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

25 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4492

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
Four civilians were killed and one wounded in the town of Kansfara following an airstrike by warplanes from the Assad regime on Tuesday, February 25th. Shahba Press was the first to tweet about the assault upon Kansafra.  HalabTV later tweeted that four civilians were killed, and a tweet from @civil_hama, Syrian Civil Defense, noted that…

Summary

Published
25 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4491

Location

مدرسة البراعم، مدينة ادلب, Al Bara’em School, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
Up to seven civilians, including children, were reported killed, and 26 others, including six children, were injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on Idlib city on February 25th, 2020, according to local sources. Air and artillery strikes targeted Al Qusoor neighbourhood, several schools and the industrial area of…

Summary

Published
25 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2–7
Civilians reported injured
12–26
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4493

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria
Up to 12 civilians, including between three and six children, were killed and up to 62 civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ma'arat Misrin, Idlib governorate, on February 25th, 2020, according to local sources. Whereas Shabha Press initially put the death toll at four killed civilians, they…

Summary

Published
25 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare, Education
Civilians reported killed
9–12
Civilians reported injured
30–62
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4485

Location

كفرنوران, Kafar Nuran, Aleppo, Syria
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, "Subhi Abdul Jabbar al Selea, from Taftanaz town in the northern suburbs of Idlib governorate, died on February 24th, due to wounds sustained earlier as Syrian- Russian alliance fixed- wing warplanes fired missiles on Kafr Noran village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate." No further details…

Summary

Published
24 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4487

Location

كوكبة, Kawkabah, Idlib, Syria
Between two and three civilians were reported killed and an unknown number of civilians sustained injuries during alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Kokbeh in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 24, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, Baladi Network tweeted that civilians died and were wounded in Russian airstrikes on the village of Kawkabah,…

Summary

Published
24 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4486

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
Between two and three civilians, including two men, were reported killed and up to four civilians sustained injuries during an alleged Russian or Regime airstrike on the town of Al Fatira in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 24, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, @IdlibPlus and Bsklaa16 said that “civilians were wounded and trapped under…

Summary

Published
24 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident