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

21 February 2022

Incident Code

RS4693

Location

Darkoush, Idlib, Syria
دركوش
One girl was injured when an unexploded ordnance from a previous bombing by Russian or regime forces exploded in Darkoush on February 21, 2022. Syrian Civil Defense reported that a girl was injured when an unexploded ordnance exploded in her home after she was collecting firewood with her family in the outskirts of Darkoush. White…

Summary

Published
21 February 2022
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Incident Date

20 February 2022

Incident Code

RS4691

Location

Tadef, Aleppo, Syria
تادف
Two children were injured, with one reportedly dying of their injuries, when an unexploded cluster bomb from a previous bombing by the regime or Russian forces exploded in the town of Tadef, Syria, on February 20, 2022. According to a tweet from @Almohrar1, two children were injured, one of whom had his hand amputated, due…

Summary

Published
20 February 2022
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Incident Date

16 February 2022

Incident Code

RS4690

Location

the fuel market between Tarmanin An Al Dana towns, Idlib, Syria
سوق المحروقات بين بلدتي ترمانين والدانا
Between three and four civilians were killed and up to five others were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on February 16, 2022. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, four civilians were killed and two others were injured in artillery shelling of a fuel market and the outskirts of the widow camp near…

Summary

Published
16 February 2022
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Incident Date

12 February 2022

Incident Code

RS4689

Location

Maaret al Nassan, Idlib, Syria
معارة النعسان
According to local sources, a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling killed five to six civilians from the same family and injured two to seven civilians including one to two children and one woman.  Among those killed were reportedly two to three children, two women and two men.  The incident happend on February 12th 2022…

Summary

Published
12 February 2022
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Incident Date

8 January 2022

Incident Code

RS4688

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كنصفرة
At least two civilians, a woman and her child, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Kansafra on January 8, 2022. A tweet from @ShahbaPress reported that a child was injured in artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town on Kansafra. However, Macro Media Center identified "civilians, most…

Summary

Published
8 January 2022
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Incident Date

3 January 2022

Incident Code

RS4687

Location

between Armanaz and Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria
بين أرمناز و كفرتخاريم
Between two and five civilians, including a woman and up to three children, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes between the town of Armanaz and the city of Kafr Takharim on January 3, 2022. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a woman and her child were injured when Russian warplanes bombed two poultry farms on…

Summary

Published
3 January 2022
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