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

29 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4929

Location

مدجنة على أطراف مدينة بنش, poultry farm in the eastern outskirts of Binnish, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 1:30 PM on Friday, 29th November  2024, two civilians were injured by an aerial bombardment reportedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military on a poultry farm located on the eastern outskirts of Binnish city, east of Idlib, Syria. The Syrian Civil Defense (also known as “White Helmets”) reported the…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2024

Incident Code

RS4931

Location

محطة العنداني للمحروقات ومدرسة صلاح الدين, Al-Andani Fuel Station and Salah al-Din School, Idlib City, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
Shortly before 6 PM on Friday, November 29, 2024, alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the residential neighborhoods, Al-Andani fuel station, and Salah al-Din school in Idlib city resulted in the deaths of four civilians and the injury of 25 others, including eight children and six women. Rescue workers from the Syrian Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education (Secondary School), Resources (Gas Facility), Vehicle (Truck), Residential
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
25
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

22 September 2024

Incident Code

RS4910

Location

كللي, Kalali (Killi), Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On the morning of Sunday, 22nd September 2024, a 25-year-old civilian man named Ahmed Al-Jalali and his seven-year-old son, Tamim Ahmed Al-Jalili, were killed, while his 30-year-old wife, Hiba Al-Jalali, and his two-year-old daughter, Taiba Ahmed Al-Jalali, were injured by an explosion of an unexploded ordnance reportedly deployed earlier by the Syrian Regime and/or the Russian military,…

Summary

Published
23 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
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

RS4924

Location

سرمينمدرسة وسوق ومناطق سكنية في سرمين ، إدلب, school, market and residential areas in Sarmin, Idlib, Idlib, Syria
On Thursday, November 28, 2024, an airstrike and/or heavy artillery and missile bombardment of Sarmin, east of Idlib, Syria, left six civilians injured, including four men, one of them elderly, and a married couple. The attack, attributed to Syrian regime forces and/or Iranian military and/or the Russian military, struck densely populated residential neighborhoods and the…

Summary

Published
9 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Commerce (Market), Education (Primary School)
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident