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

4 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4779

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
On July 4th, 2023 artillery strikes in the town of Al Bara, south of Idlib, wounded a married couple, and the woman, named Radhya Al-Othman as reported by the Syria Civil Defense, died due to her injuries the next day; allegedly the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces are responsible for the attacks. After the shelling,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

25 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4776

Location

النيرب, Al Nairab, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4777

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shoughar, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market), Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
6–11
Civilians reported injured
30–61
Military actors reported killed
0–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4775

Location

بسبت, Basbat, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4774

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education, Religious, Commerce (Market)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4773

Location

كفرنوران, Kafarnouran, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
7–11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident