Research

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

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1 Jul, 2016
Update
Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

Why White House civilian casualty figures on civilian are a wild underestimate

Chris Woods set up the Bureau’s award-winning Drones Project in 2011, and is the author of Sudden Justice: America’s Secret Drone Wars. He now runs Airwars, which monitors international airstrikes and civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria. Targeted killings or assassinations beyond the battlefield remain a highly charged subject. Most controversial of all is the number of […]
1 Jul, 2016
Update
Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

Obama drone casualty numbers a fraction of those recorded by the Bureau

The US government today claimed it has killed between 64 and 116 “non-combatants” in 473 counter-terrorism strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya between January 2009 and the end of 2015. This is a fraction of the 380 to 801 civilian casualty range recorded by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism from reports by local and […]
17 Jun, 2016
Update

International airstrikes and civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria: December 2015 to May 2016

Additional reporting by Kinda Haddad, Latif Habib and Chris Woods Airwars monthly reports on international airstrikes and alleged civilian casualties across both Iraq and Syria will resume for June . Here we present our summary findings for December 2015 to May 2016. Major Coalition military developments From December 1st 2015 to the end of May […]
17 Jun, 2016
Research

International airstrikes and civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria: December 2015 to May 2016

Airwars monthly reports on international airstrikes and alleged civilian casualties across both Iraq and Syria will resume for June . Here we present our summary findings for December 2015 to May 2016. Major Coalition military developments From December 1st 2015 to the end of May 2016, there were 4,087 reported Coalition airstrikes against Daesh: a […]
2 Jun, 2016
Update

Military reports – June 2016

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for June 2016. We have also included relevant video and photo releases, as well as cross-indicating where any known alleged civilian or ‘friendly fire’ casualties have been reported.   June 1st-2nd 2016 […]
2 May, 2016
Update

Military reports – May 2016

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for May 2016. We have also included relevant video and photo releases, as well as cross-indicating where any known alleged civilian or ‘friendly fire’ casualties have been reported. May 1st – May […]
1 May, 2016
Report

Improving Belgian transparency and public accountability in the war against Daesh

As Brussels debated whether to extend airstrikes to Syria, we submitted a short report to parliament urging improved public transparency. The report concluded that “The act of waging war rightly places onerous responsibilities upon all combatants. It is surely right not only that nations are held accountable for their military actions – but that they […]
27 Apr, 2016
Update

Our methodology

Airwars is a collaborative, not-for-profit transparency project run by a team of professional journalists based in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and North America. We track and assess claims of civilian non-combatant casualties and ‘friendly fire’ deaths from international military actions – primarily air and artillery strikes. We also monitor and archive official military […]
22 Apr, 2016
Update

Two families likely among 20 new civilian deaths admitted by US in war against ISIL

In a doubling of previous estimates of civilians killed in its air war against so-called Islamic State, the US has confirmed that 20 more non-combatants are believed to have died and 11 injured in nine separate events between September 2015 and February 2016. Among those likely killed were two Iraqi families. On October 5th, US […]
22 Apr, 2016
Update

Two families likely among 20 new civilian deaths admitted by US in war against ISIL

In a doubling of previous estimates of civilians killed in its air war against so-called Islamic State, the US has confirmed that 20 more non-combatants are believed to have died and 11 injured in nine separate events between September 2015 and February 2016. Among those likely killed were two Iraqi families. On October 5th, US […]
2 Apr, 2016
Update

Military reports – April 2016

Monthly summary: Below are all known daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for April 2016. We have also included relevant video and photo releases, as well as indicating where any known alleged civilian or ‘friendly fire’ casualties have been reported. April 1st-April 2nd 2016 Iraq 20 […]
22 Mar, 2016
Update

Alleged civilian casualties from Russian airstrikes in Syria

Airwars maintains an extensive database of all known allegations in which civilians have been reported killed by Russian forces in Syrian casualty events since September 30th 2015. Our published month by month records include a case report on each known alleged event; photographs, videos, names of the dead where known; archived links to all known […]
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 […]
11 Mar, 2016
Update

Reported civilian deaths from Russian airstrikes in Syria December 2015

Listed are all known reports – via generally credible sources unless otherwise indicated – of non-combatant deaths allegedly caused by Russian aircraft in Syria for December 2015. We include locations, dates and reported casualty numbers, as well as the names of victims where known. Also cross-referenced are any known airstrikes in the vicinity – and […]
11 Mar, 2016
Update

Reported civilian deaths from Russian airstrikes in Syria November 2015

In the course of the last three days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 137 combat sorties engaging 448 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia, Raqqah, Hama and Homs provinces.  Listed are all known reports – via generally credible sources unless otherwise indicated – of non-combatant […]
11 Mar, 2016
Update

Reported civilian deaths from Russian airstrikes in Syria October 2015

Listed are all known reports – via generally credible sources unless otherwise indicated – of non-combatant deaths allegedly caused by Russian aircraft in Syria for October 2015. We include locations, dates and reported casualty numbers, as well as the names of victims where known. Also cross-referenced are any known airstrikes in the vicinity – and […]
11 Mar, 2016
Update

Reported civilian deaths from Russian airstrikes in Syria September 2015

Listed are all known reports – via generally credible sources unless otherwise indicated – of non-combatant deaths allegedly caused by Russian aircraft in Syria for September 2015. As Russian airstrikes only began on September 30th, only one day is included.  We include reported locations, dates and reported casualty numbers, as well as the names of […]
9 Mar, 2016
Update

More than 1,000 civilians estimated killed in 18-month Coalition air war

Additional research by Kinda Haddad, Latif Habib, Alex Hopkins and Basile Simon Latest assessments suggest more than 1,000 civilians may now have died in 18 months of Coalition airstrikes across Iraq and Syria. The estimate is fifty times greater than the number of civilian deaths so far admitted by the US-led alliance. Airwars researchers have […]
9 Mar, 2016
Update

More than 1,000 civilians estimated killed in 18-month Coalition air war

Additional research by Kinda Haddad, Latif Habib, Alex Hopkins and Basile Simon Latest assessments suggest more than 1,000 civilians may now have died in 18 months of Coalition airstrikes across Iraq and Syria. The estimate is fifty times greater than the number of civilian deaths so far admitted by the US-led alliance. Airwars researchers have […]
7 Mar, 2016
Update
Somalia

Unprecedented death toll from US air strike in Somalia

The US flattened an al Shabaab training camp in central Somalia and killed around 150 people, the Pentagon said today, making it the highest death toll in a US counter-terrorism strike yet recorded anywhere by the Bureau. The strike hit approximately 100 miles north of Mogadishu and killed al Shabaab terrorists who posed an imminent […]
2 Mar, 2016
Update

Military reports – March 2016

Monthly summary: Below are all known daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for March 2016. We have also included relevant video and photo releases, as well as indicating where any known alleged civilian or ‘friendly fire’ casualties have been reported March 1st-March 2nd 2016 Iraq 14 strikes […]
3 Feb, 2016
Update

British aircraft not involved in alleged Iraq civilian casualty events, says minister

Royal Air Force combat aircraft were not involved in eight alleged civilian casualty incidents in Iraq in December 2015, according to Britain’s Defence Secretary. Concerns were first raised by Scottish media and politicians in early January, after cross-referencing of reported civilian casualty incidents with UK airstrikes in Iraq had indicated possible concerns. Eight claimed incidents […]
3 Feb, 2016
Update

British aircraft not involved in alleged Iraq civilian casualty events, says minister

Royal Air Force combat aircraft were not involved in eight alleged civilian casualty incidents in Iraq in December 2015, according to Britain’s Defence Secretary. Concerns were first raised by Scottish media and politicians in early January, after cross-referencing of reported civilian casualty incidents with UK airstrikes in Iraq had indicated possible concerns. Eight claimed incidents […]
2 Feb, 2016
Update

Military reports – February 2016

Monthly summary: Below are all known daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for February 2016. We have also included relevant video and photo releases, as well as indicating where any known alleged civilian or ‘friendly fire’ casualties have been reported. February 1st-February 2nd 2016 Iraq […]
1 Feb, 2016
Report

Netherlands airstrikes in Syria: Towards improved transparency and public accountability

Our report submitted to the Dutch Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee argued that despite being an advanced democracy with membership both of the European Union and NATO, The Netherlands had also been one of the least transparent partners in the US-led Coalition against ISIS – a situation which has further deteriorated over time. “It is an […]
22 Jan, 2016
Update

Fresh CENTCOM admissions reveal frequency of civilian casualties

The Pentagon has confirmed five additional casualty events from US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, which officials say between them killed two civilians while injuring a further four. Yet all of those described as injured by US officials actually died from their wounds according to the public record – with each victim named at the […]
22 Jan, 2016
Update

Fresh CENTCOM admissions reveal frequency of civilian casualties

The Pentagon has confirmed five additional casualty events from US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, which officials say between them killed two civilians while injuring a further four. Yet all of those described as injured by US officials actually died from their wounds according to the public record – with each victim named at the […]
15 Jan, 2016
Update

US admits five new civilian casualty cases in Iraq and Syria

The United States has conceded five fresh civilian casualty incidents in Iraq and Syria which between them killed eight or more non-combatants, it believes. Analysis suggests the actual toll from these five events is between 14 and 21 civilians killed, raising fresh questions about US and Coalition dependence upon aerial-only footage during post-strike investigations. Airwars […]
15 Jan, 2016
Update

US admits five new civilian casualty cases in Iraq and Syria

The United States has conceded five fresh civilian casualty incidents in Iraq and Syria which between them killed eight or more non-combatants, it believes. Analysis suggests the actual toll from these five events is between 14 and 21 civilians killed, raising fresh questions about US and Coalition dependence upon aerial-only footage during post-strike investigations. Airwars […]
2 Jan, 2016
Update

Reported civilian and ‘friendly fire’ deaths from Coalition airstrikes January – March 2016

Alleged events for other months in 2016 are listed here Listed are all known reports for January to June 2016 – via generally credible sources unless otherwise indicated – of non-combatant and ‘friendly fire’ deaths allegedly caused by the Coalition. We include locations, dates and reported casualty numbers, as well as the names of victims […]