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

2 December 2021

Incident Code

RS4675

Location

بنش,, Bennish, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4673

Location

معرزاف, Maarzaf, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4674

Location

كفرتعال, Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria
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
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
View Incident

Incident Date

25 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4672

Location

مجدليا, Majdalia, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4671

Location

قرية عين لاروز, Ain Larouz village, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4670

Location

قرية جوزف, Josef Village, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident