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

1 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4650

Location

أم الريش, Umm Al Reesh, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Umm Al Reesh on October 1, 2021. Al Mashreq Agency reported that a child was wounded in shelling on the village of Umm Al Reesh. Both @itsnotsuhad and @mzmgr941 also identified one child as being injured. Both Al Mashreq Agency…

Summary

Published
1 October 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4652

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
Between one and two women were injured in alleged regime or Russian shelling on the city of Jisr al-Shughur on October 1, 2021. According to @MMCSYR, two women were injured in regime and Russian shelling on Jisr al-Shughur. Al Mashreq Agency also reported that two women were wounded. A tweet from @rahhalahmad06 provided the casualty…

Summary

Published
1 October 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4649

Location

مجدليا, Majdliya, Idlib, Syria
Between one and two civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian and regime artillery shelling of the town of Majdlaya on September 27, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense reported that at least one civilian, a child, was injured in shelling of the town of Majdlaya and the child was taken to the hospital for…

Summary

Published
27 September 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 September 2021

Incident Codes

IRS013 RS4648

Location

كفرنوران, Kafar Noran, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and five civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian artillery shelling and machine gun fire on the village of Kafr Noran on September 27, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, five civilians, including a woman, were wounded in mortar shelling by the Russian and regime forces…

Summary

Published
27 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4647

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
At least one person was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kansafra on September 22, 2021. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a militant or civilian. According to @ShahbaPress, a civilian was killed and another was wounded in Russian airstrikes on Kansafra. "Zaman Al-Wasl" reporter said that…

Summary

Published
22 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4646

Location

الكفير, Al Kafir, Idlib, Syria
A least one civilian, a child, was killed and up to five others, including a woman, were injured in alleged regime or Russian strikes on the town of Al Kafir on September 19, 2021. Firas Al-Khalifa, the media official of the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, told Al-Araby News that a 15-year-old boy was killed,…

Summary

Published
19 September 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident