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

RS4353

Location

Tal Menes, Idlib, Syria
تل منس
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
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4332

Location

Jazraya, Aleppo, Syria
Two girls were killed and two people were injured in alleged Russian shelling of Jazraya village on January 21, 2020. Syria live ua was the only source to report on this incident and it is possibly a duplicate of incident R4078. No other information is available to Airwars at this time.

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4345

Location

Kafar Naha, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians were reported killed and others injured when alleged Russian or Syrian regime warplanes targeted KafarNaha village in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "Muhammad Bassout and Ahmad al Abd were killed as fixed wing- warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on…

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4333

Location

Al Sa'adiya, Aleppo, Syria
السعدية
Six civilians were reportedly wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Sa'adiya, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to SMART News Agency. Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4334

Location

Urma Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
أورم الكبرى
Local sources reported that five children and their mother were injured as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on Urm Al Kubra in Aleppo, on January 21st, 2020. Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported in the outcome of the bombing that hit Aleppo Governorate on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020, “12:18 pm, a Russian raid targets…

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4340

Location

Bshantra, Aleppo, Syria
شنطرة
At least one child was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Bashnarta, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that a russian raid targeted the village at 12:42 PM, injuring the child Khaled Al Raslan. The Syrian Civil Defence in Aleppo stated…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
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