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

17 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4466

Location

Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
الأبزمو
One child was killed alongside their mother and four others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Abzmo, Aleppo governorate, on February 17th, 2020, according to local sources. Edlib Media Center reported that "a mother and her child were martyred due to the targeting of the Russian occupation air…

Summary

Published
17 February 2020
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Incident Date

16 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4463

Location

Ma`arat Masrin, Idlib, Syria
معرة مصرين
At least one child was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Ma`arat Masrin on February 16, 2020. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that a child was wounded by artillery shelling on Ma`arat Masrin and that the volunteers transferred the child to a nearby hospital. Our Syria reported about artillery shelling in…

Summary

Published
16 February 2020
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Incident Date

16 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4464

Location

Batron, Aleppo, Syria
باترون,
One civilian died and up to 10 others were wounded in alleged Russian air or artillery strikes on Batron, according to sources on the ground. The Smart news agency reported: A civilian was killed and others injured on Saturday night-Sunday, as a result of aerial bombardments by Russian warplanes on a village west of Aleppo,…

Summary

Published
16 February 2020
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Incident Date

15 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4458

Location

Taqad, Aleppo, Syria
تقاد
One civilian was wounded in an airstrike reportedly by Russian warplanes when they targted the town of Takad in the western countryside of Aleppo on February 15th 2020, according to local sources and media. @Rey7d, a local source on Twitter posted, "a person was wounded in an air strike by Russian warplanes targeting the town…

Summary

Published
15 February 2020
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Incident Date

15 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4461

Location

Several towns in Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
بلدات متعددة,
The Shaam News Network reported: "Russian warplanes launched intense and very violent air strikes, which were associated with heavy artillery and missile shelling targeting the vicinity of the city of Dara Azza and the cities and towns and villages of Andan, Atareb, Hurriyan, Kafr Hamra, Al Abzmu, Tadil, Kfartal, Kafr Amadah, Qadin, Ainjarah, Bastaroon, Sahar,…

Summary

Published
15 February 2020
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Incident Date

15 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4460

Location

Al Sahara Village, Aleppo, Syria
بلدة السحارة,
Four to five civilians died, including one girl, and one Syrian Civil Defence volunteer was wounded in an alleged Russian double airstrike on Al Sahara village, according to local media. The second strike happened as the volunteers were undergoing the rescue mission. The White Helmets reported: "Four people were killed and a civil defense volunteer…

Summary

Published
15 February 2020
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