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

11 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4758

Location

Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
One person, a man, was killed and between one to five other civilians, were injured after mortar shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the outskirts of the city of Atarib, in the western countryside of Aleppo on Saturday March 11th 2023. It's unclear as to whether the man reported killed,…

Summary

Published
11 March 2023
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Incident Date

27 February 2023

Incident Code

RS4757

Location

road between Maaret Misreen and Idlib, Idlib, Syria
لطريق بين معرة مصرين وادلب
One civilian was reportedly injured in a shelling attributed to either Russian forces or the Syrian regime on February 27th 2023 when the road was hit by a shell between Maraat Misrin and Idlib, Syria. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that a fire broke out due to the shelling, which they extinguished.

Summary

Published
27 February 2023
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Incident Date

25 February 2023

Incident Code

RS4756

Location

Al Nerab, Idlib, Syria
النيرب
At least two civilians and up to three civilians, including one child, one woman, and one man, were reportedly injured in an artillery shelling attributed to either the Syrian regime or Russian forces which hit residential neighbourhoods and "the vicinity of a closed school" in Al Nerab, a town to the east of Idlib, on…

Summary

Published
27 February 2023
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Incident Date

28 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4755

Location

Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria
عين عيسى
A 15 year old child was injured by an alleged Russian military vehicle in the city of Ain Issa in Raqqa on January 28, 2023. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a 15 year old child was seriously injured when a Russian military vehicle ran the child over on the Main Street…

Summary

Published
28 January 2023
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Incident Date

22 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4754

Location

Kafr Noran, Aleppo, Syria
كفرنوران
A civilian woman was killed and at least one other civilian, a child, was injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of the town of Kafr Noran on January 22, 2023. According to the @SyriaCivilDefe, a woman was killed by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces in Kafr Noran.…

Summary

Published
2 January 2023
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Incident Date

21 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4753

Location

Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
One civilian was injured, and one later died, from alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza on January 21, 2023. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was injured by Syrian regime and Russian artillery shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of…

Summary

Published
21 January 2023
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