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

11 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4679

Location

Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia, Idlib, Syria
الجديدة أو اليعقوبية
Between one and three civilians, including a child, were killed and 12 to 15 others, including up to nine children and four women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia on December 11, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, three people, including a child, were killed and…

Summary

Published
11 December 2021
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Incident Date

11 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4680

Location

Al Wasata, Idlib, Syria
الوساطة
One child was killed and at least another civilian was injured in alleged Russian, regime, or Iran shelling of the Al Wasata area on the outskirts of the city of Al Atareb on December 12, 2021. Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a 17 year old boy named Ismail Ahmad Barakat, from al Atareb…

Summary

Published
12 December 2021
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Incident Date

9 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4678

Location

Quba Mosque, Deir Ezzor, Syria
جامع قباء
A Russian forces army patrol reportedly killed a child with disabilities, Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, 17 or 16 years old, by gunfire, in the Al Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021, in the evening. Euphrates reported that Abdul Al-Hajar was sitting next to the "Quba Mosque" and that the "patrolmen treated him…

Summary

Published
9 December 2021
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Incident Date

6 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4677

Location

Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria
الباره
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Al-Bara on December 6, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, a civilian was wounded in artillery shelling by the regime and Russian forces on the town of Al-Bara. Watan FM also reported that a civilian was injured. A tweet…

Summary

Published
6 December 2021
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Incident Date

2 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4675

Location

Bennish, Idlib, Syria
بنش,
A child, Nour Al Atrash, ten years old, was killed whilst having breakfast with her family on December 2nd 2021 when Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit their house in Binnish, East Idlib.  Five other members of her family were injured, including three of her cousins or brothers, all boys, including Jamal Al Atrash, five…

Summary

Published
2 December 2021
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Incident Date

2 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4676

Location

Sarja, Idlib, Syria
سرجة
At least two children were injured in the explosion of a leftover cluster bomb in the town of Sarja in the Idlib Governorate of Syria on December 2, 2021. According to @Almohrar1, "two children, Muhammad and Ahmad Hajj Musa, were seriously injured by the explosion of a cluster bomb left over from the bombing of…

Summary

Published
2 December 2021
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