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

2 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4398

Location

Urma Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
أورم الكبرى
Up to three civilians were reported killed and up to ten injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town Urma Al Kubra, Aleppo, on February 2nd, 2020. Among other sources, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) identified the civilians who were killed by the attack as Hamzah Mustafa al Najib, Abdul Salam Al Ghdab and Essam Abdel-Latif.…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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Incident Date

2 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4399

Location

Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
الاتارب
A 60-year-old woman was reportedly killed and an unspecified number of other civilians wounded in Al Atarib, Aleppo, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on her home in morning of February 2nd, 2020. A number of sources identified the victim as Fatimah Akoush. According to Zaman Al Wasl, she was 60 years old. @Razak0000 reported…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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Incident Date

2 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4400

Location

Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria
الباب
Between one and six civilians were reportedly wounded in suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, east of Aleppo, in the night of February 2nd, 2020. A number of sources, including @WZ4M93fVY0KeDJb, stated that six civilians had been injured. Among other sources, @jisrtv claimed instead that only one civilian had been injured. While Step Agency reported that…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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Incident Date

2 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4401

Location

Sarmin , Idlib, Syria
سرمين
Up to eight civilians all from one family were reportedly killed in an alleged Russian or regime strike on Sarmin, Idlib, on February 2nd 2020. A baby girl, only 40 days old, was killed according to many sources alongside up to seven members of her family, including her mother and brother. The family was reportedly…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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Incident Date

2 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4402

Location

Al Mastouma, Idlib, Syria
المسطومة
Up to two civilians were reported killed and between two and three civilians were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian airstrike or artillery shelling on the outskirts of the town of Al Mastouma in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 2nd, 2020. More specifically, Step News Agency and an Al-Jisr correspondent stated that…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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Incident Date

2–3 February, 2020

Incident Code

RS4403

Location

Arnaz, Aleppo, Syria
أرناز
One civilian, a child, was reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes and/or artillery shelling on the village of Arnaz in the western countryside of Aleppo on February 2-3, 2020. Regarding civilian harm, SCD Aleppo and Eyad.alasmar444 stated on February 2 that a child was injured as a result of an aerial bombardment…

Summary

Published
2 February 2020
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