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

5 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4417

Location

outskirts of Idlib near Qminas village, Idlib, Syria
أطراف مدينة إدلب قرب قرية قميناس
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
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Incident Date

4–5 February, 2020

Incident Code

RS4414

Location

Ainjara, Aleppo, Syria
عنجارة
One man his wife were killed and four children injured in an alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery strikes on the night of February 4th to February 5th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Civil Defence reported that "Mr. Ahmad Rostom was killed and his family - his wife and four children were injured…

Summary

Published
4 February 2020
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Incident Date

4 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4416

Location

Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
سرمين
A young man was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Sarmin, Idlib governorate, on February 4th, 2020, according to SMART News Agency. SMART reported that "local sources and military observatories said that a civilian was killed and others were wounded as a result of missile strikes by Russian…

Summary

Published
4 February 2020
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Incident Date

4 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4415

Location

Ariha, Idlib, Syria
اريحا
On February 4th, 2020 media activist Amjad Aktalati (“Amjad Abu Al-Joud”) and another civilians were killed in the town of Ariha, the victims of an aerial bombardment alleged to be carried out by Russia. HalabToday TV tweeted that Ariha was struck by an alleged Russian airstrike, a claim also stated by a tweet from @saveIdlib.…

Summary

Published
4 February 2020
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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4413

Location

Qmenas, Idlib, Syria
قميناس
At least one civilian, a journalist, was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Qmenas on February 3, 2020. A tweet from @LWMiMxsIhhMDCwA reported that "Syria TV correspondent Mustafa Al-Khalaf was injured, while covering the bombing of the regime's militias on the village of Qmenas". Syrian Network for Human Rights added that he was…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4406

Location

Jam’iyet Al Rahhal, Aleppo, Syria
جمعية الرحال
Up to nine civilians from one family were killed and others injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jam’iyet Al Rahhal, Aleppo in Syria on February 3rd 2020, local media reported. The victims were reportedly fleeing another area when their vehicle was targeted. The lowest number of civilians reported killed was six, however…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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