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

17 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4723

Location

Kaframma, Aleppo, Syria
كفر عمة
One civilian, a boy or young man named Muhammad Hamdo Arab, was reported killed and his brother, Qusai Hamdo Arab, was wounded when an artillery shell hit civilian homes in the village of Kafr Amma in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria on September 17th 2022.  It is a contested event as a result of…

Summary

Published
17 September 2022
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Incident Date

8 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4720

Location

Hafsarja, Idlib, Syria
حفسرجة
Between two to seven civilians were killed including one to three children and seven to 16 other civilians were wounded, in an alleged Russian airstrike destroying a house and a stone sawmill in Hafsarja in Idlib province on September 8th, 2022. Al Khabour news reported the lowest number of civilians killed at two and the Syrian…

Summary

Published
8 September 2022
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Incident Date

8 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4721

Location

Al Ghafir, Idlib, Syria
الغفر
An alleged Russian air raid injured five civilians using surface-to-surface missiles loaded with cluster bombs in Al Ghafar in Idlib province on September 8th, 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported that five civilians were injured and that the strikes killed dozens of goats and sheep owned by a local shepherd and farmer. The strikes…

Summary

Published
8 September 2022
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Incident Date

8 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4719

Location

Deirsnbul, Idlib, Syria
ديرسنبل
One woman was wounded by reported artillery shelling as a result of either Russian or Syrian regime forces on Deir Sunbal village, south of Idlib, on September 8th 2022. Apparently the villages of Benin and Shanan were also bombed but there were no injuries reported.

Summary

Published
8 September 2022
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Incident Date

6 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4718

Location

Shanan, Idlib, Syria
شنان
Between one to four civilians were reported wounded as a result of artillery shelling reported to be from either Syrian regime or Russian forces.  The shelling targeted Shanan village in Jabal al Saweya, south of Idlib on September 6th 2022.  Most sources reported that one civilian, a woman, was injured, but @HalabTodayTV was the only…

Summary

Published
6 September 2022
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Incident Date

3 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4717

Location

Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
الفطيرة
At least one elderly woman was injured when alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling struck the town of Al Fatira on September 3, 2022. According to @SyriaCivilDefe, an elderly woman was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the regime and Russian forces on civilian homes in the town of Al Fatira. The Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
3 September 2022
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