Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

January 20, 2020

Incident Code

RS4317

LOCATION

كفر تعال, Kafar Ta'al , Aleppo, Syria

Three children were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Ta’al, Aleppo governorate, on January 20th, 2020, according to local sources. Seven civilians, including children, were reportedly wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the killing of three young girls. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that the

Summary

First published
January 20, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 children)
Civilians reported injured
7
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Incident Code

RS4328

LOCATION

كفرنوران, Kafar Nuran, Aleppo, Syria

At least nine civilians, among which between three and six children, were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafar Nuran, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. Between 14 and 42 civilians, including women and children, were reported wounded. The Syrian Civil Defence initially put the death toll

Summary

First published
January 21, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 11
(3–6 children2 women5 men)
Civilians reported injured
14–42
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
19 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 2, 2020

Incident Code

RS4393

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between one and six civilians were reportedly wounded in suspected Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, east of Aleppo, in the night of February 2nd, 2020. A number of sources, including @WZ4M93fVY0KeDJb, stated that six civilians had been injured. Among other sources, @jisrtv claimed instead that only one civilian had been injured. While Step Agency reported that

Summary

First published
February 2, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1–6
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

February 6, 2020

Incident Code

RS4415

LOCATION

اورم الكبرى, Urm Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Four civilians including a woman and children were reported killed as a result of Russian forces airstrikes or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Urm Al Kubra in Aleppo governorate, Syria on February 6th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “Four civilians were killed in Orem Al-Kubra, west of

Summary

First published
February 6, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1 woman)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

February 14, 2020

Incident Code

RS4448

LOCATION

باشمرا, Bashambra, Aleppo, Syria

According to local sources, civilians were killed when Russian or Syrian regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Bashambra on February 14th 2020, as well as other areas close by incluing the villages of Tamura and Sheikh Aqil in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria. It is not clear how many civilians were allegedly killed. The

Summary

First published
February 14, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

February 25, 2020

Incident Code

RS4479

LOCATION

معرة مصرين, Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Up to 12 civilians, including between three and six children, were killed and up to 62 civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ma’arat Misrin, Idlib governorate, on February 25th, 2020, according to local sources. Whereas Shabha Press initially put the death toll at four killed civilians, they

Summary

First published
February 25, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 12
(3–6 children)
Civilians reported injured
30–62
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 28, 2018

Incident Code

RS3490

LOCATION

صيدا , Sayda, Daraa, Syria

Two civilians, including a child, were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda, Dara’a governorate, on June 28th, 2018, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that “at least two civilians, including a child, were killed as Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles on Sayda town in Dara’a

Summary

First published
June 28, 2018
Last updated
April 17, 2025
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Syrian Regime, Russian Military
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 14, 2020

Incident Code

RS4525

LOCATION

بلدة الحمامة, Al Hamama, Idlib, Syria

Between two and four civilians were reported killed and between 13 and 15 civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on the vicinity of the town of Al Hamama, west of Idlib on October 14, 2020. More specifically, a tweet from Halab Today TV mentioned that the Russian Air Forces attacked the

Summary

First published
October 14, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
Civilians reported injured
13–15
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Suspected target
Other
Belligerents reported killed
4
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

October 20, 2019

Incident Code

RS4113

LOCATION

حيش, Haysh , Idlib, Syria

One civilian was allegedly injured as a result of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes or shelling on Haysh in Idlib on October 20th, 2019. While @baladinetwork and @ZaitunAgency blamed the Syria regime, @Sentry_Syria  reported that a reconnaissance plane was flying in a circular direction on Haysh on that day, which could be an accusation to Russia

Summary

First published
October 20, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

July 3, 2021

Incident Code

R4334

LOCATION

بليون, Belion, Idlib, Syria

At least two civilians – two girls – were killed and one to two other civilians, including a woman and a Civil Defense member, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Belion on July 3, 2021. According to @Sy24ria, the bombing of the town of Belion resulted in “the killing

Summary

First published
July 3, 2021
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 7, 2021

Incident Code

R4365

LOCATION

الزيادية, Al Ziyadiya, Idlib, Syria

At least two civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Ziyadiya on August 7, 2021. @OrientNews and other sources identified civilians as being injured but did not provide a number of how many. Syrian Civil Defense posted that the strikes on Al Ziyadiya “resulted in the injury of a

Summary

First published
August 7, 2021
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Suspected target
Other
View Incident

Incident date

October 1, 2021

Incident Code

R4398

LOCATION

أم الريش, Umm Al Reesh, Idlib, Syria

At least one civilian, a child, was injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Umm Al Reesh on October 1, 2021. Al Mashreq Agency reported that a child was wounded in shelling on the village of Umm Al Reesh. Both @itsnotsuhad and @mzmgr941 also identified one child as being injured. Both Al Mashreq Agency

Summary

First published
October 1, 2021
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

December 11, 2021

Incident Code

R4426

LOCATION

الجديدة أو اليعقوبية, Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia, Idlib, Syria

Between one and three civilians, including a child, were killed and 12 to 15 others, including up to nine children and four women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia on December 11, 2021. According to Syrian Civil Defense, three people, including a child, were killed and

Summary

First published
December 11, 2021
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
(1 child1 man)
Civilians reported injured
12–15
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Suspected target
Other
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 8, 2022

Incident Code

R4449

LOCATION

بليون, Balion, Idlib, Syria

At least one civilian, a young man, was injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of the village of Balion on July 8, 2022. According to @SyriaCivilDefe, a young man was wounded in artillery shelling of the village of Balion by the regime and Russian forces. Civil Defense volunteers took the injured man to

Summary

First published
July 8, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2017

Incident Code

RS1859

LOCATION

تدمر‎, Palmyra , Homs, Syria

An unspecific number of civilians were wounded – according to on the ground sources – following an alleged Russian raid on Palmyra . All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid. There are no reports of any civilians killed in the fire. There are no other details at this time.

Summary

First published
January 24, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

October 24, 2022

Incident Code

R4480

LOCATION

شنان, Shnan, Idlib, Syria

At least one civilian, including a child and/or woman, was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling of the village of Shnan on October 24, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a woman was injured by Syrian regime and Russian shelling of the village of Shnan with tank shells. The Syrian Civil Defense added that

Summary

First published
October 24, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Syrian Regime, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

May 15, 2023

Incident Code

R4513

LOCATION

كفرعويد, Kafr Aweed, Idlib, Syria

One man, identified by sources as Suleiman Muhammad al-Saleem, was killed on May 15th 2023 after artillery shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the village of Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib according to local media outlets and the Syrian Civil Defence. Initial reports from the Syrian Civil

Summary

First published
May 15, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Syrian Regime, Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 10, 2019

Incident Code

RS3586

LOCATION

اللطامنة, Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria

A 38-year-old-man was reported wounded by artillery shelling in Al Lataminah, in the north of Hama. Some sources blamed the Russian forces while others blamed regime forces. No further details are known at this time.

Summary

First published
February 10, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Incident Code

R4545

LOCATION

دير سنبل, Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria

On the morning of August 26th 2023, an elderly male civilian was “slightly injured” according to Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe), during shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces on a residential neighborhood in the village of Deir Sunbul, south Idlib, Syria. The Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that their volunteers gave

Summary

First published
August 26, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

October 6, 2023

Incident Code

R4580

LOCATION

قرية الشخيب بالقرب من بلدة الزعينية, a poultry farm in the village of Al-Shukhayb near the town of Al-Zeiniyah, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Two females, a 13-year-old and 25-year-old, were wounded and bruised near a poultry farm in the village of Al-Shukhayb near the town of Al-Zeiniyah, west of Idlib, Syria, in an airstrike allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces on Friday, October 6, 2023, around 9:21 in the morning. The airstrike reportedly

Summary

First published
October 6, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Impact
Food
Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

November 19, 2023

Incident Code

R4629

LOCATION

سرمين, Sarmeen [Sarmin], Idlib, Idlib, Syria

On Sunday, November 19th, 2023, two civilians, including at least one child, were injured as a result of an alleged missile strike by the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military in residential neighborhoods of the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, Syria. One of the children was reportedly injured after falling from a high

Summary

First published
November 19, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of injury / death
Accidents related to conflict, Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

January 16, 2024

Incident Code

R4659

LOCATION

ا حياء سكنية بالقرب من المساجد ومنشأة طبية وشارع البازار في أريحا, residential neighborhoods near mosques, a medical facility, and Al-Bazaar street in Ariha [Jericho], Idlib, Syria

During the evening of Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, at least two identified male civilians were killed and at least seven and up to eight civilians were injured, including two girls and a woman. The casualties were caused by an alleged artillery and/or airstrike by the Syrian regime and/or the Russian military and/or the Iranian military

Summary

First published
January 16, 2024
Last updated
December 30, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Car, Residential, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
7–8
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
Named victims
9 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 13, 2017

Incident Code

RS2123

LOCATION

مراط , Merat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded by an alleged Russian airstrike “by napalm bombs” on Merat, according to local media. No further details are currently available.

Summary

First published
April 13, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident