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

11 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4444

Location

Kafar Ta'al, Idlib, Syria
كفرتعال
A 17-year-old child was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafr Ta'al, Idlib governorate, on February 11th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that "the child Qasem Lattouf al Omar, aged 17, was killed as Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes carried out a strike…

Summary

Published
11 February 2020
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Incident Date

10 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4435

Location

Al-Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
From multiple incidents in the same day, three civilians including a child were reported killed and more than 25 others, including a woman and a child, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Atarib in Aleppo, Syria on February 10th 2020, via local sources. A Facebook post from Anastracey identified two…

Summary

Published
10 February 2020
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Incident Date

10 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4436

Location

Kafr Arouq, Idlib, Syria
كفر عروق
A child was reported killed and up to seven other civilians injured when allegedly Russian forces and/or Syrian regime forces targeted with airstrikes Kafr Arouq in Idlib, Syria on February 10th, 2020 according to local sources. Initial reports from local sources said at least one person was dead and three wounded from the air strike.…

Summary

Published
10 February 2020
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Incident Date

10 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4437

Location

Several towns, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
On February 10th, a collection of villages and towns were struck by Russian airstrikes, resulting in the wounding and killing of civilians. Shaam News noted strikes were carried out by both Russian and Assad regime forces against the villages and towns of Idlib, Kafrnbel, Sarmin, Ketian, Maarat al-Na`san, Zardana, Arab Saeed, Kallali and Kafraruq, and…

Summary

Published
10 February 2020
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Incident Date

9 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4432

Location

Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الأتارب
Four people, including a four year old child, were reportedly killed and up to nine civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Al Atarib, western Aleppo countryside, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources. The child was identified as Hatem Abdulllah Haid, who was…

Summary

Published
9 February 2020
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Incident Date

9 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4433

Location

Several towns, Idlib, Syria
بلدات متعددة
Alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on several towns in Idlib have led to the death and injury of an unknown number of civilians on February 9th, 2020, according to Shaam News Network. Shaam reported that "Russian and Assad's air forces launched airstrikes targeting the outskirts of Idlib, Sarmin, the villages of…

Summary

Published
9 February 2020
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