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

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

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

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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Incident Date

30 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4391

Location

Majdalia, Idlib, Syria
مجدليا
SMART Agency reported from the Syrian Civil Defense that that seven civilians including a woman were wounded as a result of Russian forces airstrikes on Majdalia village in Idlib, Syria on January 30th, 2020. No further details are available at the moment.  

Summary

Published
30 January 2020
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Incident Date

30 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4393

Location

Al Janoudiya, Idlib, Syria
الجانوديه
A child was wounded on January 30th 2020 during a bombing raid in the town of Al Janoudiya. The young girl was the only reported casualty of this raid. The victim, identified as Rua'a Ghazal, was wounded under her left eye, as reported by Smart News and locals tweeting about the event. The bombing took…

Summary

Published
30 January 2020
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Incident Date

30 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4392

Location

Several towns, Aleppo, Syria
بلدات متعددة
Shaam Network reported that "Russian and Assad warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes targeting the areas of Ariha, Jisr al-Shughur, Saraqib, Kafrbikh, Ahsim and Nayrab in Idlib, Syria, on January 30th, 2020, causing civilian casualties." No further details are available at the moment.

Summary

Published
30 January 2020
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