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

22 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4681

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
A child was killed and his father was injured when bomb remnants exploded in Kansafra on December 22, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a young man was killed and his father was wounded when remnants of a cluster bomb exploded in Kansafra. The bomb was only identified as belonging to both the regime…

Summary

Published
22 December 2021
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

Incident Date

11 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4680

Location

الوساطة, Al Wasata, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4679

Location

الجديدة أو اليعقوبية, Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
12–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4678

Location

جامع قباء, Quba Mosque, Deir Ezzor, Syria
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
Strike Type
Ground operation
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4677

Location

الباره, Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria
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
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

2 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4676

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident