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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

2 February 2021

Incident Code

RS4548

Location

Qurqania, Idlib, Syria
قورقانيا
Two people were seriously injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on a mountainous area in Qurqania, north of Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. @SuheylAli said that vacuum missiles were used in the attack. This wasn't the only attack that took place on the day, as local sources reported similar attacks on Harbanoush, Kafr Arrouq and…

Summary

Published
2 February 2021
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Incident Date

17 January 2021

Incident Code

RS4547

Location

Al Qasimia village prison , Aleppo, Syria
سجن قرية القاسمية
Local sources reported that between 20 and more than 30 prisoners were killed and others injured in alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Al Qasimia village prison in Aleppo's western countryside in Syria on January 17th, 2020. @yamenhm11 tweeted " A massacre of more than 30 prisoners as a result of Russian…

Summary

Published
17 January 2020
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Incident Date

23 November 2020

Incident Code

RS4546

Location

Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
البارة
One civilian, a man, was reported killed and an unknown number of civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Regime, Russian and/or Iranian artillery shelling on the town of Al Bara in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in the southern countryside of Idlib on November 23, 2020. Baladi News and the Syrian Network for Human…

Summary

Published
23 November 2020
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Incident Date

17 November 2020

Incident Code

RS4544

Location

Qastoun, Hama, Syria
قسطون
A civilian died when his house in Qastoun village, Hama governorate, collapsed on November 17th, 2020. According to local sources, the man's home had been previously severely damaged by alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes. The Syrian Civil Defence reported: "A civilian died, today, Tuesday, November 17, in the town of Qastoun in the western…

Summary

Published
17 November 2020
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Incident Date

17 November 2020

Incident Code

RS4545

Location

Sarja, Idlib, Syria
سرجة
One civilian, a man, was reported killed and one civilian sustained injuries as the result of an alleged Russian and/or Regime strike on the village of Sarja in the southern countryside of Idlib on Tuesday, November 17, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that “A 30-year-old Syrian citizen, named…

Summary

Published
17 November 2020
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Incident Date

4 November 2020

Incident Code

RS4543

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
أريحا
Up to four civilians, including one child, and up toaround 12 others, including one child and four women were injured as a result of alleged artillery shelling by Syrian Regime and/or Russian forces on the city of Ariha, south of Idlib on the morning of November 4th 2020 according to local sources and news agencies.…

Summary

Published
4 November 2020
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