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

6 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4960

Location

Helfaya City, Hama, Syria
رفح
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
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Incident Date

5 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4958

Location

al-Arba’in neighborhood in the outskirts of Hama, Hama, Syria
حي الأربعين في حماة
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
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Incident Date

4 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4956

Location

Al-Jazmati neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حي الجزماتي، ﺣَﻠَﺐ
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
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Incident Date

4 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4957

Location

Morek, Hama, Syria
مورك
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
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Incident Date

3 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4953

Location

Khan Sheikhoun, Ma'arat al-Numan, Syria
‏خان شيخون‬
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
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Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4948

Location

Vicinity of Baghdad Train Station, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
بالقرب من محطة بغداد، حلب
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
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