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

15 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4596

Location

تديل, Tadel, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4595

Location

ابلين, Iblin, Idlib, Syria
Between one and three civilians, including a woman and up to two children, were killed and two to five other civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the village of Iblin on July 15, 2021. Shaam News reported that shelling "of a residential house…

Summary

Published
15 July 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4594

Location

الفوعة, Al Fu'ah, Idlib, Syria
Between five and six civilians, including one to four children, were killed and between seven and eight others, including two children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the Masbah area nearby al-Fu’ah town on July 15, 2021. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at the time of reporting "the…

Summary

Published
15 July 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
7–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4593

Location

حميمات, Hmeimat, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a 10 year old girl, was killed and one or two of her siblings were injured in alleged Russian and/ or regime artillery or rocket strikes on the village of Hmeimat on July 12, 2021. @IdlibPlus reported on "the death of a girl and the injury of two other children as…

Summary

Published
12 July 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4592

Location

مرعيان, Marayan, Idlib, Syria
At least two civilians, a man and a child, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Marayan on July 11, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense reported that "a man and his son were injured by similar shelling on the village of Mara’an". Macro Media Center verified that the son that…

Summary

Published
11 July 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4591

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a man, was killed and between one and three others, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of AL Bara on July 11, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, "a civilian was killed, and another was injured, by artillery shelling by the regime forces…

Summary

Published
11 July 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident