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

21 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4577

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4576

Location

المسطومة, Al Mastouma, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4578

Location

احسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–9
Civilians reported injured
10–14
Military actors reported killed
3–9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4575

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Hama, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4574

Location

بزابور, Bzabor, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4–8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4573

Location

ابديتا, Abdita, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–3
Military actors reported killed
0–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident