Research

Research

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134 Research Posts

Methodology note: Civilian harm from explosive weapons use in Gaza

Overview This overview is intended to accompany the publication of our incidents of civilian harm related to the use of explosive weapons in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Airwars applies the same general methodology to all conflicts monitored, which is available on our website here. This methodology has been assessed as highly conformant

Published
October 2023
Country
the Gaza Strip
Belligerents
Israeli Military Palestinian Militants
Output Type
Methodology Note

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

On the night of October 26, 2019 the US military carried out an operation against ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi in Syria. Local journalists reported the deaths of at least five civilians in the raid. Alongside Baghdadi’s family members and ISIS operatives within the compound, three civilians were reported harmed while passing by the

Published
July 2023
Country
Afghanistan Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US Forces US-led Coalition
Output Type
Analysis

Methodology note: US Forces in Yemen

This note is intended to accompany the data and findings following our publication of all alleged US actions in Yemen during Obama’s first term 2009-Jan 2013. These are all published as assessments available in our archive. This is the first phase of work, with the second phase covering Obama’s second term, between 2013-17, still undergoing

Published
July 2023
Country
Yemen
Belligerents
US Forces
Output Type
Methodology Note

Документування паттернів завдання шкоди цивільному населенню в Харкові: Методологічна записка

Цей огляд методології супроводжує нашу аналітичну записку “Характер шкоди, завданої цивільному населенню внаслідок дій Росії в Харківській області, згідно з повідомленнями місцевих джерел”, нашу сторінку з інформацією про війну в Україні та архів з детальним описом кожного із закументованих інцидентів з завдання шкоди цивільному населенню. Цей підхід було розроблено під час документування конфліктів у Лівії,

Published
July 2023
Country
Ukraine
Belligerents
Russian Military Ukrainian Military
Output Type
Analysis

“This is not a small mistake”

Excerpts from declassified civilian harm assessments from the campaign against ISIS put recent US killings in context
Published
June 2023
Country
Afghanistan Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US Forces US-led Coalition
Output Type
Document Review

Annual report 2022

Airwars annual report for May 2022-May 2023. The report outlines key highlights from the organisation’s research, investigations and advocacy departments over the time period, as well as strategic objectives and basic financial details. It includes a foreword by Airwars’ director Emily Tripp, who took over at the beginning of the time period, and is designed

Published
May 2023
Country
Iraq Libya Syria the Gaza Strip Ukraine
Belligerents
NATO forces Russian Military Ukrainian Military US Forces US-led Coalition
Output Type
Report

Характер шкоди, завданої цивільному населенню внаслідок дій Росії в Харківській області згідно з повідомленнями місцевих джерел

В період з 24 лютого по 13 травня 2022 року, під час вторгнення російських військ в Харківську область, від 275 до 438 цивільних осіб загинули внаслідок застосування вибухової зброї. Дослідники “Airwars” задокументували всі повідомлення з відкритих джерел про завдану цивільному населенню шкоду і  протягом короткого періоду, відомого як “Битва за Харків”, виявили 200 інцидентів заподіяної

Published
May 2023
Country
Ukraine
Belligerents
Russian Military Ukrainian Military
Output Type
Analysis

Patterns of civilian harm from alleged Russian actions in Kharkiv oblast

From February 24th to May 13th 2022, between 275 and 438 civilians were alleged to have been killed by explosive weapons when Russian forces invaded the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. Airwars researchers documented all open source accounts of civilian harm, identifying 200 harm incidents during the short period known as the ‘Battle of Kharkiv’. Alongside

Published
May 2023
Country
Ukraine
Belligerents
Russian Military Ukrainian Military
Output Type
Analysis

Documenting patterns of harm in Kharkiv: Methodology note

This overview is intended to accompany our Research Brief ‘Patterns of civilian harm from alleged Russian actions in Kharkiv oblast’, our conflict overview page, and our archive. This approach was originally developed as we documented conflicts across Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and the Gaza Strip, and closely aligns with global standards on Casualty Recording.

Published
May 2023
Country
Ukraine
Belligerents
Russian Military Ukrainian Military
Output Type
Methodology Note

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,

Published
May 2023
Country
Ukraine
Belligerents
Russian Military
Output Type
Heatmap Visualisation

Reported civilian deaths from Israeli Military strikes in the Gaza Strip, May 2021

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.

Published
May 2023
Country
the Gaza Strip
Belligerents
Israeli Military
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation
Languages
English العربية עברית

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

Through Freedom of Information Act requests, Airwars obtained the details of every strike in which the Ministry of Defence claimed a militant was killed or injured, between 2014 and 2021 in Iraq and Syria. This map details the scale and extent of Britain’s bombing campaign.
Published
March 2023
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Map Visualisation

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

In the second year of President Joe Biden’s administration, the number of US airstrikes fell to an historic low as some military engagements appeared to take a different form — with the redeployment of US forces to Somalia and a shift towards targeted raids on Islamic State figures in Syria. The overall number of declared

Published
February 2023
Country
Afghanistan Iraq Libya Pakistan Somalia Syria Yemen
Belligerents
US Forces US-led Coalition
Output Type
Analysis

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

Published
November 2022
Country
the Gaza Strip
Belligerents
Israeli Military
Output Type
Map Visualisation

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’

Published
October 2022
Country
Iraq
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Heatmap Map Visualisation

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

Published
October 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Map Visualisation
Languages
English العربية

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.

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Map Visualisation

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.

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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.

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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.

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation
Languages
English العربية

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

Published
September 2022
Country
Somalia
Belligerents
US Forces
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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

Published
September 2022
Country
Yemen
Belligerents
US Forces
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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

The Pentagon’s annual report to Congress, released yesterday, on civilian deaths and injuries resulting from US military actions in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria has declared responsibility for 12 deaths and five injuries in 2021. All 12 deaths conceded were in Afghanistan; injuries were reported resulting from actions in both Somalia and Afghanistan. While these

Published
September 2022
Country
Afghanistan Iraq Somalia Syria
Belligerents
US Forces US-led Coalition
Output Type
Analysis

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

Published
September 2022
Country
Somalia
Belligerents
US Forces
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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

Published
September 2022
Country
Somalia
Belligerents
US Forces
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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,

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
US-led Coalition
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation

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.

Published
September 2022
Country
Syria
Belligerents
Russian Military
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation
Languages
English العربية

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

Published
September 2022
Country
the Gaza Strip
Belligerents
Israeli Military
Output Type
Chloropleth Map Visualisation
Languages
English العربية עברית

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.

Published
September 2022
Country
the Gaza Strip
Belligerents
Israeli Military
Output Type
Map Visualisation
Languages
English العربية עברית