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

17 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4722

Location

حفسرجة, Hafsarja, Idlib, Syria
On September 17th 2022, Russian forces allegedly hit to stone-cutting sawmills on the outskirts of Hafsarja village, west of Idlib, which resulted in the injury of a worker.  Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the worker was identified as Ghaith al Kouz. The Syrian Civil Defense team inspected the area and found that the…

Summary

Published
17 September 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4723

Location

كفر عمة, Kaframma, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4719

Location

ديرسنبل, Deirsnbul, Idlib, Syria
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
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

8 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4721

Location

الغفر, Al Ghafir, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4720

Location

حفسرجة, Hafsarja, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Warehouse, IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
2–7
Civilians reported injured
7–16
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4718

Location

شنان, Shanan, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident