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

27 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4377

Location

Sarja, Idlib, Syria
سرجة
Four civilians, including a man and his two sons, were killed and up to three civilians were injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sarja, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020, according to local media reports. Step News said: "The reporter of the Step News Agency in Idlib, Hassan Al-Muhammad,…

Summary

Published
27 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4371

Location

Benin, Idlib, Syria
بينين
One civilian was killed and another one injured by an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the village of Benin, Idlib Governorate on January 26th, 2020, according to local media reports. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria posted: "18:18 A regime's warplane raid targeting the village of Benin. Resulting in the death of a…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4367

Location

Bazabour, Idlib, Syria
بزابور
Three civilians, including a woman and her husband, were killed and others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Bazabour in Idlib Governorate, Syria on January 26 th 2020. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said “Syrian regime killed a man & his wife in Bazabour village in Idlib:…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4368

Location

Saraqib, Idlib, Syria
سراقب
One civilian, a young man, was killed and as many as four civilians, including a child, were wounded when Russian or Syrian regime warplanes bombed the city of Saraqib, Idlib Governorate, on January 26 th 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) said that “Amer al Khader was killed as…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4369

Location

Mardiekh, Idlib, Syria
مرديخ
One man was killed and a woman was injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the village of Mardiekh, Idlib Governorate, on January 26th, 2020, according to local media. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported: "16:02 A regime's Sukhoi 22 warplane raid targets the outskirts of Mardikh village and resulted in…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4370

Location

Al Iman Hospital in Sarja village, Idlib, Syria
مشفى الإيمان في قرية سرجة
Civilians were injured, including one man, when Russian airstrikes targeted the Al-Iman Hospital in the village of Sarja, Idlib Governorate on January 26th, 2020, according to local media reports. The sources claim the bombing forced the closure of the hospital which served up to 50,000 civilians from the surrounding area. Sham News quoted the Free…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
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