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

7–8 August, 2021

Incident Code

RS4617

Location

Qastoun, Hama, Syria
قسطون
Between two and five civilians, including two to five children that were all siblings, were killed and five to six others, including a child, were injured by Russian and/or regime shelling in the village of Qastoun on the night of August 7th, 2021, multiple sources reported. In a tweet, the Syrian Civil Defence named the…

Summary

Published
7 August 2021
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Incident Date

7–8 August, 2021

Incident Code

RS4619

Location

Al Ziyadiya, Idlib, Syria
الزيادية
At least two civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Ziyadiya on August 7, 2021. @OrientNews and other sources identified civilians as being injured but did not provide a number of how many. Syrian Civil Defense posted that the strikes on Al Ziyadiya "resulted in the injury of a…

Summary

Published
7 August 2021
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Incident Date

7 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4618

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
At least two civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery and missile strikes on Ariha on August 7, 2021. Zaman Al Wasl reported that "two civilians were injured, one of them in a serious condition, this afternoon, Saturday, as a result of intense artillery and missile shelling by the regime forces, which targeted…

Summary

Published
7 August 2021
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Incident Date

6 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4616

Location

Al Sahen, Idlib, Syria
الصحن
At least one civilian, a child, was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on villages of Al Sahen on August 6, 2021. @HalabTodayTV reported that "Regime forces and Russia target with laser-guided missiles the villages of Al-Sahn in Al-Ghab Plain and Joseph in Jabal Al-Zawiya, causing the injury of a child". Syrian Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
6 August 2021
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Incident Date

1 August 2021

Incident Code

RS4615

Location

Tadel, Aleppo, Syria
تديل
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Tadel on August 1, 2021. According to @Ahmad_1alshble, "a civilian was injured by shelling by Assad's gangs that targeted residential houses and agricultural lands in the town of Tadel". A tweet from @rdwanalshhwan identified the civilian injured as a "young man". Syria TV…

Summary

Published
1 August 2021
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Incident Date

31 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4614

Location

Daraa Al Balad, Daraa, Syria
درعا البلد
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian/regime/Iranian strikes on Daraa Al Balad on July 31, 2021. @mohammed_asakra and Horan Free Media reported that civilians were injured but did not specify how many civilians. Images posted by Horan Free Media show extensive damage to civilian homes caused by the shelling. The majority of sources…

Summary

Published
31 July 2021
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