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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

15 October 2024

Incident Code

RS4913

Location

الأتارب, Al-Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
On Tuesday evening, October 15th, 2024, an artillery shelling with contested responsibility allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime, and/or Russian and/or Iranian “militias” reportedly struck the town of Al-Atareb, in the Aleppo Governorate, Syria, killing a 23-year-old man, Muhammad Abdul Karim Ubaid, and a child, Ibtisam Joubra’il, and injuring at least six and up to…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Shop)
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
6–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 October 2024

Incident Code

RS4914

Location

محطة الكيلاني للكهرباء في منطقة عين الزرقا بريف دركوش, Al-Kilani power station in the Ain Al-Zarqa area in the Darkoush countryside, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 1:20 PM on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, an alleged Russian airstrike hit the al-Kilani power station located in the Ain al-Zarqa area of the Darkoush countryside, west of Idlib, Syria. The attack injured two civilian men working on the site, damaged the station, and disrupted its functioning. The injuries were identified by the…

Summary

Published
8 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Water, Resources (Power Station)
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 September 2024

Incident Code

RS4912

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Sunday evening, September 29, 2024, two men of the same family, Abdulrahman Burhan Sheikh Deep and Marwan Sobhi Sheikh Deep, were killed in an artillery shelling allegedly carried out by Syrian regime forces and/or the Iranian military and/or the Russian military, which hit residential neighborhoods and a commercial store in the town of Sarmin, east of…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Commerce (Shop)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2024

Incident Code

RS4911

Location

كفريا, Kafriya and its outskirts, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 7:28 PM on Monday, September 23, 2024, Professor Mohamad Hamdo Al-Attouk (Abu Hamid), an elderly man, was among the five civilians killed, among them between one and two women. Up to thirteen civilians, including three women and eight children, were also injured in an artillery strike on the town of Kafriya, in particular,…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Truck), Education (Primary School)
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
11–13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 September 2024

Incident Code

RS4910

Location

كللي, Kalali (Killi), Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On the morning of Sunday, 22nd September 2024, a 25-year-old civilian man named Ahmed Al-Jalali and his seven-year-old son, Tamim Ahmed Al-Jalili, were killed, while his 30-year-old wife, Hiba Al-Jalali, and his two-year-old daughter, Taiba Ahmed Al-Jalali, were injured by an explosion of an unexploded ordnance reportedly deployed earlier by the Syrian Regime and/or the Russian military,…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2024

Incident Code

RS4909

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On the evening of Friday, September 20, 2024, an artillery strike with contested responsibility allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Iranian military and/or Syrian regime forces injured at least nine civilians, including three women and six children, and killed a nurse/paramedic and a child. The attack occurred in Taftanaz, in the eastern countryside…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Truck)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident