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
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4951

Location

Vicinity of Shehab Mosque, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
قرب جامع شهاب، إدلب
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
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4950

Location

Al-Thawra neighborhood, Idlib City, Syria, Idlib, Syria
حي الثورة في مدينة إدلب
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
View Incident

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
View Incident

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
View Incident

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
View Incident

Incident Date

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4952

Location

Idlib University Hospital complex, Idlib City, Idlib, Syria
مجمع ادلب الطبي، إدلب
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
View Incident