Research

All major publications from Airwars’ documentation, research, investigations and policy teams

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44948 http://syria.mil.ru/photo/gallery.htm?id=27368@cmsPhotoGallery
20 Aug, 2025
Research, Update
Syria

Airwars publishes final of 5,000 civilian harm incidents from Russian actions in Syria

Nine-year project involved tracking of thousands of strikes, and the deaths of up to 25,000 civilians
113049
1 Aug, 2024
Update
Syria

New Airwars and White Helmets project launched

Interactive map documents Syrian earthquake rescue operations alongside emergency airstrike response
113049
19 Feb, 2024
Visualisation
Syria

Reported White Helmets incidents in earthquake affected areas, Syria, 2023

Mapping all White Helmets first responder incidents in the months following the devastating February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey
85070
28 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Syria

Reported civilian deaths from Russian Military strikes in Syria

Civilian deaths peak in 2017
85059
6 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Syria

Russian Military in Syria Casualty Map

Russia began its military engagement in Syria in support of the Assad government on September 30th 2015, in a campaign dominated by intense airstrikes, and later also by artillery actions. While Moscow initially claimed to be targeting so-called Islamic State, it soon became clear that rebel-held areas of Syria were its main focus. The campaign […]
83810
13 Jun, 2022
Investigations
Syria

A year on, Airwars investigation into Afrin hospital attack reveals crucial details

A horrifying attack on a hospital in the Syrian city of Afrin left 19 people dead – and the perpetrators are still unknown.
82471
24 Mar, 2022
Research
Syria

Patterns of civilian harm from Russia’s military actions in Syria (2015-2022)

Since the beginning of Russia’s military intervention in Syria in 2015, Airwars has tracked, documented and preserved every local allegation of civilian harm resulting from Russian actions – over 4,000 individual incidents from 61,915 unique sources. We have collected 11,181 names of civilians reported killed, and identified 1,383 family members killed in the same incidents. […]
86371
22 Mar, 2022
Investigations, Policy
Syria, Ukraine

How Russia is using tactics from the Syrian playbook in Ukraine

Entire settlements reduced to rubble, attacks on civilian targets and the bombing of refugee exit routes were all part of Moscow’s brutal Syria campaign
79010
30 Sep, 2021
Research
Syria

After six years of Russian airstrikes in Syria, still no accountability for civilian deaths

To mark the sixth anniversary of Russia’s military intervention in Syria, Airwars is highlighting just five of the countless civilian harm events that characterise Russian involvement in the conflict. Overall since 2015, we have identified 4,615 incidents where Russia is alleged to have caused civilian deaths or injuries. This September alone, we estimate that ten […]
67394
22 Jun, 2020
Update
Syria

Ongoing ceasefire between Russia and Turkey brings respite for Syrian civilians

Civilians are continuing to benefit from a months-long ceasefire in northern Syria, which has seen casualty numbers sharply fall to levels last seen in the early months of the civil war. Experts remain divided however, on how long this pause in fighting will last – and what it means for Syria and its divided people. […]
29326
10 Sep, 2018
Update

Russia’s three years of war in Syria brings victory close for regime

Moscow's intervention in Syria - its most successful military adventure in decades - looks poised to restore the Assad government. Thousands of civilians have died in the process.
29326
10 Sep, 2018
Update
Syria

Russia’s three years of war in Syria brings victory close for regime

Moscow's intervention in Syria - its most successful military adventure in decades - looks poised to restore the Assad government. Thousands of civilians have died in the process.
23494
7 Mar, 2018
Update

UN investigators accuse the US-led Coalition and Russia of likely violating laws of war in Syria

In 2015, the UN Commission said it wouldn't investigate foreign airstrikes in Syria. Now it is citing Security Council members for unlawful strikes.
23494
7 Mar, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

UN investigators accuse the US-led Coalition and Russia of likely violating laws of war in Syria

In 2015, the UN Commission said it wouldn't investigate foreign airstrikes in Syria. Now it is citing Security Council members for unlawful strikes.
23430
2 Mar, 2018
Update

Civilian casualties from alleged Russian airstrikes reach record levels

Thirty months into its Syria campaign, Russia is reportedly killing more civilians than ever
23430
2 Mar, 2018
Update
Syria

Civilian casualties from alleged Russian airstrikes reach record levels

Thirty months into its Syria campaign, Russia is reportedly killing more civilians than ever
22706
29 Jan, 2018
Update

Turkish assault on Syria’s Afrin imperils civilians

Several dozen civilians have already been killed in fierce fighting at Afrin - with fears of a heavier toll ahead.
20333
23 Sep, 2017
Update

Russia blamed for sharp rise in civilian deaths during battle for Deir Ezzor

In the race to capture ISIS territory, hundreds of civilians have been reported killed by airstrikes in Deir Ezzor governorate in the past two weeks. Russia, the regime and Coalition are all active in
11178
4 May, 2017
Update

1,000 days of war: A tale of two bombed cities

Both Aleppo and Raqqa have seen heavy assaults backed by international airpower in recent months. So why is media coverage so different for these two bombed cities?
15651
26 Apr, 2017
Update
Syria

Russian airstrikes and civilian deaths in Syria are rising fast

At least 120 Russian casualty events have already been alleged for April - a steep rise with grim implications for Syria's civilians
13023
10 Feb, 2017
Update

For first time, Coalition now killing more civilians than Russia

For first time since Russia intervened in Syria US-led Coalition airstrikes are reportedly killing more civilians
45265
14 Mar, 2016
Report
Syria

A Reckless Disregard for Civilian Lives: Russian airstrikes in Syria

Our analysis of Russian airstrikes in Syria between September 30th and December 31st 2015 found that despite Moscow’s continuing assertions that no civilians have been killed in its ongoing Syrian air war, there were credible indications from open source reporting that to December 31st 2015 only, between 1,098 and 1,450 non-combatants had likely died in […]