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

5 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4790

Location

الطريق الواصل بين عين شيب ومدينة إدلب, the linking road between Idlib and Ain Sheep, Idlib, Syria
On August 5th, 2023, three civilians were killed and seven injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on residences along a road which links Idlib to the village of Ain Sheeb. The strikes occurred between 11:02 a.m. and 11:11 a.m. local time. According to Syria Civil Defence (SCD), the first strike struck a residential house,…

Summary

Published
5 August 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 August 2023

Incident Code

RS4789

Location

معربليت, Ma’arbelet, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4788

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4787

Location

كفرعمة, Kafar Ammah, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4786

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4785

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare (Ambulance)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident