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

18 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4645

Location

الكندة, Al Kinda, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a man, was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Kinda on September 6, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, one civilian was killed in Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Kinda. Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the name of the…

Summary

Published
18 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4643

Location

بلدة الحمامة, Al Hamama town, Idlib, Syria
At least three children were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Hamamah on September 15, 2021. A tweet from @alfuratyalatiqe that three children were wounded in Russian strikes near the village of Al Hamamah and that this was the preliminary result of the attack. @anasanas84 also reported that there were wounded civilians,…

Summary

Published
15 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4644

Location

محيط بلدة الزرزور, Al Zarzour town, Idlib, Syria
One child was killed and three other civilians, two children and a woman, were injured in eight alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Zarzour on September 15, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a woman and three children were injured when eight airstrikes by Russian planes struck a poultry farm between Zarzour and…

Summary

Published
15 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock), IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4641

Location

مرعيان, Marayan, Idlib, Syria
At least one woman was killed and one to five others, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on a home and medical facility in Marayan on September 8, 2021. According to @HadiAlabdallah, Russian airstrikes hit Marian Medical Center, the last medical center in Jabal Al-Zawiya, and killed one woman and…

Summary

Published
8 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8–9 September, 2021

Incident Code

RS4642

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
Between four and six civilians, including two women, were injured by Russian or regime forces on September 8/9, 2021. According to @ajmurgent, five civilians were wounded, including a woman, in artillery shelling by the regime forces while a tweet from @mhmdfaisel put the injury toll at four. A tweet from @thawrat111 listed the named of…

Summary

Published
8 September 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4639

Location

مخيم مريم, Maryam refugee camp, Idlib, Syria
Between four and eight civilians, including three to six children and one to two women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on IDPs living in "Maryam" refugee camp in Syria on September 7, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported that four children and two women were injured in Russian air strikes targeting the outskirts of…

Summary

Published
7 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported injured
4–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident