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

12 May 2022

Incident Code

RS4699

Location

outskirts of Mantef village, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a young man, was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Jabal Al-Arba'een area on May 12, 2022. According to Baladi News, a civilian was wounded and a large number of poultry were killed by Russian strikes on a poultry farm located in the Jabal Al-Arba'een area in the southern countryside…

Summary

Published
12 May 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 April 2022

Incident Code

RS4698

Location

معارة النعسان, Maaret Al Nassan, Idlib, Syria
Four children were killed on their way home from school and others, including women, were wounded by alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Maaret Al Nassan on April 4, 2022. Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that four children were killed by a bombing carried out by the regime forces "backed by the…

Summary

Published
4 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 March 2022

Incident Code

RS4697

Location

بلدتي معارة النعسان و كفرنوران, between Maaret Al Nassan and Kafar Nuran, Idlib, Syria
At least two civilians, farmers, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling between the towns of Maarat Al-Naasan and Kafr Nuran on March 23, 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two farmers were injured in artillery shelling by Syrian regime and Russian forces on agricultural fields between the towns of Maarat Al-Naasan and Kafr…

Summary

Published
23 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land)
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 March 2022

Incident Code

RS4696

Location

معارة النعسان, Miznaz, Maarat Al-Naasan, Idlib, Syria
Mustafa Haidar, aged 11, was injured while grazing sheep, when a Russian or Syrian regime forces shell hit him on March 16th 2022, in the town of Miznaz, on the outskirts of Maarat al-Naasan, in the northeastern countryside of Idlib. The Syrian Civil Defense said that they inspected the site that was bombed and made…

Summary

Published
16 March 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

27 February 2022

Incident Code

RS4695

Location

اّفس, Afes, Idlib, Syria
Up to two civilians were killed and between two and four other civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of the town of Afes on February 27, 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two civilians were killed and two others were injured when the regime forces and Russian forces bombed a…

Summary

Published
27 February 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 February 2022

Incident Code

RS4694

Location

عدوان, Adwan, Idlib, Syria
On February 22nd 2022, two children were seriously injured, according to local reports, as a result of the explosion of previously unexploded ordnance left from previous Syrian regime or Russian airstrikes in the village of Adwan, west of Idlib, Syria. One of those children was reported to have died from his injuries the next day,…

Summary

Published
22 February 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident