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

18 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4319

Location

ريف المهندسين, Al Muhandiseen countryside, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4320

Location

مركز ايواء النازحين قرب عنجارة, Shelter for displaced people near Anjara, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4315

Location

كفرناها, Kafrnaha, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4316

Location

الاتارب, Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
Several civilians were injured due to an alleged Russian airstrike on the city of Atarib in the morning of January 17th, 2019, Four alleged airstrikes targeting the city of Atarib have resulted in the injury of several people, according to the Frmedianetwork and HalabTodayTV reported that “several civilians were injured as a result of four…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4317

Location

القاسمية, Al Qasimiya, Aleppo, Syria
One female child was reported injured when airstrikes with vacuum missiles targeted a residential area in Al Qasimiya village in Aleppo’s western countryside, on January 17th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Civil Defence reported on the incident stating: “A residential gathering in the village of Al-Qasimia, west of Aleppo, was targeted this evening,…

Summary

Published
17 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17–18 January, 2020

Incident Code

RS4318

Location

جمعية بالا, Jama'ait Bala, Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians of the same family, including three children, were killed and others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes in the village of Jama’ait Bala, Aleppo governorate, in the night of January 17th to January 18th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the children Dalal and Abdullah Sabouneh,…

Summary

Published
17 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident