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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4833

Location

Badama, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
بداما
On October 6th, 2023, a missile strike, allegedly launched by Russian warplanes and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling, hit the rural town of Badama near the city of  Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib (during the day, according to photographic evidence shared on social media), resulting in the injury of 14 civilians, including four children and four…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4834

Location

city of Ariha, south of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
On the evening of Friday, October 6th, 2023, residential neighborhoods of the city of Ariha located south of Idlib, Syria, were subject to an artillery bombardment with contested responsibility— reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military— that injured two civilian men, one of whom later died of his wounds. One of…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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Incident Date

6–7 October, 2023

Incident Code

RS4835

Location

town of Termanin, north of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
ترمانين
From the evening of Friday, 6th October 2023, and into the morning of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, artillery strikes, with the use of “Uragan” missiles and cluster ammunition, allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian and/or Iranian military, hit residential neighborhoods and a medical facility in the town of Termanin, north of Idlib,…

Summary

Published
6 October 2023
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Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4817

Location

the eastern entrance of Idlib and the power station, Idlib, Syria
On the afternoon of Thursday October 5th 2023, an artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military struck Eastern Idlib, including a large electric power station, killing between one and two civilians and injuring three civilians, one of whom was a child. The majority of sources, such as Syria Civil Defence…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
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Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4818

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
On Thursday October 5th 2023, artillery strikes allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime and/or Russian military on the city of Sarmin injured between 10 and 15 civilians, including 3 children and 2 women. Most sources, including Syrian Civil Defence (SCD), reported that 10 civilians, including three children and two women, were injured and shared photos…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
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Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4819

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
On 5 October 2023, intense artillery and missile bombardments allegedly by the Syrian regime and/or Russian Military caused the death of at least one civilian and the injury of 14 civilians, including 4 children and 3 women, in the city of Ariha (Jericho). A Facebook post from local source "Jericho, the bride of the north"…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
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