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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4336

Location

Ma’aret Al Nu’man, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعمان
Up to five civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al-Numan, according to local media. @ShahbaPress tweeted: "Civilians were injured after raids by Russian occupation planes on the southern city of Maarat al-Numan in the southern Idlib countryside and the town of Taftanaz in the northern countryside." Macro Media Center said that "five…

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4330

Location

Al Bawabiya, Aleppo, Syria
لبوابية
An elderly man was reported injured as a result of shelling of airstrikes that hit al-Bawabiya farms in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020. Syrian Civil Defense posted a video of their volunteers rescuing the elderly man. None of the other sources mentioned civilian casualties. A Facebook post by FSLA.Ovecs identified Russian strikes in the vicinity…

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4335

Location

vicinity of Al fouj 46, Aleppo, Syria
محيط الفوج 46
One civilian, a child, was reported killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the vicinity of the 46th Regiment in Aleppo, Syria on January 21st, 2020. Zaiton Mag and @thawrat111 reported that one civilian was killed in the vicinity of the 46th regiment, with @baladinetwork identifying this one civilian as being a child…

Summary

Published
21 January 2020
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Incident Date

21 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4346

Location

Kafar Nuran, Aleppo, Syria
At least nine civilians, among which between three and six children, were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. Between 14 and 42 civilians, including women and children, were reported wounded. The Syrian Civil Defence initially put the death toll…

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

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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