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

5 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4827

Location

Jisr Al Shughour, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Around 5:56 in the evening of Thursday, October 5, 2023, a child and a woman were reportedly injured by missile strikes in the city of Jisr Al Shugour, in the western countryside of Idlib, Syria. The belligerent’s identity is contested, with some sources pointing towards Syrian regime forces, and one source, Ibrahim Radwan, identifying Russian…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
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

RS4824

Location

الموزرة, Al-Mozra in Jabal Al-Zawiya, to the south of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
In the village of Al-Mozra in Jabal Al-Zawiya to the south of Idlib, Syria, a man was killed and a number of civilians were injured from an alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian and/or Iranian artillery bombardment on Thursday, October 5th, 2023. Al-Mawza Facebook user posted a video showing bombardment of the village. The person killed…

Summary

Published
5 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

5–6 October, 2023

Incident Code

RS4828

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
From the evening of Thursday, October 5th, 2023, and during the morning of Friday, October 6th, 2023, the repeated artillery bombardment with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or regime-associated militias or Russian and/or Iranian militias struck a residential neighborhood in Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, Syria, reportedly killing up to four…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market), Religious
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
7–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4825

Location

منطف, Mantef, Idlib, Syria
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, an artillery shelling was allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on the village of Mantaf in the southern countryside of Idlib, reportedly killing at least one civilian, a woman later identified as Sulaf Abido. The alleged attack was reported by the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) as well as…

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4815

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a young girl, was killed and between six and eight others, including three children and two women, were injured by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian and/or Iranian artillery strikes on the al-Shamali neighborhood in the city of Sarmin on October 4th, 2023. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a girl was killed and…

Summary

Published
4 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Religious, Education
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
6–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2023

Incident Code

RS4816

Location

كفرنوران, Kafr Nouran, Aleppo, Syria
A missile strike killed at least five members of the same family, including three women, and wounded at least one more — all civilians — in Kafr Nouran, Aleppo after midnight on October 5, 2023. The strike was allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian military. Zahraa Ali Karhou, an elderly crippled mother,…

Summary

Published
4 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident