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

19 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4752

Location

Qastoun, Idlib, Syria
قسطون
Four to nine civilians, including three children and a woman, were reported injured as a result of alleged Russian forces, Syrian regime, or Iranian militia artillery fire on January 19th 2023 in Qastoun, Idlib, according to local sources. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, four civilians were injured from the same family (three children and…

Summary

Published
19 January 2023
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Incident Date

18 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4751

Location

Al Bara village, Idlib, Syria
البارة
One civilian, a man named Bassam Mustafa al-Othman, was reportedly killed as a result of artillery shelling from contested Russian forces or Syrian regime actions, on January 18th 2023, in Al Bara, Idlib. Zamal al Wasl also reported that one civilian was injured in this same attack. The White Helmets reported that this shelling was…

Summary

Published
18 January 2023
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Incident Date

5 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4750

Location

the Equestrian (Al Forosiyah) camp, Al Foua, Idlib, Syria
مخيم الفروسية
On January 5th 2023 local sources including the White Helmets reported that five civilians, including four children and one woman were injured when missile strikes contested from Russian or Syrian regime forces actions hit them in a resident house near the Al Fourousia camp on the outskirts of Al-Foua town, in the Idlib countryside. The…

Summary

Published
5 January 2023
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Incident Date

22 December 2022

Incident Code

RS4749

Location

Sfuhen, Idlib, Syria
سفوهن
At least one civilian was seriously injured by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian artillery shelling of the village of Sfuhen on December 22, 2022 The @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that a civilian was seriously injured while herding sheep when artillery shelling, carried out by Syrian regime and Russian forces, struck the village of Sfuhen. Other local sources…

Summary

Published
22 December 2022
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Incident Date

2 December 2022

Incident Code

RS4748

Location

Obin (Al Younisiya), Idlib, Syria
اليونيسية
Three civilians, including a child, were killed and up to seven others, including a woman and a child, were injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime guided missile strikes on the village of Obin (Al Younisiya) on December 2, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that three civilians from the same family including a child were killed…

Summary

Published
2 December 2022
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Incident Date

30 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4747

Location

Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria
البارة,ادلب
A child was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling of the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that artillery shelling by the Syrian regime and Russian forces resulted in the minor injury of a child and the destruction of civilian homes. @HalabTodayTV also reported that a child was injured.…

Summary

Published
30 November 2022
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