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 May 2021

Incident Code

RS4560

Location

تردين, Tardin, Latakia, Syria
One civilian was killed (in this incident or in al-Kendeh)and between three and five civilians, including a child, were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Tardin 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 on al-Kendeh…

Summary

Published
12 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 May 2021

Incident Code

RS4559

Location

الكندة, Al Kendeh, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 May 2021

Incident Codes

IRS007 RS4558

Location

الفوعة, Al Fu'ah, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
6–11
Military actors reported killed
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 April 2021

Incident Codes

IRS006 RS4557

Location

العاصي‎, Orontes or Asi River, Hama, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 March 2021

Incident Code

RS4555

Location

موقف مقطورة في جوار باب الهوى, Trailer park in the vicinity of Bab Al Hawa, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 March 2021

Incident Code

RS4556

Location

قاح, Qah, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery, Naval bombardment
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident