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

4,373 – 6,468

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 4,954 separate alleged incidents.

1,169 – 1,432
children likely killed
636 – 770
women likely killed
6,635
likely injured
3,456
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
15,687 – 25,144
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,954 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,373 – 6,468
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,373 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
736 – 867
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
464 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,435 – 17,636
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,096 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
116 – 135
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
17 seperate alleged incidents

Civilian Casualty Incidents — Russian Military in Syria

Start Date

End Date

Strike Type

Causes of Death / Injury

Strike Status

Civilian Harm Status

Belligerent Assessment

Casualty

Infrastructure

Search

4929 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

R4752

Location

شارع الجلاء، بالقرب من مسجد شهاب, Al-Jalaa Street, near the Shehab Mosque, Idlib City, Idlib Governorate, Idlib, Syria
On Monday, December 2, 2024, an airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces struck al-Jalaa Street in central Idlib city, Syria, reportedly killing one civilian, 62-year-old man Ahmad bin Mohammad Subhi Asmar, and injuring 13 others, including a young man and several civilians in the vicinity of the…

Summary

Published
5 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Religious (Mosque), Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

R4753

Location

مجمع ادلب الطبي, Idlib University hospital complex, the building of the Idlib Health Directorate, Idlib, Syria
In a heinous attack on critical medical infrastructure on the afternoon of Monday, 2 December 2024, the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces allegedly hit a number of hospitals, including the budiling of Idlib Health Directorate and the University Hospital complex, in the city of Idlib, Syria, causing the death of up to four civilians…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car), Healthcare (Hospital, Ambulance)
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

R4748

Location

محطة بغداد في حلب, vicinity of the Baghdad train station, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Shortly before 9:07 AM on Monday, December 2nd, 2024, it was reported that an airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces hit the vicinity of the Baghdad train station in Aleppo, Syria, possibly killing and injuring a number of civilians. Twitter/X account @AlArabiya reported the strike at…

Summary

Published
5 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

R4751

Location

حي الثورة في مدينة إدلب, Al-Thawra neighborhood, Idlib City, Syria, Idlib, Syria
On the morning of Monday, December 2, 2024, a devastating airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military hit the residential Al-Thawra neighborhood of Idlib city, Syria, reportedly killing between five and six civilians and injuring at least thirty more. Among the wounded were 11 children and nine women,…

Summary

Published
5 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

R4739

Location

مخيمات النازحين في مدينة ادلب, Hay al-Jami'a UDP camp in the Al-Jami’a neighborhood of Idlib City, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 7:55 AM on Sunday, December 1st 2024, two camps for displaced persons, including Hay al-Jami'a camp located in the the Al-Jami’a neighborhood of Idlib, Syria, a public square and residential neighborhoods were hit by airstrikes that reportedly originated from the Syrian regime and/or Russian military forces and killed four civilians, including a woman,…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Vehicle (Car), IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
54
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

R4740

Location

قرية الكريدية في ريف مدينة بزاعة,, home of Hamid Al-Jasem in Al Karidiya village, Bazaa Countryside, Aleppo, Syria
On the night of Sunday, December 1st, 2024, two alleged Russian airstrikes reportedly killed a man, Hamid Al-Jasem, and injured his wife and two children when the strikes hit his family home in the village of Al-Karidiyah, in Bazaa countryside, east of Aleppo, Syria. A tribute to Al-Jasem was posted on Facebook by @News of…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident