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

3 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4588

Location

بلشون, Balshoun, Idlib, Syria
At least one child was killed and five other civilians, including a pregnant woman, another woman, and two children, were injured, in addition to the killing of the pregnant woman's fetus, from alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Balshon on the morning of July 3, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, "a child…

Summary

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

Incident Date

3 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4586

Location

بليون, Belion, Idlib, Syria
At least two civilians - two girls - were killed and one to two other civilians, including a woman and a Civil Defense member, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Belion on July 3, 2021. According to @Sy24ria, the bombing of the town of Belion resulted in "the killing…

Summary

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

Incident Date

3 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4590

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians, including between two and four children and two women, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the city of Ariha on July 3, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, "5 civilians, including two children and two women, were injured, among the wounded, in critical cases, in artillery shelling by…

Summary

Published
3 July 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4587

Location

ابلين, Iblin, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians, including a woman and three to four children, were killed and three to four other civilians, including a woman and two children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Iblin the morning of July 3, 2021. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that "the regime forces and Russia committed a…

Summary

Published
3 July 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4589

Location

الشيخ يوسف, Al Sheikh Yousuf, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians, members of the Syrian Civil Defense, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Sheikh Youssef on July 3, 2021. Anadolu Agency reported that "the media official in the Civil Defense, Firas Khalifa, confirmed that Russian warplanes carried out 4 raids on their center in the village of Sheikh…

Summary

Published
3 July 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 July 2021

Incident Code

RS4585

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
At least three civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the city of Ariha the evening of July 2, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, "3 civilians were injured, in a missile shelling by the regime forces targeting the northern entrance to the city of Ariha this evening, Friday, July 2nd". Various…

Summary

Published
2 July 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident