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

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4952

Location

مجمع ادلب الطبي، إدلب, Idlib University Hospital complex, Idlib City, Idlib, Syria
In an 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 building of Idlib Health Directorate and the University Hospital complex, in the city of Idlib, Syria, causing the death of up to four civilians and…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car), Healthcare (Ambulance, Hospital)
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

RS4949

Location

‏خان شيخون‬, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria
On Monday, December 2, 2024, a man named Abdul Latif Ahmed Mahloul, nicknamed Abu Juma, and a man named Ali Majdi Wardi were killed in a civilian car as a result of an airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on a road in the town of Khan Sheikhoun,…

Summary

Published
22 July 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
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

RS4948

Location

بالقرب من محطة بغداد، حلب, Vicinity of 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

RS4950

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

RS4938

Location

مورك, Morek, Hama, Syria
On Saturday, 30 November 2024, an alleged Russian airstrike hit the town of Morek in the Hama governorate of Syria, reportedly killing six civilians, including two women and a child: Abdul Aziz Abdo al-Mansour (Abu Mudar), Abdul Karim Ahmad al-Othman (Abu Sha’lan), women Malka Husein Abu Salim al-Tamer and Zakiya al-Bakour (Umm Nader), a child Jana Houthayfa…

Summary

Published
15 August 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Water
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4941

Location

حي بستان غنوم, a popular market in the Bustan Ghanoum neighbourhood of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 3 PM on Sunday, 1 December 2024, an airstrike with the alleged use of vacuum missiles struck a popular market in the Bustan Ghanoum neighbourhood in Idlib, Syria killing at least four civilians, including a woman and a child,  and injuring two children and at least one woman.  Sources reported that the attack…

Summary

Published
23 June 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market), Vehicle (Car), Residential
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident