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

February 13, 2017

Incident Code

RS1888

LOCATION

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

An unspecified number of civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against Palmyra in eastern Homs. Smart News Agency was the only source to report on this incident and identified Russian planes as responsible for carrying out the airstrikes.

Summary

First published
February 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

Incident date

October 13, 2023

Incident Code

R4601

LOCATION

جبل الأربعين, Jabal Al Arbaeen, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Shortly before midnight of Friday, October 13th, 2023, the mother of the SCD volunteer Ahmed Mahdi Ahmadou was killed and his father was injured, but later succumbed to his injuries, in the bombardment of their house reportedly perpetrated by the Russian military in the Jabal Al Arbaeen area near Ariha city, in the southern countryside

Summary

First published
October 13, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 31, 2023

Incident Code

R4651

LOCATION

City of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

On Sunday evening, the 31st of December, 2023, one civilian man was killed and eight civilians, including three women and two children, were injured by two missile shellings of the neighbourhoods of the city of Idlib allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military and/or the Iranian military. Abu Abdo Al-Malik wrote in

Summary

First published
December 31, 2023
Last updated
December 30, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Car, Commerce, Market, Residential, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
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, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Incident Code

RS2098

LOCATION

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Two children were wounded in an airstrike in Kafr Zita, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. Whilst most sources attribute responsibility to Russia, a tweet from @B.Alhamwi, stated that “Assad’s gangs” had struck Kafr Zita and wounded two children.  Activists who spoke

Summary

First published
April 9, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Infrastructure
Education
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
View Incident

Incident date

November 28, 2024

Incident Code

R4715

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

First published
April 9, 2025
Last updated
April 28, 2025
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Car, Commerce, Residential, Shop, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 15
(5 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
5–22
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
10 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 9, 2017

Incident Code

RS2382

LOCATION

حماده عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria

A number of civilians were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Hamada Omar, according to local media sources. It was not clear how many civilians were injured in the attack, but several of the sources mention how a mosque and a number of civilian homes were destroyed. Idlib Media Centre added that the Russians

Summary

First published
August 9, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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 25, 2017

Incident Code

RS2658

LOCATION

مخيم الفكة, Al-Fakka camp, Idlib, Syria

Several civilians were wounded following alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Fakka camp, local media said. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes. There were no reports of civilians deaths. Images showed material damage to tents and property. One local source, Syrian Reporter, said that the strikes were “intensive and continuous” – and blamed Russian occupation

Summary

First published
October 25, 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

December 6, 2017

Incident Code

RS2786

LOCATION

ابو الظهور, Abu Zuhur, Idlib, Syria

Two to three civilians were reportedly wounded following alleged Russian airstrikes which struck civilian homes, a bakery and a school in Abu Zuhur. According to sourced, a bakery, a school and various civilian houses were destroyed in the raids. Footage of the aftermath shows buildings burning down. Initial reporting by Zamanalwasl reported that the strikes

Summary

First published
December 6, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
2–3
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

December 30, 2017

Incident Code

RS2829

LOCATION

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria

High explosive missiles struck Lataminah, leaving several civilians wounded, according to local media. All sources either attributed blame to Russia, or did not identify a belligerent. Only an unspecifiied number of civilians were reported injured, but there were no reports of fatalities. According to Arab48 News, there was a “heavy bombardment with missile launchers, without

Summary

First published
December 30, 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