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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

6 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4959

Location

تير معلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria
On December 6th, 2024, Abdul Halim al-Rashed (Abu Obeida) was reportedly killed by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes and/or artillery shelling in Tir Maala, Homs, Syria. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that one person had been killed in Tir Maala as a result of Syrian regime attacks on Homs. A Facebook post…

Summary

Published
8 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4961

Location

الدار الكبيرة, Dar al-Kabira, Homs, Syria
On 6 December 2024, the Syrian army, with Russian aircover, reportedly conducted a bombardment of Dar al-Kabira in the northern countryside of Homs, which resulted in the deaths of six civilians, including a family of five, amidst a paralysis of the health sector in Homs. Shaam News was the only source to report on civilian…

Summary

Published
8 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
6
Military actors reported killed
0–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 October 2024

Incident Code

RS4914

Location

محطة الكيلاني للكهرباء في منطقة عين الزرقا بريف دركوش, Al-Kilani power station in the Ain Al-Zarqa area in the Darkoush countryside, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 1:20 PM on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, an alleged Russian airstrike hit the al-Kilani power station located in the Ain al-Zarqa area of the Darkoush countryside, west of Idlib, Syria. The attack injured two civilian men working on the site, damaged the station, and disrupted its functioning. The injuries were identified by the…

Summary

Published
8 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Resources (Power Station), Water
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4965

Location

قرية الغنطو, village of al-Ghanto, Homs, Syria
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Saturday, 7 December 2024, the village of al-Ghanto in the northern Homs countryside of Syria was struck by either an artillery shelling or an airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces, killing an entire family consisting of at least five civilians, and…

Summary

Published
22 July 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4963

Location

Janoub al-Mal'ab, Hama, Syria
During the morning of 6 December 2024, alleged Russian military and/or Syrian regime airstrikes, artillery, and/or naval fire hit the al-Malab neighbourhood, south of the stadium in Hama City, near Shafiq Abisi School in Syria. The strike reportedly resulted in the death of between four and seven civilians, including a father and his three children,…

Summary

Published
22 July 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
Infrastructure
Residential, Vehicle, Education
Civilians reported killed
4–7
Civilians reported injured
6–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4962

Location

بلدة شيزر في ريف حماة الغربي, Shezar town, west of Hama, Hama, Syria
On Friday, 6 December 2024, an alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian airstrike hit the town of Shezar, in the Hama Governorate of Syria, reportedly killing three civilian women, identified as Nadra al-Sayadi, Hajar al-Alloush, and Samira Mahmoud Jawhar. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) published a post on X/Twitter reporting the attack; however, it only mentioned…

Summary

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