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

RS4938

Location

Morek, Hama, Syria
مورك
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
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Incident Date

30 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4934

Location

Hazwan village, Aleppo, Syria
قرية حزوان
On the morning of Saturday, November 30th, 2024, three members of a family, a child and two women, were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hazwan village, east of Aleppo, Syria. The Twitter/X’s account of Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that the civilian casualties were “from the same family” and “were injured in a…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
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Incident Date

30 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4936

Location

Jisr al-Shughour and Frayka, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
The towns of Jisr al-Shughour and Frayka in the western Idlib countryside, Syria, were hit by the airstrike with the reported use of a vacuum missile shortly before 2:53 PM on Saturday, November 30th, 2024. The attack with contested responsibility reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military led to the death of…

Summary

Published
5 June 2025
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Incident Date

30 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4935

Location

Kansafra, Jabal al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, Idlib, Syria
كنصفرة
During the early afternoon of Saturday, 30th November 2024, two civilian men named Mohammad al-Mustafa and Mohammad Fares al-Sa’id (Abu Ahmad) were killed and a number of civilians were injured as a result of artillery shelling and/or airstrikes launched on the village of Kansafra in Jabal al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, Syria, by the Syrian regime forces…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
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Incident Date

30 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4933

Location

Al-Basel Roundabout area, New Aleppo neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
دوار الباسل في حي حلب الجديدة، ﺣَﻠَﺐ
Shortly before 1:50 PM on Saturday, November 30, 2024, an airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces struck al-Basel roundabout in the New Aleppo neighborhood of Aleppo City, Syria, reportedly killing at least 18 identified civilians, including a woman, and injuring at least 186 identified civilians, including…

Summary

Published
18 August 2025
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Incident Date

30 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4937

Location

Al Furqan neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
حي الفرقان في مدينة حلب
In the early hours of Friday, 30 November 2024, the Al-Furqan neighbourhood in the center of the city of Aleppo, Syria, was hit by an airstrike that reportedly caused the death of one identified victim, Saleh Abdullah al-Sahou, who, however, is classified as a contested militant given the details available, and the injury of a…

Summary

Published
27 May 2025
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