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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

9 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4429

Location

Kafarnouran, Aleppo, Syria
كفرنوران
Up to 12 civilians were reported killed, including a woman and her husband, and up to 15 others injured including children, in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes and artillery shelling on Kafrnouran in Aleppo, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources. Sources said that raids targeted homes and a primary school in…

Summary

Published
9 February 2020
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Incident Date

8 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4428

Location

Kafar Nouran, Aleppo, Syria
كفرنوران
On Feburary 8th, two civilians were reported injured as a result of an airstrike in Kafr Nouran in Aleppo Governate. No information was reported on the identities of the injured, but multiple sources reported the injuries, as well as photographs of the aftermath. @ShahbaPress reported that two civilians were injured and that civilians' houses were…

Summary

Published
8 February 2020
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Incident Date

5 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4420

Location

Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
تفتناز
Between one and two civilians, including a child, were reported killed and four civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured as a result of alleged Russian and/or Syrian airstrikes on the town of Taftanaz in the northeastern countryside of Idlib on February 5, 2020. The majority of sources reported that during…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4421

Location

Several Towns, Idlib, Syria
مناطق متعددة
Shaam Network reported that on February 6th, 2020 "Russian and Syrian regime air forces launched dozens of very violent and airstrikes targeting the areas of clashes, the city of Idlib, the towns and villages of Sarmin, Qumenas, Taftanaz, Kafr Nubel and Hass, which led to the fall of a child martyr in Taftanaz, 11 martyrs…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4427

Location

Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
تفتناز
One child was killed and four to five other civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Taftanaz on the night of February 6th, 2020. A tweet from @HalabTodayTV reported that a child was killed and his family was injured in airstrikes on…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4426

Location

Several Towns, Aleppo, Syria
بلدات متعددة
On February 6th, 2020, several towns were reported bombed by airstrikes, with four reported dead and one woman injured. Shaam Network reported that, "Russian and Assad warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes, accompanied by fierce artillery and missile shelling that targeted the areas of clashes, cities, towns, villages of Azaz, Huritan, Kafr Hamrah, Andan, Maarat Al-Ateeq,…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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