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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

23 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4662

Location

Ma'aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria
معرة مصرين
An 11-year-old child was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Ma'aret Misrin, Syria, on October 23, 2021. Alaraby News quoted the Syrian Civil Defense, who reported that an 11-year-old was injured when Russian and regime forces bombed a "fodder depot and a sawmill in the southern farms of the city of Maarat Misrin"…

Summary

Published
23 October 2021
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Incident Date

23 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4661

Location

Deir Sunbol, Idlib, Syria
دير سنبل
Several injuries were reported after Russian or Syrian regime forces' targeted a olive harvest with "heavy" artillery and missiles in the outskirts of the village of Deir Sunbal, south of Idlib, Syria. Syria Civil Defense said that "artillery of the regime and Russia targeted workers while harvesting the olive crop on the outskits of Dersanbel"…

Summary

Published
23 October 2021
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Incident Date

23 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4660

Location

Daret Izza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
Up to four civilians, including a woman and two of her children were injured, as a result of Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, Syria, on October 23rd 2021.      

Summary

Published
23 October 2021
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Incident Date

20 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4659

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
اريحا
In what was widely referred to as a "massacre", at least 13 civilians were killed and over 30 wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike on a marketplace in Ariha on October 20th 2021. Most sources said that as many as four children were killed in the strike that took place in the…

Summary

Published
20 October 2021
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Incident Date

19 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4658

Location

Qouqfin, Idlib, Syria
قوقفين
On 19th October 2021, one person was reportedly killed and several others were injured when a Russian or Syrian regime forces' attacked Qaqafin, in the "de-escalation zone", in southern countryside of Idlib, Syria. Multiple sources indicated that the attack was artillery shelling, using "several laser-guided Krasnopol missiles." There were reports that the number of civilians…

Summary

Published
19 October 2021
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Incident Date

16 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4657

Location

Road between Bab Al Hawa and Sarmada, Idlib, Syria
الطريق بين باب الهوى وسرمدا
Ten civilians were injured in the second incident of a strike on the Sarmada, reportedly carried out by Russian or Syrian regime forces, on October 16th, 2021. The strike represents a significant escalation of violence observed in the past month. Details of the first incident are archived under incident R4402 on the Airwars site. Syria…

Summary

Published
16 October 2021
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