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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4834

Location

أريحا, city of Ariha, south of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6–7 October, 2023

Incident Code

RS4835

Location

ترمانين, town of Termanin, north of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
9–30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4829

Location

جفتلك حج حمود, village Jaftlik Haj Hammoud in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or 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

6 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4830

Location

قرية الشخيب بالقرب من بلدة الزعينية, a poultry farm in the village of Al-Shukhayb near the town of Al-Zeiniyah, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Resources (Power Station)
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported injured
10–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident