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

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

Incident Date

18 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4795

Location

ديرسنبل,, Deir Sinbul, Idlib, Syria
At least one woman suffered a psychological injury following alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that a woman suffered a nervous breakdown after artillery shelling reportedly carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces struck the village of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

16 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4794

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
At least one woman was injured in a residential area on the western outskirts of the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, because of alleged shelling by Syrian Regime and/or Russian forces in the evening of Wednesday August 16th 2023. The Syrian Civil Defence and Baladi News reported that civilian property was damaged, a number…

Summary

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

Incident Date

16 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4793

Location

معارة النعسان, Maaret Al Nassan, Aleppo, Syria
On August 16th, 2023, at least one civilian was injured in shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces in the Syrian village of Maarat Al-Nassan. The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that a civilian was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, adding that their…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4792

Location

تديل, Tadel, Aleppo, Syria
On August 9th 2023, a civilian was killed and at least one other civilian, a child, was slightly injured, as a result of artillery shelling by Syrian regime and/or Russia forces on the village of Tadel, west of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an elderly civilian was killed and a child…

Summary

Published
9 August 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4791

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shogour, Idlib, Syria
On August 5th 2023, between three and four civilian children were injured during shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces on a residential neighborhood in the city of Jisr al-Shughur, Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a few days later that one of the children had died from their…

Summary

Published
5 August 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident