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

12 June 2023

Incident Code

RS4771

Location

افس, Afes, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 May 2023

Incident Code

RS4770

Location

بزابور, Bzabor, Idlib, Syria
A 15 year old boy was injured by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bzabor in Idlib on May 30, 2023. Local sources from the countryside of Idlib governorate told Zaman Al Wasl that 15-year-old Muhammad Malik Ahmed Haj Musa was wounded by Russian airstrikes on Bzabor village. The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) tweeted…

Summary

Published
30 May 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 May 2023

Incident Code

RS4769

Location

معارة النعسان, Maaret al-Nassan, Idlib, Syria
On 29th May 2023 three civilians, a man and his two children, were injured by machine gun fire and/or artillery shelling in the town of Maaret al-Nassan, east of Idlib.  The victims were treated locally before being sent to hospital. Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces were responsible. Several…

Summary

Published
29 May 2023
Strike Type
Artillery, Ground operation
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 May 2023

Incident Code

RS4768

Location

between the towns of Kansafra and Al-Fatira, Idlib, Syria
A young man was reportedly injured by shrapnel from machine guns attributed to both Russian forces and the Syrian regime on May 24th 2023. The incident occured on agricultural land between the town of Kansafra and Al-Fatirah, in the southern countryside of Idlib. Reports from the Syrian Civil Defence, Halab Today TV and Twitter user…

Summary

Published
24 May 2023
Strike Type
Ground operation
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 May 2023

Incident Code

RS4767

Location

كفرعويد, Kafr Aweed, Idlib, Syria
One man, identified by sources as Suleiman Muhammad al-Saleem, was killed on May 15th 2023 after artillery shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the village of Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib according to local media outlets and the Syrian Civil Defence. Initial reports from the Syrian Civil…

Summary

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

Incident Date

25 April 2023

Incident Code

RS4766

Location

معربليت, Ma’arablit, Idlib, Syria
A young woman was killed and four other civilians, including two children and a woman, were injured by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian artillery shelling of Ma’arablit on April 25, 2023. Afrin Post reported that Noura Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad, twenty years old, was killed by artillery strikes in Ma’arablit, and her family members, the infant Lyan…

Summary

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