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

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4509

Location

Batneta, Idlib, Syria
باتنتة
Two to four civilians, including one child, were killed and five others, including two women, were injured as a result of an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime airstrike on agricultural lands in the vicinity of Batenta village near Idlib on the morning of March 1st 2020 according to local sources. Almost all of the sources…

Summary

Published
1 March 2020
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Incident Date

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4508

Location

Kafar Natin, Aleppo, Syria
كفرنتين
Up to five civilians, including one child were killed, and three to six others were injured as a result of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on a residential gathering in Kafr Natin near Dar Ezza in Aleppo, on the morning of March 1st 2020 according to Local sources. Most of the sources claimed…

Summary

Published
1 March 2020
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Incident Date

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4510

Location

Qastoun, Hama, Syria
قسطون
Up to one civilian was reportedly injured due to alleged Russian airstrikes or artillery shells on the village of Qastoun in the Al-Ghab plain northwest of Hama on March 1st 2020 according to Local sources. A local source named “Smart news” initially reported that one civilian was injured due to Russian airstrikes on the village…

Summary

Published
1 March 2020
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Incident Date

28 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4506

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
At least three civilians were killed in the city of Saraqib on February 28th. In addition to the three civilian deaths, there are reports of numerous wounded people as well. Posts and tweets from IdlibPlus and the Step Agency reported that Russian planes using vacuum missiles launched an assault upon the area around Saraqib.  The…

Summary

Published
28 February 2020
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Incident Date

27 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4505

Location

Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
On February 27th, 2020 radio reporter Muhammad Fawaz Hammoud was injured during an airstrike in Saraqib, outside of Idlib.  Hammoud is an employee of Radio Al-Kul. In a post from Almodon, Hammoud was born in 1996 and is known as Asmar Aslan.  According to a report from The Syrian Journalists Association and specifically media activist…

Summary

Published
27 February 2020
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Incident Date

27 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4504

Location

Idlib city (south), Idlib, Syria
جنوب مدينة ادلب
The death of at least one child and the wounding of civilians was reported on February 27th, 2020 the result of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the outskirts of Idlib. The brothers were displaced from the city of Kafranbel and relocated to a rural area of Idlib. A post from Bsklaa16 noted that…

Summary

Published
27 February 2020
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