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

RS4325

Location

Kafar Ta'al , Aleppo, Syria
كفر تعال
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
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Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4324

Location

Kafarjoum, Aleppo, Syria
كفرجوم
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
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Incident Date

18 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4320

Location

Shelter for displaced people near Anjara, Aleppo, Syria
مركز ايواء النازحين قرب عنجارة
Four civilians from the same family including two children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on a shelter for IDPs near Anjara in Aleppo countryside, Syria, on January 18th, 2020 according to a local source. SMART Agency reported that “Two children and their parents were killed on Friday-Saturday night, by Russian airstrikes targeting a shelter…

Summary

Published
18 January 2020
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Incident Date

18 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4319

Location

Al Muhandiseen countryside, Aleppo, Syria
ريف المهندسين
One civilian was reported killed, and two children and two women were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Rif Al Muhandiseen in Aleppo’s western countryside, Syria at 11:14 am on January 18th, 2020. Macro Media Center reported that vacuum missiles were used in the attack. Abdul Rahman Hilal Al-Halabi, aged 23, was killed in the…

Summary

Published
18 January 2020
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Incident Date

17 January 2021

Incident Code

RS4547

Location

Al Qasimia village prison , Aleppo, Syria
سجن قرية القاسمية
Local sources reported that between 20 and more than 30 prisoners were killed and others injured in alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Al Qasimia village prison in Aleppo's western countryside in Syria on January 17th, 2020. @yamenhm11 tweeted " A massacre of more than 30 prisoners as a result of Russian…

Summary

Published
17 January 2020
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Incident Date

17 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4315

Location

Kafrnaha, Aleppo, Syria
كفرناها
According to local sources, two children were reported killed, and four other civilians injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes one of which hit an IDP shelter in Kafrnaha in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate in Syria, on January 17th, 2020. Edlib Media Center reported that Russian warplanes targeted the area with…

Summary

Published
17 January 2020
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