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
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

24 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4488

Location

Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria
البارة
One civilian, a young man, was reported killed and five civilians reportedly sustained injuries during alleged Russian or Regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on the vicinity of the town of Al Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 24, 2020. According to Syria Violence Monitoring and KMC, Russian warplanes bombed the road between…

Summary

Published
24 February 2020
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Incident Date

23 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4483

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كصنفرة
Between three and five people were reported injured as a result of alleged Russian and/or Regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on the vicinity of the town of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 23, 2020. With regards to civilian harm, Smart News said that “three people were wounded as a result of…

Summary

Published
23 February 2020
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Incident Date

23 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4482

Location

Abdita, Idlib, Syria
One civilian, a man, was reported killed as the result of alleged Russian and/or Regime airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on the village of Abdita in the southern Idlib countryside in the afternoon of Sunday, February 23, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, Bsklaa16, among others, reported that Marei al-Asaad Abu Ahmed, a man from the village of…

Summary

Published
23 February 2020
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Incident Date

23 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4481

Location

Tarmala, Idlib, Syria
ترملا
One civilian was reported killed and at least one civilian, a young man, sustained injuries after alleged Syrian, Russian and/or Iranian airstrikes or artillery shelling on the village of Tarmala in Jabal Shahshabo in the southern Idlib countryside on February 23, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, the Syrian Civil Defence - Southern Director reported that they…

Summary

Published
23 February 2020
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Incident Date

22 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4480

Location

Jouseph, Idlib, Syria
جوزف
One civilian, a child, was reported killed and one to two civilians, possibly including a girl and a woman, were reported injured during an alleged Russian or Syrian airstrike on the village of Jouseph in Jabal al-Zawiya, south of Idlib on February 22, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, more than 10 sources reported that a girl…

Summary

Published
22 February 2020
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Incident Date

21 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4479

Location

Alnayrab outskirts, Aleppo, Syria
ضواحي النيرب
One civilian, an adult male, was reported killed during alleged Regime or Russian airstrikes or artillery shelling on the outskirts of the village of alnayrab in the southern suburbs of the Idlib governorate on Friday, February 21, 2020. The Syrian Network For Human Rights reported that “Abdullah al Qasem, from Khattab town in the western…

Summary

Published
21 February 2020
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