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

23 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4632

Location

درعا البلد, Daraa Al Balad, Daraa, Syria
At least one civilian was killed and six other civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian strikes on Daraa Al Balad on August 23, 2021. A tweet from @Almohrar1 reported that the young man Yazn Al-Omari was killed in the strikes on Daraa Al Balad. @omar_alharir added that a number of civilians were…

Summary

Published
23 August 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 August 2021

Incident Codes

IRS010 RS4631

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria
At least one child was injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian shelling of Taqad on August 23, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a child was injured during artillery shelling of the  village of Taqad. All other sources that reported on civilian harm identified one child as being injured in the shelling…

Summary

Published
23 August 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4629

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
At least four children from the same family were killed and their mother and two other men were injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense reported "four children from one family were killed, and two civilians were injured, this morning, Friday, August 20, by artillery…

Summary

Published
20 August 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4630

Location

كفرنوران, Kafr Nouran, Aleppo, Syria
At least one child was killed and her sibling, another child, was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on a cemetery in Kafr Nouran on August 20, 2021. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two children, Muhammad Subhi Darwish, 9, and his sister, Huda, 8, were injured in the town of Kafr Noran. Both…

Summary

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

Incident Date

19 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4628

Location

بلشون, Balshoun, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians, including three children and their mother in addition to another child, were killed and two to four other civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Balshoun on August 19, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense reported on "the killing of three children, their mother and another child,…

Summary

Published
19 August 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 August 2021

Incident Codes

YS113 RS4627

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
At least three civilians, including one to two women and a child, were killed and three to four others were injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces or Russian or regime strikes on Afrin on August 18, 2021. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "three civilians, including a child and a woman, were killed…

Summary

Published
18 August 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, YPG
View Incident