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

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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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

RS4501

Location

Mashoun village, Idlib, Syria
قرية مشون
Two civilians were wounded in the village of Mashoun on February 27 following a Russian raid. A correspondent for Halab Today noted that two people were injured in Mashoun in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in southern Idlib. A tweet from @AleppoAMC also indicated that two civilians had been hurt. The wounded pair of civilians lived…

Summary

Published
27 February 2020
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Incident Date

27 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4502

Location

Trunba, Idlib, Syria
طرنبة
In the village of Trunba, a civilian was killed on February 27, 2020 by alleged Russian warplanes, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The SNHR identified the victim as Hussein Ahmad Al-Hassan and posts from ibn Baladi and Nihad Al Assad referenced the “martyrdom” of Al-Hassan as a victim of increased airstrikes in…

Summary

Published
27 February 2020
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Incident Date

27 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4503

Location

Shalakh, Idlib, Syria
شلخ
At least four civilians, including up to four women and a child, were reported to have been killed and others were wounded by alleged Russian or regime air strikes in the village of Shalakh on February 27th, 2020. A tweet from @almo3tasem91 stated that five “martyrs, including four women and a child” were killed in…

Summary

Published
27 February 2020
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Incident Date

26 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4496

Location

Ihsem, Idlib, Syria
احسم
Russian warplanes struck the town of Ihsem in the southern suburbs of Idlib on February 26th, 2020 killing one civilian. The Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the man as Ahmad Yasin Hammoudi, and this was also reported by local sources, including a tweet from @Jabliat414.  Other local sources reported on the use of machine guns…

Summary

Published
26 February 2020
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