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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

26 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4799

Location

Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria
دير سنبل
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
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Incident Date

26 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4800

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كنصفرة
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
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Incident Date

26 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4801

Location

Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
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
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Incident Date

22 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4796

Location

Ihsim, Idlib, Syria
أحسم
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
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Incident Date

22 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4797

Location

between the towns of Sheikh Baher and Maaret, Misrin, Idlib, Syria
بين بلدتي الشيخ بحر ومعرة مصري
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
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Incident Date

22 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4798

Location

Urri water station in Ain Shib town, Idlib, Syria
محطة مياه عري في بلدة عين شيب
At least two people were killed, an elderly man and an 18-year-old boy, and between three and five people were seriously injured, including a woman, a male child and a female child, when alleged Russian bombs hit a disused water station, near the villages of Urri and Ain Shib, west of Idlib, around midnight on…

Summary

Published
22 August 2023
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