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

31 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4541

Location

نحلية, Nahliya, Idlib, Syria
One civilian was reportedly killed, and three others, including one elderly woman, were injured as a result of alleged Russian or Iranian airstrikes or explosion of a suicide drone in the village of Nahlia, in the vicinity of the town of Ariha, south of Idlib on the afternoon of October 31st, 2020 according to Local…

Summary

Published
31 October 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4540

Location

منطقة الدويله في كفرتخاريم في ريف ادلب, Al Dwailah in Kafar Takhareem in Idib, Idlib, Syria
Between two and 23 civilians were reported injured and at least one civilain, a journalist, was killed during alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dwailah area near Salqin, west of the city of Kafr Takharim, in the northwestern countryside of Idlib on October 26, 2020. Multiple sources stated that the Russian forces targeted a military…

Summary

Published
26 October 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp, Warehouse (Military)
Civilians reported killed
1–29
Civilians reported injured
2–23
Military actors reported killed
20–78
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4539

Location

الرامي, Al Rami, Idlib, Syria
A child was reported killed and between three and six civilians, including up to three children, a woman and a man, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on residential areas in the village of Al Rami in the southern Idlib countryside on October 21, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, a correspondent of Resala post reported that…

Summary

Published
21 October 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
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

14 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4538

Location

بلدة الحمامة, Al Hamama, Idlib, Syria
Between two and four civilians were reported killed and between 13 and 15 civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on the vicinity of the town of Al Hamama, west of Idlib on October 14, 2020. More specifically, a tweet from Halab Today TV mentioned that the Russian Air Forces attacked the…

Summary

Published
14 October 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
13–15
Military actors reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2020

Incident Code

RS4537

Location

الطيبة, Al Tayba, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two children were reportedly injured as a result of an alleged explosion of a cluster bomb left over from Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Tayba, east of Deir Ezzor, on the dawn of October 4th, 2020 according to two local sources. Ahrar Al Mayadeen news agency and a tweet by (@DeirEzzor24) claimed that…

Summary

Published
4 October 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2020

Incident Code

RS4535

Location

محيط ادلب, The vicinity of Idlib City, Idlib, Syria
One civilian was injured by multiple alleged airstrikes from Russian warplanes on the outskirts of the city of Idlib on September 20th 2020. The identities of those injured were not reported. Images show the raids took place in the day time. @HalabTodayTV reported that “The Syrian Civil Defense announces the injury of two people as…

Summary

Published
20 September 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident