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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

12 May 2021

Incident Code

RS4559

Location

Al Kendeh, Idlib, Syria
الكندة
One civilian was killed (in this incident or in Tardin) and up to six civilians, including a woman and child, were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on al-Kendeh on May 12, 2021. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Civil Defense both reported that five civilians, including a child, were injured in Russian airstrikes…

Summary

Published
12 May 2021
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Incident Date

3 May 2021

Incident Codes

IRS007 RS4558

Location

Al Fu'ah, Idlib, Syria
الفوعة
Up to four civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed and up to 11 others, including five children to six children and three women, were wounded in an alleged Iranian or Russian drone strike on a weapons depot near the Al-Furousiya camp for the displaced, in the vicinity of the town of Al-Foah…

Summary

Published
3 May 2021
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Incident Date

19 April 2021

Incident Codes

IRS006 RS4557

Location

Orontes or Asi River, Hama, Syria
العاصي‎
At least one civilian was killed and another was injured in an alleged drone strike on the village of Khirbat al-Naqus in the Al-Ghab Plain on April 19, 2021. Syria.liveuamap geolocated the incident. According to Resala Post, "a civilian was killed and another was injured due to being targeted by a drone in the village of…

Summary

Published
19 April 2021
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Incident Date

21 March 2021

Incident Code

RS4555

Location

Trailer park in the vicinity of Bab Al Hawa, Idlib, Syria
موقف مقطورة في جوار باب الهوى
Between one and two civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sarmada near the Bab Al Hawa border areas in the evening of March 21, 2021. The number of alleged air strikes was reported as 7 in a tweet by @Sy24ria. According to Al Modon News, the airstrikes were preceded by a long-range Russian missile…

Summary

Published
21 March 2021
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Incident Date

21 March 2021

Incident Code

RS4556

Location

Qah, Idlib, Syria
قاح
At least one civilian was killed and between one and two civilians were injured in an alleged Russian missile strike in the vicinity of Qah and Salwa towns the afternoon of March 21, 2021. Multiple sources, including Syrian Civil Defense and Reuters, reporting that the strike was " a surface-to-surface missile." Idlib EMC stated that "Russian…

Summary

Published
21 March 2021
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Incident Date

21 March 2021

Incident Code

RS4554

Location

Al Maghara Hospital, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
مشفى المغارة
Between three and eight civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed and between 11 and 22 others were injured in alleged regime or Russian strikes at Al Maghara Hospital in Al Atareb, Aleppo in the morning on March 21, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense and other sources, including @HalabTodayTV, identified artillery shelling as the…

Summary

Published
21 March 2021
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