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

1 September 2023

Incident Code

RS4802

Location

المحسنلي, Al-Mohsenli, countryside of Manbij, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
During the morning of Friday, September 1, 2023, an artillery shelling and/or airstrikes with contested responsibility allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces and/or the Syrian Democratic forces and/or Turkish military on the village of al-Mohsenli in the countryside of Manbij, Aleppo, killed the entire family consisting of six civilians, including…

Summary

Published
1 September 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
6–8
Military actors reported killed
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
YPG, Russian Military, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4800

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
Two children were killed and at least four other civilians were injured, including up to three children and two women, in artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces during the afternoon on August 26th, 2023 in Kansafra, Idlib. The two children were siblings and have been identified by the Syrian Civil…

Summary

Published
26 August 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4801

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria
On the morning of August 26th, artillery shells allegedly fired by the regime forces and Russia hit the city of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, injuring at least one civilian and causing material damage to residential neighborhoods and the Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser School. The bombardment also fell in the vicinity of the Rabaa Al-Adawiya School…

Summary

Published
26 August 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education, Religious
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4799

Location

دير سنبل, Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria
On the morning of August 26th 2023, an elderly male civilian was “slightly injured” according to Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe), during shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces on a residential neighborhood in the village of Deir Sunbul, south Idlib, Syria. The Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that their volunteers gave…

Summary

Published
26 August 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4796

Location

أحسم, Ihsim, Idlib, Syria
On Tuesday morning, August 22nd 2023, three civilians were injured, including one child, as a result of artillery shelling allegedly by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russia on the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya, in the countryside of Idlib. Many local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and SY-24 news also reported that a fire broke out…

Summary

Published
22 August 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4797

Location

بين بلدتي الشيخ بحر ومعرة مصري, between the towns of Sheikh Baher and Maaret, Misrin, Idlib, Syria
On August 22, 2023, at least four civilians were killed—and up to seven others were injured—in a series of alleged Russian airstrikes between the towns of Sheikh Baher and Maaret Misrin in Idlib, Syria. Sources conflict about the precise number of civilians killed and injured by these strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that…

Summary

Published
22 August 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock), IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
5–7
Military actors reported killed
3–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident