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

2 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4951

Location

قرب جامع شهاب، إدلب, Vicinity of Shehab Mosque, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car), Religious (Mosque)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
13
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

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

1–2 December, 2024

Incident Code

RS4947

Location

السفيرة, Al-Safira, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
7–19
Civilians reported injured
4
Military actors reported killed
12–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 December 2024

Incident Code

RS4940

Location

بالقرب من مستشفى جامعة حلب، حلب, Vicinity of Hospital of Aleppo University, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car), Healthcare (Hospital, Ambulance), Education (University / College)
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
12–23
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

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
Healthcare (Hospital, Ambulance), Vehicle (Car)
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