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

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4322

Location

Several towns, Aleppo, Syria
بلدات متعددة
Shaam Network reported that Russian warplanes’ airstrikes that targeted cities, towns and villages in the western and southern countryside of Aleppo on January 20th, 2020 resulted in “injuries in the Atarib, Kafarna, Anjarah, al-Bawabiyyah, Orum al-Sughra, al-Qasimiyya, al-Kamari, Mernaz, al-Saloom, Kafr al-Nuran, rural al-Mohandessin, al-Bawabiya farms and the al-Shamiko area. “While the towns of al-Mansoura,…

Summary

Published
20 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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Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4328

Location

Miznaz, Aleppo, Syria
ميزناز
A girl and two other civilians were injured in an alleged airstrike by the Russian Armed Forces targeting the city of Miznaz, in the western countryside of Aleppo, at 12:46 pm on January 20th, 2020. Our Syria reported on the incident and stated: “Reports of civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of the Russian…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
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Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4321

Location

Al Kamari, Aleppo, Syria
الكماري
Ghassan Mohsen Al-Dandal was injured as a result of an alleged Russian attack targeting Al Kamari at 11.23am on January 20th, 2020. @so_ria98 tweeted that “Civilian casualties were reported by Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Kamari in the southern countryside of Aleppo.” Mohammad Alhasuain reported on the alleged incident asserting the injury of…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
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Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4327

Location

Kafar Nuran, Aleppo, Syria
كفرنوران
Between three to five civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Nouran village in the western countryside of Aleppo, on January 20th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Civil Defense in Aleppo said that “Five civilians were wounded today [Jan 20th] in the  Kafar Nuran village, west of Aleppo, after an…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
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Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4326

Location

Al Jeneh , Aleppo, Syria
بلدة الجينة
Two or three civilians including a child were reported killed, and up to nine others also including two children and a woman were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Jeneh in Aleppo’s western countryside on January 20th, 2020 according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the victims…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
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