Location

جبل الأربعين, Jabal Al Arbaeen, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before midnight of Friday, October 13th, 2023, the mother of the SCD volunteer Ahmed Mahdi Ahmadou was killed and his father was injured, but later succumbed to his injuries, in the bombardment of their house reportedly perpetrated by the Russian military in the Jabal Al Arbaeen area near Ariha city, in the southern countryside…

Summary

Published
13 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4846

Location

كفرعمة, Kafar Ammad [Kafr Amma/Kafr Amah/Kafar’ama], Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday, October 12th, 2023, a 39 year-old-man was killed and a number of civilians were injured due to an alleged artillery attack conducted by the Russian military and/or the Syrian regime in the village of Kafar Ammad [Kafr Amma/Kafr Amah/Kafar’ama] in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria. Reportedly, a 39-year old man named Izz…

Summary

Published
12 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4845

Location

Marayan, Jabal al-Zawiya in the southern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, a civilian was injured by an artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military in the town of Marayan in Jabal al-Zawiya in the southern countryside of Idlib. According to @baladi Twitter/X user, the injured man was taken to a hospital nearby for treatment. Syria TV,…

Summary

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