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

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4329

Location

ريف المهندسين, Al Muhandiseen countryside, Aleppo, Syria
Muhammad Ahmad Taha Bazar was injured and a day later sucumbed to his injuries in the hospital, and three further civilians were injured in an attack carried out by the Russian Armed Forces, which targeted the Mohandessin countryside, south of Aleppo at 1 on January 20th, 2020. The Syrian Network for Human rights posted a…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
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

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4322

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4324

Location

كفرجوم, Kafarjoum, Aleppo, Syria
At least one child and one woman were reported killed, and three other civilians, two or all of them are children, were injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarjoum in Aleppo’s countryside in Syria on at 6:26am and 6:31am at January 20th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for…

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4323

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria
Shaam Network reported that “Russian warplanes launched airstrikes targeting the towns and villages of Mardikh, Khan Al-Sabl, Masran, Al-Ghadfa, Abu Juraif, Dadekh, Hantoutin, and Benin, causing a number of civilian casualties.” No further details are available at the moment.

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4325

Location

كفر تعال, Kafar Ta'al , Aleppo, Syria
Three children were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Ta’al, Aleppo governorate, on January 20th, 2020, according to local sources. Seven civilians, including children, were reportedly wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the killing of three young girls. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that the…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4326

Location

بلدة الجينة, Al Jeneh , Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
3–9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident