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

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4422

Location

Urm Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
اورم الكبرى
Four civilians including a woman and children were reported killed as a result of Russian forces airstrikes or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Urm Al Kubra in Aleppo governorate, Syria on February 6th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that "Four civilians were killed in Orem Al-Kubra, west of…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4423

Location

Al Shaikh Thulth neighbourhood, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
حي الشيخ ثلث في مدينة ادلب
Ten civilians, including a medic and two children, were killed and three people were injured in alleged double Russian airstrikes on Al Shaikh Thulth neighbourhood in Idlib city on February 6th, 2020, according to local sources. The medic was identified as Abdul Rahman Majid Hilal, and two other civilians were identified as Obaidah Khaled Hilal…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4424

Location

Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria
حيان
At least one civilian, a  woman, was reported killed and between three and four civilians, including three children and a woman, sustained injuries during alleged Russian or Regime airstrike or artillery shelling on civilian homes in the Town of Hayyan in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 6, 2020. Anadolu Agency noted that Hayyan…

Summary

Published
6 February 2020
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Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4425

Location

Andan, Aleppo, Syria
عندان
Up to one civilian was reported injured after alleged Russian and/or Syrian airstrikes or artillery shelling on the city of Andan in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 6, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, Smart News reported that according to Civil Defence journalist Hamzah al-Youssef “(...) a civilian was injured as a result of an…

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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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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