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

27 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4663

Location

جمعية شام الخير, Sham Al Khair Assocation, Idlib, Syria
One civilian, a child, was killed and up to ten other civilians were injured as a result of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike, during a raid on October 27th 2021, which struck an IDP camp in Termanin, in the northern countryside of Idlib, Syria. Whilst Al Souria Network's correspondent reported that in a…

Summary

Published
27 October 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp, Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4662

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma'aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land, Storage, Equipment / Machinery), Residential
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4661

Location

دير سنبل, Deir Sunbol, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
0–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4660

Location

دارة عزة, Daret Izza, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4659

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
13–14
Civilians reported injured
30–63
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4658

Location

قوقفين, Qouqfin, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident