The days of barrel bombs dropping from Syrian skies might seem like a grim memory, but for the people of northwestern Syria, terror has taken on a new and more insidious form. Assad’s infamous barrels have been replaced by precision-crafted death machines: Russian-backed suicide drones. These agile, low-flying weapons strike without warning, targeting homes, schools, farms, and vital infrastructure with chilling accuracy.
Where barrel bombs rained destruction indiscriminately, these drones bring a calculated menace, turning daily life into a relentless cycle of fear and survival. As drones buzz ominously overhead, ordinary Syrians face an evolving nightmare, their lives uprooted by a weapon designed not just to kill, but to intimidate and destabilize.
Since early 2024, repurposed FPV (first-person view) drones have been converted into what many call kamikaze or suicide drones. These small, maneuverable aircraft are equipped with explosives and flown into targets where they explode, similar to the planes used by Japanese pilots in “suicide attacks” against allied forces during WWII.
The use of these deadly devices has drastically altered daily life across Idlib and nearby countrysides of Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia. These drones, introduced with Russia’s assistance, are meant to sow chaos and destabilize the liberated areas. Their targets, primarily civilians, include vehicles, crops, shops, and even water facilities, leaving ordinary people unable to work, farm, or move freely in their communities.
New Weapon, Old Suffering
To understand the distinct nature and impact of suicide drones, Levant 24 (L24) spoke with Muhammad Waheed, a military analyst specializing on Syria. According to Waheed, suicide drones represent a significant shift in the regime’s arsenal.
“There are several things that distinguish this weapon from other weapons that Russia and the regime have tested on the Syrians over the past 13 years,” Waheed explained. “Most notably, it is a multi-functional weapon that has replaced several conventional weapons with more advantages. It offers operators the ability to see the surrounding environment via a video transmission system linked to VR glasses or a portable screen, allowing for highly accurate strikes.”
Waheed added that suicide drones are also significantly less expensive than conventional weapons or high-precision munitions like Krasnopol shells or fighter aircraft, with costs for the best models reaching as little as $1,000. “This weapon can carry different types of ammunition, maneuver into tight spaces such as trenches or building windows, and even strike openings in equipment.”
The latest figures highlight the shocking scale of these attacks. According to a local monitoring group, the Syrian Response Coordinators (SRC), over 880 drones have struck the area this year, with as 25 used in a single day in early November, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries among non-combatants. The SRC notes that only around 15 percent, 133 drones, were successfully downed before reaching their targets. The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported responding to over 256 suicide drone attacks that killed 34 civilians and injured 96, with many victims being women and children.
Waheed emphasized that the regime’s reliance on suicide drones is deeply tied to Russia’s strategic interests. “After the Russian-Ukrainian war and the success of these weapons in altering the dynamics there, Russia transferred this experience to Syria. Russian units began testing drones in mid-2023 by hitting limited targets, eventually opening production and training lines for regime forces such as the 25th Special Missions Division.”
The impact of such attacks has been far-reaching. Agriculture, a crucial economic lifeline in Idlib’s countryside, has taken a severe hit. Farmers face constant risk as drones patrol low altitudes, targeting anyone who attempts to harvest crops. Many farmers have abandoned fields altogether, leading to devastating crop losses. “This season, I could not plant or harvest because of the bombing,” said Mashhour Al-Khalasi, a farmer from Kafr Nouran, echoing a sentiment shared by many whose livelihoods depend on farming.
Socially, the fabric of communities is unraveling under the relentless assault. Displacement is increasing rapidly as families flee to cities and border camps in search of safety. For those who remain, daily life is a constant struggle against anxiety and economic hardship. Basic services like healthcare, education, and housing are stretched to the breaking point in areas now overcrowded with displaced people. Those left behind in targeted towns, meanwhile, report limited aid and reduced services from organizations forced to scale back due to security concerns.
The Assad regime’s drones, which fly at altitudes as low as 35 meters and carry modified explosive payloads, are operated with guidance from Russian high-altitude reconnaissance drones. These Russian drones provide real-time surveillance and targeting support, enabling precise strikes against critical civilian infrastructure. Russians pinpoint targets and relay coordinates, leaving homes, water facilities, and vital roads vulnerable to destruction. In one attack this March, a Syrian drone struck a water tank in Jabal Al-Zawiya, disabling essential access to clean water in the area.
Waheed highlighted the legal and political concerns tied to the use of these drones: “The extensive use of suicide drones by Russia and the regime carries serious risks of human rights violations, particularly against civilians living near the contact lines, including children, women, and people with disabilities. What exacerbates the issue is the absence of an international legal framework that could deter Russia and the regime from deploying these weapons against civilians.”
While international law expressly prohibits attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure there is currently no mechanism in place limiting the manufacture and implementation of this new technology. Despite a lack of drone-specific legislation, deliberately targeting non-combatants and vital resources constitutes not only a violation of humanitarian law but also a potential war crime. The fact that Russia – a guarantor of the Astana process – is enabling these attacks provides yet more evidence as to Moscow’s true role since its 2015 intervention.
The human toll of the drone crisis in Syria is mounting, with psychological effects as harrowing as the physical damage. For children growing up in Idlib, the constant presence of drones has reshaped childhood into a world defined by fear. Parents are increasingly reluctant to send their children to school, fearing that drone strikes could hit at any time. “We don’t want to risk our children’s lives,” said Muthanna Barakat, a civil activist from Kafr Nouran.
As suicide drone attacks continue to displace and terrorize civilians, international attention and intervention are needed to address the growing crisis. The indiscriminate use of these weapons against civilian populations demands accountability from the Assad regime and its Russian backers.
