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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

28 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4673

Location

Maarzaf, Idlib, Syria
معرزاف
Between four and 10 children were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, 10 children, all from one family, were injured as a result of laser-guided artillery shelling against civilian homes in Maarzaf. One of the injured children was heard…

Summary

Published
28 November 2021
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Incident Date

28 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4674

Location

Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria
كفرتعال
At least one civilian was killed and several other civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021. A tweet from @anasanas84, a local Syrian reporter, identified that the initial toll from shelling of Kafr Taal was one person killed and several civilians wounded. @SRoudinah2 referred to…

Summary

Published
25 November 2021
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Incident Date

25 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4672

Location

Majdalia, Idlib, Syria
مجدليا
At least one civilian, a woman or a child, was killed and three to four others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian strikes on the village of Majdalia on November 25, 2021. Baladi News correspondent in Idlib countryside said that a warplane of the Russian Air Force launched air strikes with high-explosive…

Summary

Published
25 November 2021
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Incident Date

24 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4671

Location

Ain Larouz village, Idlib, Syria
قرية عين لاروز
Between one and two civilians were killed and an unspecified number of others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of the village of Ain Larouz on November 24, 2021. The Nedaa Post correspondent reported the killing of two civilians after targeting the village of "Ain Larouz" in Jabal Al-Zawiya with "Krasnopol" laser…

Summary

Published
24 November 2021
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Incident Date

23 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4670

Location

Josef Village, Idlib, Syria
قرية جوزف
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling on Josef village on November 23, 2021. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, a civilian was seriously injured and a house was damaged in an attack on Josef village. An Al-Jisr reporter stated that the civilian was seriously injured. Syrian Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
23 November 2021
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Incident Date

22 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4669

Location

Tetita Village, Al Somaq Mountain, Idlib, Syria
قرية تلتيتا في جبل السماق في ريف ادلب الغربي
Russian airplanes targeted Jabal Al-Summaq or "Jabal Al-Druze" (as referenced to by residents from the Druze sect), in the western countryside of Idlib, allegedly killing two people and wounding up to seven others, with vacuum missiles, on Monday November 22nd 2021. The correspondent for Step News Agency reported that "Russian warplanes bombed with high-explosive vacuum…

Summary

Published
22 November 2021
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