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

22 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4746

Location

Tadel, Aleppo, Syria
تديل
A civilian was wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Tadel on November 22, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was wounded by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime forces and Russian forces on residential neighborhoods in the village of Tadel. A tweet from @AsharqNewsSYR pointed out…

Summary

Published
22 November 2022
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Incident Date

21 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4745

Location

Maarbelet, Aleppo, Syria
معربليت
A 35 year old man was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of the outskirts of the village of Maarbelet on November 21, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a man was injured while working on agricultural land by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces on the outskirts…

Summary

Published
21 November 2022
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Incident Date

20 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4744

Location

Jisr Al Shughur, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
A child was killed when an unexploded cluster bomb originally launched by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces exploded in agricultural land on the outskirts of the city of Jisr Al Shughur on November 20, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a child was killed when a cluster bomb from a previous bombing, attributed to the…

Summary

Published
20 November 2022
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Incident Date

17 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4743

Location

Al-Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
Between five and six civilians, including up to five children, were injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling of the outskirts of Al Atareb on November 17, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that six people, including two children, were injured by Syrian regime and Russian artillery shelling of the outskirts of Al Atareb. The…

Summary

Published
17 November 2022
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Incident Date

14 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4742

Location

Maarbalit, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
معربليت
On November 14th, 2022, according to local sources, one civilian, a man, was reportedly killed and another one injured while they were harvesting olives in farms near Maarbalit village, south of Idlib. The Syrian Civil Defense said the attack was conducted by heavy Syrian and Russian artillery shelling, while other local sources either blamed the…

Summary

Published
17 November 2022
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Incident Date

6 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4740

Location

Afes, Idlib, Syria
اّفس
On November 6th, 2022, a civilian - a woman - was reportedly injured by artillery shelling and/or by an airstrike in Afes village, East of Idlib.  According to the Syrian Civil Defence, the shelling was carried out by Syrian and Russian forces but other local sources argued that it was either conducted by the Syrian…

Summary

Published
11 November 2022
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