Research

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

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300339
ceasefire.org ↗
11 Nov, 2025
Policy, Report

Civilian harm mitigation in large-scale combat operations: lessons for UK defence

Writing for Ceasefire, Airwars' Policy Specialist lays out noticeable gaps in the UK approach to tracking, mitigating, and responding to civilian harm
287711
civilianprotectionmonitor.org ↗
24 Oct, 2025
Policy

Civilian harm in the campaign against ISIS: An updated transparency audit

Airwars' policy volunteer Jessica Garlasco reviews current transparency mechanisms in major militaries
228428
justsecurity.org ↗
14 Aug, 2025
Policy

In preparing for large-scale conflicts, states neglect lessons on civilian protection at their peril

Airwars' Policy Specialist and colleagues at the Civilian Protection Monitor set out the continued need for civilian protection in large-scale wars
220970
civilianprotectionmonitor.org ↗
6 Aug, 2025
Policy

The Netherlands expands its civilian harm mitigation and response mechanisms

Writing on the Civilian Protection Monitor, Airwars' policy specialist analyses new developments in the Netherlands
173139
justsecurity.org ↗
11 Apr, 2025
Policy

The Netherlands apologises for involvement in Hawija airstrike and lays out further reforms

Writing for Just Security, Airwars Policy Specialist Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen delves into recent developments in the Netherlands
135979
14 Mar, 2025
Policy

Dutch MoD releases results of largest ever assessment of civilian harm allegations from the war against ISIS

Release marks unprecedented transparency in military casualty reviews
173201
opiniojuris.org ↗
24 May, 2024
Policy

Policy recommendations to meaningfully mitigate civilian harm in military operations: a view from the Netherlands (part II)

Writing for Opinio Juris, Airwars' Board Member and Policy Specialist analyse latest Dutch developments
173201
opiniojuris.org ↗
24 May, 2024
Policy

Policy recommendations to meaningfully mitigate civilian harm in military operations: a view from the Netherlands (part I)

Writing for Opinio Juris, Airwars' Board Member and Policy Specialist analyse latest Dutch developments
91765
31 Jul, 2023
Policy, Research
Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria

Impossible standards: An analysis of the US military’s Baghdadi raid review

Unrealistic US standards for confirming civilian harm make it nearly impossible to acknowledge civilian casualties
89534
23 Jun, 2023
Policy, Research
Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria

“This is not a small mistake”

Declassified Pentagon files reveal systemic failures in target identification that led to civilian deaths, from mistaking children for weapons to faulty surveillance
89437
5 Jun, 2023
Policy
Iraq

Hawijah: Eight years on, civilians are still waiting for answers

Nearly a decade after deadly Dutch strike, survivors fight for recognition
193225
17 May, 2023
Visualisation
Syria

Reported civilian deaths from US-led Coalition strikes in Syria

Database tracks casualties in Syria during Coalition strikes
193408
17 May, 2023
Visualisation
Iraq

Reported civilian deaths from US-led Coalition strikes in Iraq

Database tracks casualties in Iraq during Coalition strikes
1440
5 Apr, 2023
Policy, Update
Iraq, Syria

Airwars to challenge UK’s refusal to reveal details of sole civilian harm incident in ISIS war

Freedom of Information case step towards accountability for victims' families
88011
4 Apr, 2023
Investigations, Policy
Iraq, Syria

Only official civilian victim of UK’s bombing campaign against IS appears not to exist

Two-year investigation finds major flaws in British government's official narrative
87768
24 Mar, 2023
Update
Iraq, Syria

Airwars and The Guardian investigation reveals British civilian harm

In eight years of war, the UK only admitted killing one civilian. The Guardian and Airwars went in search of the forgotten victims
87768
airwars.org ↗
21 Mar, 2023
Investigations, Policy

The hidden casualties of Britain’s war

The UK claims to have killed only one civilian in the war on ISIS. Airwars found otherwise
87769
21 Mar, 2023
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

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

Database tracks militant casualties in Iraq and Syria from UK strikes
87009
1 Feb, 2023
Policy, Research
Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen

US airstrikes fell to historic low in 2022, despite fresh operations

The overall number of declared US airstrikes across all monitored military theatres fell from 441 in 2021 to a minimum of 36 in 2022
86821
airwars.org ↗
23 Jan, 2023
Investigations

‘Waiting to happen’

An ISIS prison break - and the American mistakes that made it more likely
85081
14 Oct, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq

Mapping urban warfare: Mosul

Visualising the Battle of Mosul
85061
airwars.org ↗
3 Oct, 2022
Visualisation

The Credibles

Tracking the U.S.-confirmed civilian harm incidents in the war against ISIS
85134
airwars.org ↗
29 Sep, 2022
Visualisation

US-led Coalition air strikes on ISIS in Iraq & Syria, 2014-2018

Mapping all known strikes
85135
29 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

Coalition air-released munitions in Iraq and Syria 2014-2020

Chart shows the extensive use of such munitions, peaking in August 2017
85063
29 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

Declared US-led Coalition air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria

Chart compares strikes in Iraq and Syria
85064
29 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

Reported civilian deaths from US-led Coalition strikes in Iraq and Syria

Database tracks casualties from 2014
84863
29 Sep, 2022
Policy, Research
Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria

Pentagon annual report admits 12 deaths resulting from US actions in 2021

All deaths reported were in Afghanistan
85069
28 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

Civilian Deaths by US President in Iraq and Syria

Most civilian deaths occurred under Trump
85068
28 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

Declared strikes by US President in Iraq and Syria

In total, most strikes occurred under Obama, though more strikes in Syria occur under Trump
84632
20 Sep, 2022
Investigations
Syria

ISIS breakout at US-backed prison followed years of warnings

Documentary with VICE investigates