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

27 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4584

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a woman, was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes and/or artillery strikes on June 27, 2021. A tweet from @SILSTY_10 alleges that there were "dead and wounded in the ranks of the militants in missile strikes carried out by the Syrian army on their positions in…

Summary

Published
27 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4583

Location

قميناس, Quminas, Idlib, Syria
Between one and two civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Quminas on June 25, 2021. @ShahbaPress reported that "two civilians were wounded in artillery shelling by the Assad forces and Russia". The majority of other sources also pointed to two civilians being injured in the strikes. A tweet…

Summary

Published
25 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4582

Location

أريحا, Arihah, Idlib, Syria
Between one and two civilians, including an elderly man, were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes and/or artillery on the city of Arihah on June 24, 2021. Baladi News reported that "the regime forces bombed with heavy artillery the city of Ariha, which led to the injury of an elderly man who was treated…

Summary

Published
24 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4581

Location

مقبرة افس, Afes Cemetery, Idlib, Syria
Between two and five civilians, including one to two children, were killed and five to eight others were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes and/or artillery strikes on Afes on June 23, 2021. According to @abazeid89, "artillery shelling (regime / Russia) targeted the cemetery of the town of Afs in Idlib during a funeral…

Summary

Published
23 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
5–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4580

Location

الاتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian, a woman, was killed and between two and three civilians, including a woman and one to two children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Al Atareb on June 23, 2021. According to Halab Today, "the family sat at the table to eat breakfast, when an artillery shell from…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4579

Location

منطف, Mantef, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and at least two other civilians, a woman and one to two children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Mantef village on June 22, 2021. According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, "a 17-year-old girl, named as Wafaa Abdul Hamid Qassoum, was killed while two…

Summary

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