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

30 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4747

Location

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

Incident Date

22 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4746

Location

تديل, Tadel, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4745

Location

معربليت, Maarbelet, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4744

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughur, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4742

Location

معربليت, Maarbalit, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
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

17 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4743

Location

الاتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
5–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident