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

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4841

Location

Ihsim, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
احسم
Shortly before 6:22 PM on Saturday, October 7th, 2023, two civilians - a woman and a child -  were killed, and five civilians, including at least two children and a woman, were injured in an alleged artillery attack conducted by the Russian military and/or the Syrian regime forces on the residential neighborhoods of the town…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4842

Location

Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
On the evening of Saturday, 7th October 2023, intense artillery shelling with the reported use of the internationally banned phosphorus shells allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Iranian military and/or Syrian regime forces resulted in the death of one or two civilians, including an elderly man, and the injury of two civilians in…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
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Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4829

Location

village Jaftlik Haj Hammoud in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
جفتلك حج حمود
On the morning of Friday, 6th October 2023, three children belonging to one family  were injured by the bombardement allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces in the village Jaftlik Haj Hammoud in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside, west of Idlib. A two-year old child named Amer Mustafa al-Abdo later died from…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4830

Location

a poultry farm in the village of Al-Shukhayb near the town of Al-Zeiniyah, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
قرية الشخيب بالقرب من بلدة الزعينية
Two females, a 13-year-old and a 25-year-old, were wounded and bruised near a poultry farm in the village of Al-Shukhayb near the town of Al-Zeiniyah, west of Idlib, Syria, in an airstrike allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces on Friday, October 6, 2023, around 9:21 in the morning. The airstrike…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4831

Location

city center of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
وسط مدينة ادلب
During the evening of Friday, October 6, 2023, four civilians (including a boy and a woman) were killed, and 12 were injured (including six children and a woman) by an artillery bombardments allegedly perpetrated either by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian and/or Iranian military on a residential area of the city center of Idlib. According…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4832

Location

village of Majdalya,  southern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
مجدليا
On Friday, October 6, 2023, the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported that a missile strike allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military hit residential neighbourhoods in the village of Majdalya, southern countryside of Idlib, Syria. It resulted in the injury of three civilians, who were hospitalised, and…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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