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

21 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4479

Location

ضواحي النيرب, Alnayrab outskirts, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4478

Location

قميناس, Qaminas, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4477

Location

معرة النعسان, Maaret al-Nassan, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4474

Location

معارة النعسان, Ma’arat Nisan, Idlib, Syria
Up to two civilians were reported killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Ma'arat Al Nassan, Idlib governorate, on February 19th, 2020, according to local sources. @SyrianCoalition reported that two men were killed in the airstrikes while @HalabTodayTV identified the two civilians killed as being a man as his…

Summary

Published
19 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4476

Location

دارة عزة, Daret Izza, Aleppo, Syria
Alleged Russian warplanes struck the village of Daret Izza on February 19th, resulting in the death of one civilian, the wounding of two others, and material damage. Tweets from @Tania_Tania_C and @NagiNajjar both noted only material damage resulted from the bombing and did not report any deaths. Enabbaldi.net and Smart News later noted that one…

Summary

Published
19 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4473

Location

بيدر شمسو, Baidar Shamsu, Idlib, Syria
A civilian was reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Baidar Shamsu, Idlib governorate, on February 19th, 2020, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria. The LCCSy reported that a "Russian raid targeting the outskirts of Baidar Shamsu village resulted in an injury". The incident occurred at 5:56 PM. Airwars was…

Summary

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