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

23 April 2023

Incident Code

RS4765

Location

بداما, Badama, Idlib, Syria
On Sunday 23rd April 2023, during the daytime, a woman and her two children were injured by a detonator contained in the remnants of a bomb in Badama, a town in northwest Syria. It is unclear who was responsible for the explosive as there are thousands of unexploded ordnance scattered across Syria from the Syrian…

Summary

Published
23 April 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16–17 April, 2023

Incident Code

RS4764

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 April 2023

Incident Code

RS4763

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4762

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4761

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4760

Location

الأتارب, Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident