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

9 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4431

Location

أورم الصغرى, Urma Al Sughra, Aleppo, Syria
Two or three civilians were reportedly killed and others were wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Urm Al Sughra, western Aleppo countryside, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported it had documented the death of three civilians as the result of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4430

Location

الشيخ علي, Al Sheikh Ali, Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly killed and an unknown number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes near the village of Sheikh Ali, Aleppo governorate, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources. A Facebook post identified the two casualties as Atta Qadour and Khaled Qadour from Arada. The third was unidentified.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4429

Location

كفرنوران, Kafarnouran, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
10–12
Civilians reported injured
1–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4428

Location

كفرنوران, Kafar Nouran, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4420

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4421

Location

مناطق متعددة, Several Towns, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
11
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident