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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

21 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4576

Location

Al Mastouma, Idlib, Syria
المسطومة
At least one civilian, a child, was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Al Mastouma on June 21, 2021. A tweet from @HalabTodayTV initially identified that there were no casualties from the strikes on Al Mastouma. However, Syrian Civil Defense reported that a child was injured. A video by @aboalhodaalhoms…

Summary

Published
21 June 2021
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Incident Date

21 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4577

Location

Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
البارة
At least two civilians, both women, were killed and two to three others, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Bara on June 21, 2021. Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "two women, named as Wahidah Hamdou Abu Shakhah and Fatimah al Yasin, were killed and others injured…

Summary

Published
21 June 2021
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Incident Date

21 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4578

Location

Ihsem, Idlib, Syria
احسم
Between one and nine civilians were killed and up to 14 were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village of Ihsem on June 21, 2021. Sources contest whether some of the people identified, specifically the prisoners being held in a prison in Ihsem that was bombed, were belligerents. The initial number given…

Summary

Published
21 June 2021
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Incident Date

19 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4574

Location

Bzabor, Idlib, Syria
بزابور
Between four and eight civilians, including at least one woman and two children, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the village of Bzabor in the southern countryside of Idlib on June 18, 2021 Activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on the "injury of six civilians, including a woman and…

Summary

Published
18 June 2021
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Incident Date

19 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4575

Location

Qastoun, Hama, Syria
قسطون
At least one civilian, a Civil Defense "White Helmet" member, was killed and three to six others were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on a civil defense center in Qastoun on June 19, 2021. Anadolu Agency reported that "a Civil Defense member was killed and at least 4 others were injured, as Bashar al-Assad's…

Summary

Published
19 June 2021
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Incident Date

17 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4573

Location

Abdita, Idlib, Syria
ابديتا
At least two people were killed and three others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on Abdita on June 17, 2021. The status of those killed is contested, with the majority of sourced reporting that those killed and injured were civilians whole Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Al Mahjar…

Summary

Published
17 June 2021
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