Research

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

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31 Jan, 2019
Research

Airwars annual assessment 2018

Despite significant falls in both strike numbers and reported casualties, civilians still remained at risk in the three conflict-affected nations presently monitored by Airwars. In total, as many as 5,947 non combatants were locally alleged killed by international military actions across Syria, Iraq and Libya during 2018. In Libya reported airstrikes were down by a […]
10 Jan, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

Time for proper accountability now that Dutch aircraft and military personnel are home

On December 31st 2018, the participation of Netherlands F-16s in the international fight against so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria came to an agreed end, after almost four years of airstrikes. Despite conducting precision airstrikes, the Coalition has not always been successful in preventing civilian casualties – with the alliance overall admitting at […]
9 Jan, 2019
Update

Global Islamist Terrorism: Oral Evidence Session at Defence Select Committee

Airwars’ Director Chris Woods is presenting at Oral Evidence Session, organised by  UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee, on the theme of UK actions in the war against so-called Islamic State, and the broader issue of civilian harm, based on the recently published report. Airwars continues to challenge the Ministry of Defence over its claims of no civilian […]
9 Jan, 2019
Update

Armed drones at Sigonella: Legal issues and tensions between right to life protection, transparency obligations and military strategy

Airwars will be participating in the conference organised by ECCHR to outline civilian harm caused by the US in Libya from airstrikes which supposedly take off from Sigonella, Italy. Both Airwars and New America will present findings from their joint Libya project, detailing incidents of civilian harm in the North African country and providing a larger perspective […]
4 Jan, 2019
Research

Airwars monthly assessment – November 2018

Conflict monitoring In November, Airwars tracked the highest reported civilian death toll from alleged Coalition actions since the fall of Raqqa in October 2017. As the terrorist group clung on to a handful of villages in Deir Ezzor and the Hajin campaign rolled into its third month, Coalition actions rose by 32% on October with […]
13 Dec, 2018
Update

ICRC Protection Reference Group meeting

Airwars is participating in a gathering of humanitarian practitioners and experts to discuss and reflect upon work undertaken in relation to conflict-related deaths and the significant push behind transparency and accountability with regard to monitoring and reporting on civilian casualties and damage to essential infrastructure. The event also addresses perceived responsibility for the humanitarian consequences […]
11 Dec, 2018
Update

ICRC Symposium on Digital Risks in Situations of Armed Conflict

Together with a wide range of partners Airwars is participating in a discussion to help develop a deeper understanding about the relationship between digital risk and the protection of individuals and communities affected by situations of armed conflict – and to identify areas for cooperative action to enable humanitarian actors and their partners to respond more […]
6 Dec, 2018
Update

Military reports – December 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for December 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in June 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Monday for the previous […]
5 Dec, 2018
Update
Libya

US strike kills up to eleven civilians in Libya’s south, locals say

Local reports indicate that up to eleven civilians have been killed in a US precision strike near Al Uwaynat, in the extreme south of Libya close to the Algerian border on November 29th. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has confirmed conducting the strike, originally stating that it had targeted fighters from a regional Al […]
30 Nov, 2018
Research

Airwars monthly assessment – October 2018

Conflict monitoring Airwars tracked no locally reported claims of civilian harm in Syria from Russian actions during October – the first such month since Moscow first intervened three years previously. US-led Coalition strikes against ISIS continued however, with a significant and troubling rise in reported civilian harm in eastern Syria. October saw a near tripling […]
30 Nov, 2018
Update

Airwars monthly assessment – October 2018

Reported civilian harm from Coalition actions reaches highest level since the battle of Raqqa - while for the first time Airwars monitored no civilian casualty claims from Russian strikes.
29 Nov, 2018
Update

ARRCs Article 5 Outreach Forum

Airwars’ Deputy Director, Dmytro Chupryna, is participating in a meeting which brings together civil and military actors  to explore how they might engage in a conflict setting; to discuss if there is a common understanding of Military and Civilian taxonomies; and to examine the relationship constraints and opportunities of command, control communication, co-ordination and collaboration.
16 Nov, 2018
Update

The Erosion of the Civilian

Chris Woods, Airwars’ Director is presenting on the theme ‘Invisible Victims: Europe’s failure to concede battlefield civilian harm’ at the symposium, which brings together scholars from different disciplines; human rights and humanitarian experts; and investigative reporters in order to examine the precarious status of civilians and other protected persons in the midst of war.
7 Nov, 2018
Research

Airwars monthly assessment – September 2018

Conflict monitoring In September 2018, civilian harm remained at low levels from both international and domestic belligerents in the three conflict areas which Airwars presently monitors. Eight civilian harm events were attributed the US-led Coalition in Syria – the same number as in the previous month. While events reportedly involving Russia in Syria rose steeply, […]
7 Nov, 2018
Update

Airwars monthly assessment – September 2018

Up to 45 civilians were locally alleged killed by Russian airstrikes in Syria during September - with as many as 17 non combatants also claimed killed by US-led Coalition actions.
6 Nov, 2018
Update

Civilian casualties by coalition airstrikes in Iraq – Transparency and state responsibility

Our Netherlands based Advocacy Officer and Conflict Researcher is presenting at the round-table, organised by War Reparation Centre and the University of Amsterdam. The key area for discussion is the legal proceedings to obtain information from members of the Coalition on bombardments on Iraq.
6 Nov, 2018
Update

Military reports – November 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for November 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in June 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Monday for the previous […]
18 Oct, 2018
Research

Airwars monthly assessment: August 2018

Reported civilian harm in August from both Russian and Coalition actions were at their lowest levels for years, Airwars monitoring shows.
18 Oct, 2018
Update

Airwars monthly assessment: August 2018

Reported civilian harm in August from both Russian and Coalition actions were at their lowest levels for years, Airwars monitoring shows.
8 Oct, 2018
Update

Military reports – October 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for October 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in June 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Monday for the previous […]
27 Sep, 2018
Update

Technical Consultation on the Establishment of an Independent Humanitarian Watch and related (In)Humanity Index

Alex Hopkins, Airwars data analyst is participating in a meeting aimed of reviewing the feasibility of developing an Independent Humanitarian Watch and Index concerned with war-related (in)humanity including the situation of those obliged to flee in order to safeguard their lives. The meeting involves individuals with expertise in data gathering/analysis as well as colleagues involved […]
24 Sep, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Report: Airwars urges UK to improve accountability for civilian harm in Battles of Mosul and Raqqa

Despite being the most transparent among anti-ISIS Coalition members, non-admission of urban civilian casualties by UK is deemed unrealistic in new parliamentary report.
24 Sep, 2018
Update

Report: Airwars urges UK to improve accountability for civilian harm in Battles of Mosul and Raqqa

Despite being the most transparent among anti-ISIS Coalition members, non-admission of urban civilian casualties by UK is deemed unrealistic in new parliamentary report.
22 Sep, 2018
Update

Nederlandse Vereniging van Journalisten

Airwars’ researchers, Sophie Dyer and Abdulwahab Tahhan, are running a workshop on the use and verification of open source data at the Nederlandse Vereniging van Journalisten 2018. The festival is a key forum for investigative journalists with the discussions centring on current news coverage abroad and investigation blind spots.
20 Sep, 2018
Update

A brave new world: Adapting to a changing security landscape

Dmytro Chupryna, Airwars’ Deputy Director, is attending the Friends of Europe’s annual Policy Security Summit, the flagship event of this peace, security & defence programme, bringing together senior decision-makers with out-of-the-box movers and shakers, this occasion allows for in-depth and innovative discussions on today’s most pressing security and defence issues.
20 Sep, 2018
Policy, Report
Iraq, Syria

Credibility Gap – UK civilian harm assessments for the battles of Mosul and Raqqa

As part of its Inquiry into British military actions at Mosul and Raqqa, the UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee issued a request for submissions from interested parties. Along with several other NGOs, Airwars submitted a detailed report looking into UK actions in the war against so-called Islamic State, and the broader issue of civilian harm. […]
20 Sep, 2018
Report, Research

Credibility Gap – UK civilian harm assessments for the battles of Mosul and Raqqa

As part of its Inquiry into British military actions at Mosul and Raqqa, the UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee issued a request for submissions from interested parties. Along with several other NGOs, Airwars submitted a detailed report looking into UK actions in the war against so-called Islamic State, and the broader issue of civilian harm. […]
12 Sep, 2018
Update

What role for law in the protection of civilians in modern armed conflict?

Dmytro Chupryna, Airwars’ Deputy Director is participating in a panel discussion on the occasion of the publication of the book ‘The Grey Zone: Civilian protection between human rights and the laws of war’, referred to an institutional vacuum in the area of international humanitarian law implementation intended to protect civilians.
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.
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.