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

16–17 April, 2023

Incident Code

RS4764

Location

Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
الأبزمو
Around midnight on April 16-17th artillery fire wounded five civilians in Al-Abizmo, a town west of Aleppo. The victims consisted of a woman and her four children. Local news agencies were conflicted as to whether the strike confirmed the strike was conducted by the Syrian regime, Russian forces or Iranian militias. A few of the…

Summary

Published
16 April 2023
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Incident Date

9 April 2023

Incident Code

RS4763

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
On April 9th, 2023, in the town off Sarmin, east of Idlib, multiple sources allege artillery fire from Syrian and/or Russian forces killed 15 year old boy Ibrahim Musab Al Haj Musa and injured between three to four others, including a six year old child named Malak Khalaf, a three year old named Abdul Salam…

Summary

Published
9 April 2023
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Incident Date

30 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4762

Location

Termanin, Idlib, Syria
ترمانين
On the evening of March 30th, 2023, several sources reported alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling near Termanin, north of Idlib resulting in the injury of between one and two civilians. The Syrian Network for Human Rights and other sources report that one civilian was wounded while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and…

Summary

Published
30 March 2023
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Incident Date

24 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4761

Location

Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
الأبزمو
One civilian, a young man identified by sources as Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, was reportedly killed in the town of Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo on March 24th 2023 after a contested attack as a result of Russian forces and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling hit the marketplace after midnight, according to the Syrian…

Summary

Published
24 March 2023
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Incident Date

23 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4760

Location

Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
الأتارب
Up to one civilian was killed, plus one woman and a man were reportedly injured as a result of contested action by Russian forces or the Syrian regime when a marketplace and a residential neighbourhood was hit by artillery and missile shelling in the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo, Syria. This attack took place…

Summary

Published
23 March 2023
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Incident Date

17 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4759

Location

Afes, Idlib, Syria
افس
One child, a girl, and a woman were reportedly injured on March 17th 2023 after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime machine gun fire or shelling hit the village of Afes, east of Idlib in Syria. Two sources, the White Helmets and Baladi reported that a child was injured by Russian forces, and the…

Summary

Published
17 March 2023
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