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

18 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4601

Location

Daret Ezza, Aleppo, Syria
دارة عزة
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and three to five civilians, including three to four women and up to two children, were injured in artillery shelling on Daret Ezza on July 18, 2021. A tweet from @kwater4syr identified "A child was killed and 4 civilians were wounded by Russian laser artillery shelling". @anasanas84…

Summary

Published
18 July 2021
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Incident Date

18 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4600

Location

Balion, Idlib, Syria
بليون
At least two girls were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of Balion on July 18, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, "two girls also suffered a similar bombing on the town of Billion in the countryside". Syrian Civil Defense was the only source to report on civilian injuries from the shelling…

Summary

Published
18 July 2021
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Incident Date

17–18 July, 2021

Incident Code

RS4599

Location

Ihsem, Idlib, Syria
احسم
Between six and eight civilians, including three to four children and three women, were killed and nine to 11 others, including four children and three women, were injured in alleged Russian and regime strikes on the town of Ihsem around midnight on July 17/July 18, 2021. According to an Al Jazeera correspondent in Syria, "7…

Summary

Published
18 July 2021
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Incident Date

17 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4598

Location

Sarja, Idlib, Syria
سرجة
At least three civilians, including a White Helmet volunteer and an elderly woman, were killed, and two other civilians, both White Helmets volunteers, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the village of Sarja, Syria, on July 17, 2021. Syrian Today reported that "three volunteers from the Civil Defense were hit by laser-guided…

Summary

Published
17 July 2021
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Incident Date

17 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4597

Location

Sarja, Idlib, Syria
سرجة
Between four and eight civilians, including two to three children and a woman, were killed and three others were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. @abdalwhab761identified "eight martyrs" from the bombing of Sarja while @OrientNews reported that six civilians were killed. A correspondent from @jisrtv…

Summary

Published
17 July 2021
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Incident Date

15 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4596

Location

Tadel, Aleppo, Syria
تديل
At least one civilian was killed in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the village of Tadel in the western countryside of Aleppo on July 15, 2021. @HalabTodayTV reported that according to the Syrian Civil Defense, "a civilian was killed by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the village of Tadel in the western…

Summary

Published
15 July 2021
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