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

19 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4602

Location

أورم الجوز, Urme Al Jouz, Idlib, Syria
Between four and five civilians, including two children and a woman, were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling on Urme Al Jouz on July 19, 2021. @seerij80 tweeted that there were "five wounded in the town of Urm Al-Joz as a result of Russian bombing." @EdlibNN added that among the five wounded were…

Summary

Published
19 July 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4601

Location

دارة عزة, Daret Ezza, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4600

Location

بليون, Balion, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17–18 July, 2021

Incident Code

RS4599

Location

احسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
6–8
Civilians reported injured
9–11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4598

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4597

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–8
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident