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

23 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4355

Location

ارنبة, Arinba, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians, a mother and her two children were killed and another child was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Arinba, Idlib governorate, in the night between January 22nd 2020 and January 23rd 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had "documented the death of…

Summary

Published
23 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4356

Location

قرب سراقب, near Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
Three children were killed alongside two adults in alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib, Idlib governorate, on January 23rd, 2020, according to local sources. Up to fifteen people, including children and women, were injured. According to Step News Agency correspondent Hassan Al Muhammed, “the Russian aviation inflicted a massacre on…

Summary

Published
23 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture, Residential
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
5–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4348

Location

الحميرة, Al Humaira, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian died and two or three more were wounded in alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strikes on Al Humaira, according to local media. The Step News Agency and other local sources reported one civilian killed and the injury of three more; they all blamed “Russian airstrikes”. But Smart said that regime artillery…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4351

Location

كفرناها, Kafar Naha, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian, an adult male, was wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike in Kafar Naha, according to local sources on January 22nd 2020. The White Helmets reported: “A person was injured as a result of the bombing of a factory in the town of Kafr Nanaha, in the western countryside of Aleppo. Our…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4352

Location

معردبسة, Ma’ardibsa, Idlib, Syria
One civilian reportedly died and two more - a woman and a child - were wounded in an alleged regime or Russian air or artillery strikes on Ma’ardibsa on January 22nd 2020. @yahya_kadaa reported however, that the death toll was nine. Local Coordination Committees if Syria reported: “At 15:46 a regime's MiG-23 warplane raid targeted…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4353

Location

تل منس, Tal Menes, Idlib, Syria
One civilian died in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike on Tal Menes, according to local media on January 22nd 2020. Edlib Media Centre reported: “The body of a young man who was martyred in a previous regime artillery shelling in Tal Menes town, south of Idlib, was found.” According to the…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident