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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4507

Location

السحارة, Al Sahara, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was reportedly injured as a result of an alleged Russian bombing or an alleged attack by Syrian army’s launchers on the village of Al Sahharah west of Aleppo, on the afternoon of March 1st, 2020 according to local sources. SDCAleppo stated that one civilian was injured as a result of Russian bombardment that…

Summary

Published
1 March 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

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4509

Location

باتنتة, Batneta, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4508

Location

كفرنتين, Kafar Natin, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
3–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 March 2020

Incident Code

RS4510

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Hama, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4506

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4505

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident