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

16 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4314

Location

قرية الزربة, Zorba village, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4310

Location

السوق الشعبي, Local market, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7–22
Civilians reported injured
50–80
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4309

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
Seven civilians, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on a popular market place in the city of Ariha, Idlib governorate, on January 15th, 2020, according to local sources. Civilian homes and shops were severely damaged. @SyrianCoalition tweeted that Russia and the Assad regime did not abide by the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4308

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'arat Al Numan, Idlib, Syria
On January 15th, 2020 several civilians were wounded in Maarat Numan following an alleged Russian bombing raid. Shaam News reported only that many civilians were wounded in the bombing raid but did not announce any deaths or a specific number of wounded. Local sources detailed the target as a residential neighborhood without military significance. AlarabyTV…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4311

Location

حاس, Hass, Idlib, Syria
A young man was killed and at least one other civilian was wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Hass, Idlib governorate, on January 15th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the 22-year-old Muhammad Hasan al Da’if was killed in "a strike carried…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4312

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer was wounded and an unknown number of people were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Bara, Idlib governorate, in the evening of January 15th, 2020, according to local sources. Ismail al-Hamada, a civil defense volunteer, was injured, during inspection of a bombing site of…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident