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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

8 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4844

Location

Al-Khamara Street, Idlib City, a camp for displaced persons in the outskirts of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
ادلب المدينة
Shortly before 8:04 AM in the morning and once again in the afternoon of Sunday, October 8th, 2023, the center (in particular, an area around Al-Khamara Street) and outskirts of the city of Idlib, Syria, were hit by heavy artillery bombardment attributed to Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military. The strikes resulted in at least…

Summary

Published
8 October 2023
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Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4836

Location

Al-Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الأتارب
Shortly before 3:37 AM on Saturday, October 7th, 2023, a civilian man was killed and a number of civilians were reportedly injured due to an artillery strike with the contested responsibility - allededly perpetrated by the Syrian regime and/or Russian or Iranian military in the city of Al Atareb in the western countryside of Aleppo,…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4837

Location

Idlib, Idlib, Syria
طراف مدينة إدلب
On the evening of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, at least one civilian man was wounded on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria, in the bombardment allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces.  However, some sources reported that a number of civilians were injured. The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets,…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4838

Location

Jisr Al Shughour city, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغورجسر الشغور
Two civilians, including a 44-year-old woman and a man, were injured and a number of civilians were reportedly killed shortly before 8:56 AM on the morning of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, due to the bombardement reportedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on the residential neighborhoods of the Jisr Al Shughour city, west…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4839

Location

Kafar Lata, Idlib, Syria
كفرلاته
Before 7:11 AM on the morning of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, the village of Kafar Lata in the southern countryside of Idlib, Syria, was hit by a missile bombardment attributed either to the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military and/or Iranian forces, resulting in the death of two children, and the injury of another…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4840

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
On Saturday, October 7th 2023, one civilian was killed and ten civilians, including two children (one boy) with serious injuries, were wounded by an alleged artillery attack by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime and/or Iranian forces. Reportedly, Mustafa Wadah Ghandoura was killed; Anwar Eido Al Deek, Abdulqader, Samer Ahmed and Mohammed Imad Qar’iya were among the…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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