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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4422

Location

اورم الكبرى, Urm Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4423

Location

حي الشيخ ثلث في مدينة ادلب, Al Shaikh Thulth neighbourhood, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
10
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4417

Location

أطراف مدينة إدلب قرب قرية قميناس, outskirts of Idlib near Qminas village, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians were reported to be killed by an air raid upon the village of Quminas on the outskirts of Idlib on February 5th. Ahmed Sheikho, media director for the Syrian Civil Defense, told Smart News that “a Russian plane targeted two cow farms near the village of Quminas, killing three people”. A tweet from…

Summary

Published
5 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4418

Location

عندان, Andan, Aleppo, Syria
Between two and three civilians were reported injured during alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Andan in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 5th, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, Jirs TV, Masar Press and others tweeted that “Civilians were wounded by the bombing of the Russian occupation warplanes on the city of [Andan], north…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4419

Location

جدرايا, Jadraya, Idlib, Syria
Between four and six civilians, including up to four women and two children, were reported killed and six civilians were injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian airstrikes on the village of Jadraya in the southwestern Idlib countryside on February 5, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, Shaam and @thiqanewsagency reported that four civilians were…

Summary

Published
5 February 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4–6
Civilians reported injured
6
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