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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4349

Location

Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
Two women were killed and up to three other civilians, including two children and a woman, were wounded in up to three alleged Russian airstrikes on an IDP camp in the outskirts of Al Atareb, Syria local media reported. Jisr News identified the women that died as Mrs. Nofa Al Mohammed, aged 60, and Mrs.…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
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Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4354

Location

Urma Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
أورم الكبرى
At least one civilian was killed in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Urma Al Kubra on January 22, 2020. According to @mhnalshikh, Syrian regime and Russian planes bombed Urma Al Kubra, among other cities in the western countryside of Aleppo that were affected by the bombing campaign. Shaam News identified one man as being…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
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Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4350

Location

Al Qal’ajiya, Aleppo, Syria
القلعجية
Local media reported the death of one child and the injury of his brother in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Qal’ajiya. According to Shahba Press, “A civilian youth was martyred and his brother was injured as a result of air strikes on the village of Al Qal’ajiya in the southern countryside of Aleppo, Thursday…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
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Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4348

Location

Al Humaira, Aleppo, Syria
الحميرة
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
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Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4351

Location

Kafar Naha, Aleppo, Syria
كفرناها
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
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Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4352

Location

Ma’ardibsa, Idlib, Syria
معردبسة
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
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