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

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

2–3 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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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

1 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4395

Location

Al Bab , Aleppo, Syria
الباب
One man was reportedly killed and at least six civilians had been reportedly injured in an alleged Syrian regime artillery attack on Al Bab, Aleppo, on February 1st, 2020. While most sources only reported that six civilians had been injured, EMC reported that the attack also killed one man. According to Baladi News, the civilians were…

Summary

Published
1 February 2020
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Incident Date

1 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4396

Location

Al Nabariz, Syria
النباريز,
One civilian was reportedly killed and up to 17 injured in a suspected Russian air or artillery strike on the village of Al Nabariz in southern Aleppo on February 1st, 2020. Mohammed Hassan Al-Jassem, aged 22 was identified as the deceased by several local sources and Madin Al-Hussein, aged 33, was reportedly injured. Some sources, such…

Summary

Published
1 February 2020
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Incident Date

31 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4394

Location

Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
A Syria Civil Defense center in Saraqib, Idlib in Syria was put out of service allegedly because of Russian forces or Syrian regime  airstrikes that targeted it, injuring up to seven volunteers on January 31st, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that "fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired…

Summary

Published
31 January 2020
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