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 DatePublication Date

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

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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Incident Date

20 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4477

Location

Maaret al-Nassan, Idlib, Syria
معرة النعسان
On February 20th, the village of Maaret al-Nassan was struck by alleged Russian or regime warplanes, resulting in the death of one civilian, a media activist. A tweet from Ahmed Dekhan announced the killing of media activist and photographer Abdul Nasser Haj Hamdan. @MousaAlamar and Edlib News tweeted similar information as well. Alaraby News said…

Summary

Published
20 February 2020
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Incident Date

20 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4478

Location

Qaminas, Idlib, Syria
قميناس
Two media activists and several Turkish soldiers were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike upon the village of Qaminas on February 20th. A tweet from @alhariri58 announced the wounding of Ibrahim al-Darwish and Ahmed Rahal, with the latter posting “I am fine” on WhatsApp and tweeting that Russian aircraft dropped cluster missile shelling 4 meters…

Summary

Published
20 February 2020
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Incident Date

19 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4475

Location

Bsames, Idlib, Syria
بسامس
At least one civilian was wounded in an alleged Russian bombing raid on the village of Bsames, Syria, on February 19th, 2020. A tweet by @oulaalassaad mentioned both the wounding of a civilian and the specific targeting of displaced people by Russian warplanes. However, @mhmdfaisel mentioned that “civilians” were injured without providing a number for…

Summary

Published
19 February 2020
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