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

13 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4711

Location

Maaret al-Nassan, Idlib, Syria
معارة النعسان
A seven-year old boy, Mohammed Abdel Kafi, also referred to as Zain Abdul Kafi Al-Masli, was injured by a shrapnel from artillery fire while playing next to his home in Maaret al-Nassan, east of Idlib on August 13th 2022. According to @hafeztaraman, the incident occured in the evening before the Maghrib call to prayer. The…

Summary

Published
13 August 2022
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Incident Date

6 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4709

Location

Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
الباره
A woman was injured in an alleged missile strike by Russian or Syrian regime forces in the Al Bara district in Jabal Al Zawiya in southern Idlib on August 6th, 2022. The woman’s injuries were not specified though @RadioAlKul tweeted that she was “slightly injured” whereas all other sources reported that she was injured without…

Summary

Published
6 August 2022
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Incident Date

2 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4708

Location

Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria
البارة
One civilian farmer was injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian thermal missile attack, which destroyed his car on the morning of August 2nd, 2022, in Al Bara, a southern town of Idlib. No further reports of civilian harm have been reported. The farmer was named by @abualisar18 and @g5VgKRPXfPQdfz9 as Ammar Mustafa Al-Qajji. He…

Summary

Published
2 August 2022
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Incident Date

30 July 2022

Incident Codes

YS145 RS4707

Location

Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria
كفرتعال
Two children were killed and up to two others were injured in artillery shelling allegedly carried out by Russian forces, the Syrian regime, or the Syrian Democratic Forces. The Syrian Civil Defense tweeted (@SyriaCivilDefe) that two children, Youssef and Abdul Baset Jadoua, were killed and the father of Youssef, named Mustafa Jamil Jadoua, and Ahmed…

Summary

Published
30 July 2022
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Incident Date

27 July 2022

Incident Code

RS4706

Location

Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria
كفرتعال
One civilian, a young man, was injured when Russian or Syrian regime forces shelled Kafr Taal in the western Aleppo countryside on July 27th 2022.  There is no further information at this time.

Summary

Published
27 July 2022
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Incident Date

25 July 2022

Incident Code

RS4705

Location

Shanan village, Idlib, Syria
شنان
One child was injured as a result of artillery shelling by Russian or Syrian regime action targeting the village of Shanan, south of Idlib on Sunday 24th July 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that they took the injured child to hospital for treatment and that he was injured "lightly".

Summary

Published
25 July 2022
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