
Mapping urban warfare
These maps are the first in a series of visualisations Airwars is presenting ahead of a new political declaration that calls on states to better protect civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. By matching neighbourhood population density – which also usually coincides with high levels of civilian infrastructure – with Airwars’

Civilian Casualties in Gaza
This interactive map illustrates the devastating civilian toll of the May 2021 war in Gaza. Our research found at least 151 and as many as 192 civilians in Gaza were likely killed by Israeli military actions. A further 15 to 20 civilians were killed as a result of Palestinian militant rockets falling short, whose deaths

All Belligerents in Libya 2011 Casualty and Strikes Map
Spurred on by protests across the Arab world, in February 2011 Libyans took to the streets against long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Rebels quickly seized key cities but Gaddafi forces cracked down, killing hundreds, and were closing in on Benghazi – the last bastion of the uprising. On March 17th the UN Security Council voted to

All Belligerents in Libya 2012 – Present Casualty and Strikes Map
A 2011 popular uprising in Libya (supported militarily by NATO) against dictator Muammar Gaddafi led to significant upheavals in the North African country – in what former US President Barack Obama would later describe as his greatest foreign policy failure. As Libya collapsed into rival governments, factional militias and civil war, radical Islamist groups including

Civilian Deaths by US President in Iraq and Syria
The United States and its 13 kinetic allies – part of an international alliance usually known as the Coalition – began an extensive air and artillery campaign against so-called Islamic State in August 2014, after the terror group had occupied large parts of of Iraq and Syria. By the end of President Trump’s term in

Civilian Deaths by US President in Somalia
President George W. Bush began a long running and controversial campaign against Islamist terrorists in Somalia, which his successors then continued. Drone strikes and other actions were conducted both by the US military and by the CIA. By the end of President Trump’s term in office in 2021, local communities had alleged some 330 non

UK airstrikes that harmed militants in Iraq and Syria 2014–2021

Coalition air-released munitions in Iraq and Syria 2014-2020
The graph models official data from Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) which reflects air-released munitions by the international allies during the war against so-called Islamic State. It does not include artillery or rocket strikes. In March 2020, AFCENT signalled an end to the release of this data.

Declared and alleged US actions in Somalia
Most US actions in Somalia are carried out by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and are publicly declared by press release. However US military ground operations are not routinely reported – and CIA strikes are officially neither confirmed nor denied. In addition, there are some actions in Somalia where the belligerent is presently contested (eg possibly

Declared and alleged US actions in Yemen
US actions in Yemen are carried out both by US Central Command (CENTCOM) and by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While CENTCOM publicly declares some of its actions, others remain secret. CIA strikes are officially neither confirmed nor denied. In addition, there are some actions in Yemen where the belligerent is presently contested (eg possibly

Declared strikes by US President in Iraq and Syria
The United States and its 13 kinetic allies – part of an international alliance usually known as the Coalition – began an extensive campaign against so-called Islamic State in August 2014, after the terror group had occupied large parts of of Iraq and Syria. By the end of President Trump’s term in office in 2021,

Declared US-led Coalition air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria
The term strike refers both to air and artillery actions. Please note that according to the US-led Coalition against ISIS, a single strike might at times involve multiple aircraft, munitions released and locations.

Israeli Military in Syria Casualty Map
This resource presents Airwars’ ongoing monitoring of civilian harm allegations resulting from reported Israeli strikes in Syria; as well as from the May 2021 conflict in Gaza, and Palestinian rocket fire into Israel during the same period.

Mapping urban warfare
This is the latest visualisation in our series ‘mapping urban warfare‘, where we explore how explosive weapons affect civilians in populated areas – in line with a new political declaration restricting their use, signed by over 80 states. Spotlight on the Gaza Strip Produced in partnership with the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), the map

Israeli Military in the Gaza Strip May 2021 Casualty Map
This resource presents Airwars’ ongoing monitoring of civilian harm allegations resulting from reported Israeli strikes in Syria; as well as from the May 2021 conflict in Gaza, and Palestinian rocket fire into Israel during the same period.

Reported civilian deaths from Russian Military strikes in Syria
Due to large variations in the quality of reporting, Airwars provisionally grades allegations of civilian harm using a standardised methodology across all belligerents and conflicts. The five categories are explained in full on our Methodology page. Individual events are recorded in the Civilian Casualties pages.

Reported civilian deaths from US-led Coalition strikes in Iraq and Syria
Due to large variations in the quality of reporting, Airwars provisionally grades allegations of civilian harm using a standardised methodology across all belligerents and conflicts. The five categories are explained in full on our Methodology page. Individual events are recorded in the Civilian Casualties pages.

Civilian harm in the Battle of Kharkiv
As part of our on-going research mapping the human cost of war in urban environments, the following visualisation demonstrates all civilian casualty allegations in the densely populated city of Kharkiv between February 24th to May 13th 2022. Airwars documented 68 incidents of civilian harm reported by local sources in Kharkiv city during the intense campaign,

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

Strikes by US President in Somalia
President George W. Bush began a long running and controversial campaign against Islamist terrorists in Somalia, which several of his successors then continued. Drone strikes and other actions were conducted both by the US military and by the CIA. By the end of President Trump’s term in office in 2021, more than 340 declared and

The Credibles
Following more than three years of extensive engagement with US military officials, Airwars has secured the precise locations of all but four of the 344 publicly confirmed (‘Credible’) Coalition civilian harm events in the war against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria, which between them represent the great majority of at least 1,410 conceded civilian deaths according to CJTFOIR

Turkish Military in Iraq and Syria Casualty Map
Turkey has conducted hundreds of unilateral air and artillery strikes in both Syria and Iraq – as well as a small number of actions as part of the US-led Coalition against so-called Islamic State. From July 2015 in Iraq, occasional unilateral Turkish airstrikes began targeting Kurdish militants in northern Kurdistan. Thirteen months later, the first

US Forces in Somalia Fatalities and Strikes Map
The first known US airstrikes in Somalia as part of the so-called War on Terror took place in 2007 under President George W. Bush. However it was not until the Obama administration took office in 2009 that a significant US drone and airstrike campaign began.

US Forces in Yemen Fatalities and Strikes Map
The United States conducted its first targeted assassination by drone outside the hot battlefield in November 2002 in Marib province, killing five reported members of Al Qaeda. However US counterterrorism operations did not begin in earnest until 2009, prompted by the founding of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The Obama Administration’s controversial campaign

US-led Coalition air strikes on ISIS in Iraq & Syria, 2014-2018
Between August 8th 2014 and December 16th 2018, the US-led Coalition declared the dates and nearest large population centres for 30,801 air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria against so-called Islamic State. Airwars has tracked and mapped every known strike. Despite hundreds more later actions, the Coalition stopped publicly reporting where or when it was bombing.

US-led Coalition in Iraq and Syria Casualty Map
Following the capture of much of northern Iraq and eastern Syria by so-called Islamic State – and atrocities committed by the terror group against local populations – an international Coalition led by the United States began military actions against ISIS in August 2014, in partnership with local forces. An intense air and ground campaign over