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

6 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4737

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
On November 6th, 2022, in Kansafra, South of Idlib, between one to three civilians - one woman, or two women and a girl - were reportedly injured as a result of artillery shelling. While the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD) accused both the Russian and Syrian forces of carrying out the attack, other local sources claimed…

Summary

Published
11 November 2022
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

6 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4740

Location

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

Incident Date

6 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4738

Location

مدينة أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On November 6th, 2022, between one and two civilians were reportedly injured as a result of a bombing by artillery and/or missile shelling on the outskirts of Ariha city, South of Idlib. The injured were either described by local sources as a child and/or as a woman. Syria TV noted that "two civilians were wounded…

Summary

Published
11 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2022

Incident Codes

IRS014 RS4741

Location

مخيم مرام, Maram Refugee Camp, Idlib, Syria
Between six and 11 civilians, including up to four children, an elderly woman and a pregnant woman, were killed and up to 77 others, including a woman and five children, were injured by alleged Russian, Syrian regime, or Iranian militia missile attacks with cluster bombs against Maram refugee camp and other refugee camps closeby on…

Summary

Published
6 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
6–11
Civilians reported injured
40–77
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4739

Location

كفرلاتا, Kafar Lata, Idlib, Syria
One civilian was reportedly killed and three others were reportedly wounded when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling targeted the village of Kafr Lata in the southern Idlib countryside, Syria, on November 6th 2022. The civilian was reported as Ahmed Jamal Al-Sheikh, also known as Ahmad Jamal Qalli in other reports, aged 45, and…

Summary

Published
6 November 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2022

Incident Code

RS4736

Location

خربة الناطور, Kharebt Al Natour, Idlib, Syria
On November 3rd 2022, two to three civilians, including two young men and a woman, were reportedly olive picking when they were injured by a land to ground missile, loaded with "internationally prohibited cluster bombs" as a result of alleged Syrian regime or Russian action.  The attack happened on forests and farms on the Khirbet…

Summary

Published
3 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident