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

12 June 2021

Incident Codes

IRS009 YS106 RS4567

Location

مشفى الشفاء, Al Shifaa Hospital, Aleppo, Syria
At least 13 civilians, including four hospital staff and a pregnant woman, two to five other women, and one to three children, were killed and up to 50 others, including 11 hospital staff, were injured in alleged airstrikes and/or artillery shelling of Al-Shifaa Hospital in Afrin on June 12, 2021. Responsibility for the strikes is…

Summary

Published
12 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
13–23
Civilians reported injured
15–50
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Iranian Military, YPG, Russian Military, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4565

Location

الكندة, Al Kendeh, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on al-Kendeh on June 10, 2021. A tweet from @FdzPWRe6ruAGFPd reported that "a civilian was injured as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the village of Al-Kinda, west of Idlib, in two raids". @HalabTodayTV also reported that one civilian was injured but attributed the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

10 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4564

Location

ابلين, Ebleen, Idlib, Syria
Between six and 13 civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes and artillery strikes on the town of Ebleen on June 10, 2021. According to Euphrates Post, "the Assad regime forces bombed with missiles and heavy artillery the town of "Iblin" in Idlib…

Summary

Published
10 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
8–13
Civilians reported injured
13–15
Military actors reported killed
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4563

Location

ابلين, Ebleen, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and two other children were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Ebleen on June 8, 2021. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that "the shelling resulting in the death of one child and the injury of two others in addition…

Summary

Published
8 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

Incident Date

7 June 2021

Incident Code

RS4562

Location

بليون, Balioun, Idlib, Syria
At least one man was killed and another civilian was wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Balioun villiage on June 7, 2021. Sources are contested as to whether the man killed was a civilian, with one source referring to him as a fighter. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "a man…

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 May 2021

Incident Code

RS4561

Location

كفرعويد, Kafar Awaid, Idlib, Syria
At least one civilian was killed in a cluster bomb explosion on May 23, 2021, left over from a previous bombing by the Syrian regime or the Russian military on the village of Kafar Awaid. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, "a civilian was killed this morning, Sunday, May 23, after a cluster bomb exploded…

Summary

Published
23 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident