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

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4943

Location

Al-Karidiyah, al-Bab district, Aleppo, Syria
الكريدية، منطقة الباب، مُحافظة حلب
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
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Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4944

Location

Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حلب
On Sunday, 1st December 2024, the Syrian Civil Defense volunteer Suleiman Muhammad Suleiman Al-Hariri was killed while carrying out humanitarian missions by an airstrike allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces on the city of Aleppo in northern Syria. A Facebook post by Toledo city post named Suleiman Muhammad Suleiman Al-Hariri, a volunteer…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
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Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4945

Location

Al-Izaa neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حي الاذاعة، حلب
Shortly before 14:30 on Sunday, 1 December 2024, an airstrike hit the area near the Iranian consulate in the Al-Izaa neighbourhood of Aleppo (also referred to as “radio area”), Syria, reportedly injuring a number of civilians. The attack was allegedly carried out by Syrian and/or Russian military aircraft. Initial information about the attack began circulating…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
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Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4940

Location

Vicinity of Hospital of Aleppo University, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
بالقرب من مستشفى جامعة حلب، حلب
Shortly before 3:22 PM on Sunday, 1st December 2024, at least 11 identified civilians and reportedly up to 12 civilians, including three media representatives and three medical personnel, were killed and up to 23 civilians injured in four reported airstrikes with alleged responsibility attributed the Russian military, Syrian regime forces, or both, hitting the front…

Summary

Published
5 June 2025
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Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4946

Location

Tal Maled, Aleppo, Syria
تل مالد
Shortly before 2:05 PM on Sunday, 1 December 2024, an airstrike hit the village of Tal Maled, north of Aleppo, Syria. The attack reportedly resulted in the injury of a four-year-old child and the destruction of a residential building. The attack was reportedly carried out by Syrian and/or Russian military aircraft. The first information about…

Summary

Published
4 June 2025
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Incident Date

1–2 December, 2024

Incident Code

RS4947

Location

Al-Safira, Aleppo, Syria
السفيرة
On December 1-2, 2024, the city of Al-Safira, east of Aleppo, Syria was subjected to a series of airstrikes with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces that resulted in at least seven and up to 19 civilians killed, including up to nine children and two women, and four other…

Summary

Published
5 June 2025
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