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

17 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4468

Location

مستشفيا الكنانة والفردوس - دار عزة, Al Firdous and Al Kinana hospitals - Daret Izza, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian and a number of medical personnel were injured when Russian forces or Syrian regime forces allegedly targeted Al Kinana and Al Fardous hospitals in Dar Ezza in Aleppo with airstrikes on February 17th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that "fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4467

Location

الدانا, Al Dana, Idlib, Syria
Up to three civilians were killed, including a woman and a child and an unknown number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian air or artillery strikes on the city of Al Dana, Idlib governorate, on February 17th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "Ahmad Abu…

Summary

Published
17 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4466

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4463

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma`arat Masrin, Idlib, Syria
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
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

Incident Date

16 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4464

Location

باترون,, Batron, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4458

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria
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
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