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
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

25 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4777

Location

Jisr Al Shoughar, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
Between 6 and 11 civilians were killed and 30 to 61 others, including at least 2 children, were injured by alleged Russian airstrikes on Jisr Al Shoughar on June 25, 2023. @SyriaCivilDefe initially reported the casualty toll as five civilians killed and more than 20 injured but later tweeted that the death toll had risen…

Summary

Published
25 June 2023
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Incident Date

25 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4776

Location

Al Nairab, Idlib, Syria
النيرب
An elderly civilian was injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling of the town of Al Nairab on June 25, 2023. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that an elderly civilian was slightly injured by Syrian regime and Russian forces shelling of the town of Al Nairab, adding that the White Helmets took him to the…

Summary

Published
25 June 2023
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Incident Date

24 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4775

Location

Basbat, Idlib, Syria
بسبت
On Saturday June 24th 2023, an alleged airstrike by Russian armed forces hit a farm in the village of Basbat, in the countryside of Jisr al-Shughour, west of Idlib, northwest Syria, killing two civilians and injuring others. Sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, @DeirEzzore twitter accounts, and Syria TV reported two civilians being killed by the airstrike on…

Summary

Published
24 June 2023
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Incident Date

22 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4774

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
On the evening of June 22, 2023, Sarmin, a town east of Idlib, was struck by intense artillery, allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces and resulting in the death of one woman and the injury of between five and six civilians, including four to five women and a young boy. According…

Summary

Published
22 June 2023
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Incident Date

21 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4773

Location

Kafarnouran, Idlib, Syria
كفرنوران
Between three and four civilians, including a child, were reported to have been killed and up to 11 others, including two children, a woman and an elderly man, were injured by shelling suspected by militants allied to the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces in the countryside village of Kafr Nouran on June 21, 2023. The…

Summary

Published
21 June 2023
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Incident Date

12 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4771

Location

Afes, Idlib, Syria
افس
On Monday June 12th 2023, an alleged missile strike by Assad regime forces and Russia hit the village of Afes in the eastern countryside of Idlib, injuring between one and three civilians, including two children. Sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and @hadikhraat twitter accounts, and Zaman Al Wasl reported three civilians being hit by shrapnel, including a…

Summary

Published
12 June 2023
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