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

28 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4926

Location

فليون, Falyoun, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 3:43 PM on Thursday, November 28th, 2024, missile strikes carrying cluster bombs with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime and/or Russian military and/or Iranian-backed militant groups in the town of Falyoun, in the southern Idlib countryside, Syria, injured at least one civilian, a child. Al Moherer in a post via Facebook…

Summary

Published
3 April 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4927

Location

الطريق الرئيسي والمنازل والمحلات التجارية المجاورة للطريق في الأتارب (الأتارب) ريف حلب الغربي, The main road and the houses and shops adjacent to the road in Al-Atareb (Atarib), western countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
At 13:22 on Thursday, 28 November 2024, between 10 and 15 civilians, including five children and two women, were killed and up to 22 others, including at least two children, were injured in an airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military that reportedly hit the main road and…

Summary

Published
9 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Commerce (Shop), Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
10–15
Civilians reported injured
5–22
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4928

Location

الأتارب, Al-Atareb, west of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Shortly before 9:30 PM on the evening of Thursday, November 28th, 2024, a civilian was killed and at least one male child and up to two children were injured as a result of an airstrike which was allegedly carried out by Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces with the reported use of vacuum missiles. The…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4921

Location

دارة عزة, Daret Izza, Aleppo, Syria
Shortly before 10:19 AM on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, a girl and a man were injured in Daret Izza, west of Aleppo, Syria, by an artillery shelling with contested responsibility allegedly launched by the Syrian regime along with Russian airstrikes during violent clashes between Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham members and the Syrian regime forces. Though the…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military actors reported killed
12–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4922

Location

سَرْمِين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
On Wednesday, 27 November 2024, a 54-year-old woman named Rose Ismail al-Ali was seriously injured when an artillery shell struck an olive press in the city of Sarmin, in the Idlib Governorate, and she died due to her wounds the day after, Thursday, 28 November 2024. In the same attack, another woman was also reportedly injured.…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Equipment / Machinery)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4923

Location

مخيم القرى (وادي عباس) بالقرب من بابسقا وباب الهوى, Al-Qura camp (Wadi Abbas) near Babsqa and Bab al-Hawa, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Wednesday, November 27th, 2024, by missile strikes carrying cluster bombs with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military, a young boy was killed and between three and five civilians, including at least two children and a woman, were injured in Al-Qura camp (Wadi Abbas) near Babsqa and Bab…

Summary

Published
28 March 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp, Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident