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 DatePublication Date

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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Incident Date

17 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4316

Location

Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
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
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Incident Date

17 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4317

Location

Al Qasimiya, Aleppo, Syria
القاسمية
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
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Incident Date

17–18 January, 2020

Incident Code

RS4318

Location

Jama'ait Bala, Aleppo, Syria
جمعية بالا
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
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Incident Date

16 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4314

Location

Zorba village, Aleppo, Syria
قرية الزربة
Two civilians, one young girl and her mother, were injured due to airstrikes by Russian forces on the outskirts of the town of Zorba on January 16, 2021. The Syrian Civil Defence tweeted that "a child and a woman were injured by air strikes on the outskirts of the town of Zerba" and that their team…

Summary

Published
16 January 2020
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Incident Date

15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4310

Location

Local market, Idlib, Syria
السوق الشعبي
Local sources reported that between seven and 22 civilians including a child and a volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets) were killed, and between 50 and 80 were injured, with most of them in critical conditions, when allegedly Russian forces or Syrian regime forces allegedly targeted with airstrikes the busy local market (Souq…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
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