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

4,431 – 6,522

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 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
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
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

6 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4960

Location

رفح, Helfaya City, Hama, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrike on Helfaya city, North Hama, Syria, during the morning of 6 December, 2024. The names of those killed, all of whom were men, were Amjad Bin Ahmad Jouma Rajab, Mohammad Kassar Abo Zaied (Abu Khaled), and Osama Suliman al-Darwish (Abu Tariq). Their…

Summary

Published
8 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4958

Location

حي الأربعين في حماة, al-Arba’in neighborhood in the outskirts of Hama, Hama, Syria
Shortly before 9:56 a.m. on December 5th, 2024, 10 people were reportedly killed and five injured by an alleged airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on the al-Arba’in neighborhood in the outskirts of the city of Hama in Syria. One family was reported to have been stuck…

Summary

Published
22 July 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
10
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4956

Location

حي الجزماتي، ﺣَﻠَﺐ, Al-Jazmati neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
On Sunday, 1 December 2024, an airstrike hit Al-Jazmati neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo, killing one woman and trapping five members of her family, all children, under the rubble. No further information was available to determine the identity of the victim or the fate of the missing civilians. The information about the attack was…

Summary

Published
23 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4957

Location

مورك, Morek, Hama, Syria
Shortly before midday on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024, the journalist Anas al-Kharbatli was killed in an airstrike in Morek in the northern Hama countryside in Syria. Local sources alleged that the strikes were carried out by Russian and/or Syrian regime forces. Journalist Ahmed Al-Shbli reported the death of Anas Aa-Kharbatli in his Twitter/X account @Ahmad_1alshble…

Summary

Published
23 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4953

Location

‏خان شيخون‬, Khan Sheikhoun, Ma'arat al-Numan, Syria
Shortly before midday on Tuesday, 3 December 2024, an airstrike with an alleged use of vacuum missiles hit residential neighbourhoods in Khan Sheikhoun city, south of Idlib, Syria, reportedly killing two civilian men, identified as Ahmad Aboud Shalat and Hassan al-Rashed. The responsibility of the attack was attributed to the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces.…

Summary

Published
15 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4951

Location

قرب جامع شهاب، إدلب, Vicinity of Shehab Mosque, Idlib, 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
Vehicle (Car), Religious (Mosque)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident