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

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4404

Location

Jam’iyet Al Arman area, Bala, Aleppo, Syria
جمعية الارمن في بلدة بالا
Three civilians, a woman and two children, were killed and two civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the Jam’iyet Al Arman area in the town of Bala, Aleppo governorate, on February 3rd, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Civil Defence in Aleppo reported that Mrs. Zahra Yahya Al-Hassan (35)…

Summary

Published
3 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

RS4405

Location

Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
Al Atareb
As many as ten civilians, including several children, were wounded following alleged Russia or Syrian regime airstrikes against residential neighbourhoods in the town of Al Atareb, Syria on February 3rd 2020, according to local media reports. Several sources put the number of civilians injured at nine. One source, @Step_Agency, said ten civilians had been injured,…

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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Incident Date

3 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4411

Location

Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
تفتناز
The town of Taftanaz was struck by an alleged Russian airstrike on February 4th, 2020, resulting in up to five injuries to civilians, including a woman and two children. Two tweets from@EyadHoms20 claimed that “Russian occupation aircraft” struck residential areas within Taftanaz “with several missiles”. The Baladi Network supported the use of missiles upon the…

Summary

Published
3 February 2020
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Incident Date

2 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4397

Location

Several towns , Aleppo, Syria
بلدات متعددة
A single source, Shaam News Network, reported civilian harm across a series of strikes in towns in Aleppo. The source alleged both Russia and the Syrian Regime responsible. According to the source, attacks took place on the towns "Darat Azza, Zorba, Zitan, Qanater, Kamari, Arnaz, Urm al-Kubra, Atarib, First Engineers Country, Maarat al-Atariq, Sheikh Ali,…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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