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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

1 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4789

Location

Ma’arbelet, Idlib, Syria
معربليت
On August 1st 2023, Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly shelled the village of Ma’arbelet, south of Idlib, resulting in the injury of at least one civilian, a child. @SyriaCivilDefe stated that the child was in critical condition. Local sources including @RadioAlKul reported that a number of civilians were wounded by artillery shelling, but did…

Summary

Published
1 August 2023
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Incident Date

26 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4788

Location

Al-Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الأتارب
On July 26, 2023, two civilians were reportedly killed in al-Atareb, Aleppo, in an artillery strike allegedly launched by Syrian regime and/or Russian forces. Aid workers indicated that two additional people were injured in the attack. Syria Civil Defence shared that a young man and his uncle—identified as Mahmoud Ahmad Rustam and Abd al-Razzaq Abdo…

Summary

Published
26 July 2023
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Incident Date

23 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4787

Location

Kafar Ammah, Idlib, Syria
كفرعمة
At least one civilian, a child, was injured as a result of the artillery shelling of the residential villages of Kafar Ammah and Al-Qasr, west of Aleppo, allegedly by Russian and/or Syrian Regime forces on Sunday July 23rd 2023. Local sources @SyriaCivilDefe and @spc_fr only mentioned that a child was injured, with @SyriaCivilDefe reporting that…

Summary

Published
23 July 2023
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Incident Date

14 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4786

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
On the morning of Friday, July 14th 2023, at least one civilian, a woman, was injured and a fire broke out in a disused poultry farm when Russian and/or Syrian regime forces allegedly shelled the residential neighborhoods and outskirts of the town of Sarmin, south-east of Idlib, with heavy artillery fire. The injured woman was…

Summary

Published
14 July 2023
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Incident Date

11 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4785

Location

Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
الأتارب
On July 11th 2023, Syrian Civil Defense volunteer Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek was killed when Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly struck a rescue vehicle in the vicinity of the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo. Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Rasd Syria News stated that Abdul was killed in a double tap attack by regime…

Summary

Published
11 July 2023
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Incident Date

10 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4783

Location

Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
الأتارب
On July 10th 2022, Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly shelled the village of Al Atareb in western countryside of Aleppo, resulting in the injury of one elderly woman. Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Baladi News stated that an elderly woman had been injured on the outskirts of Atarib, coinciding with an intense flight of…

Summary

Published
10 July 2023
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