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
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

15 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4462

Location

Sarmada, Idlib, Syria
سرمدا
One civilian was killed and up to four others injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling on Al Muthanna IDP camp in the east of Sarmada, Idlib in Syria. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said: "Syrian regime forces’ artillery fired shells on al Muthanna IDPs Camp, located in east of Sarmada city in…

Summary

Published
15 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

RS4459

Location

Near Dar Ezza, Aleppo, Syria
قرب دار عزة,
Local sources reported that one civilian was killed and up to ten others were injured during Russian airstrikes in the village of Patron, near Darat Azza, Aleppo, on February 15th 2020. According to the White Helmets, "one person was killed and 10 others were wounded, as a result of four air strikes, that targeted civilian…

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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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

14 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4452

Location

Ma`art Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
معارة الاتارب
Up to eight civilians were killed including at least two children and a woman died and others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strikes on Ma`art Al Atareb, according to local media and sources on February 14th 2020. The majority of sources indicated that five civilians were killed but Syriahr alleged…

Summary

Published
14 February 2020
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