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

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

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

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

25 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4361

Location

Several towns in Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
بلدات متعددة
The Shaam News Network reported: "Russian and Assad warplanes and helicopters launched air strikes in the midst of artillery and missile shelling that targeted the points of clashes, cities and towns, villages of Kafr Hamra, Al Atareb, Huritan, Khan Toman, Khan al-Asal, scientific research, Mansoura, Zorba, al-Kamari, Zaitan, al-Artyq, al-Barqum, the halls of Lermoun, Khalsa,…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
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Incident Date

25 February 2020

Incident Code

RS4489

Location

Shannan, Idlib, Syria
شنان,
On January 25th 2020 at 13:02, up to five civilians, including a woman and two children, were reported killed and six others wounded following Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes carried out against the village of Shannan. Two non-civilians were also reportedly killed. Local reports were inconsistent concerning the number of victims, as numbers initially stated…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
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Incident Date

25 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4363

Location

Al Barqoum, Aleppo, Syria
البرقوم
At least one woman was wounded in an alleged Russian air or artillery strike on Al Barqoum, according to sources on the ground. The Step News Agency reported: "the village of Al-Barqum, Khulsa, Barnah and the vicinity of Al-Kamari village, and the Khan Toman area were subjected to air strikes from the Russian warplanes, which…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
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