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

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

RS4407

Location

Ma’aret Al Na’ssan, Aleppo, Syria
معارة النعسان
One civilian was injured and a fire broke out in a fuel refining station as the result of airstrikes on the town of Ma'arat Al Na'ssan in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 3rd, 2020, as reported by the Syrian Civil Defence. @NagiNajjar reported: "Russian warplanes launch missile strikes on the town of Maarat…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4408

Location

Binnish , Idlib, Syria
بنش
One civilian, a child, was reported killed and at least two civilians sustained injuries after an alleged airstrike of Syrian Armed Forces or Russian Armed Forces on the city of Binnish, in the northeastern countryside of Idlib on February 2nd, 2020. According to multiple sources, including @syriapostnew1, warplanes attacked agricultural lands located south of the…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4412

Location

Kafarnaha, Aleppo, Syria
كفرناها
Two men were killed and other civilians wounded, including children, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafarnaha, Aleppo on February 6th 2020, according to local media reports. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: "The brothers Mustafa and Ibrahim Hamdou Abdul Qader were killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4409

Location

Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
تفتناز
An undisclosed number of civilians were reported killed or injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Taftanaz, Idlib governorate, on February 3rd, 2020, according to SMART News. SMART reported that there were "victims of the airstrikes from Russian warplanes on the town of Taftanaz", but did not specify the number…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4410

Location

Afes (Iffes), Idlib, Syria
افس
Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes as they attended the site of an earlier airstrike in the village of Iffes, Idlib governorate, on February 3rd, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Civil Defense and several other sources named the injured men as Ahmed…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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