Research

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

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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 […]
2 Jan, 2016
Update

Military reports – January 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 January 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. January 1st – 2nd […]
21 Dec, 2015
Update

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: November 2015

Additional reporting by Kinda Haddad and Latif Habib Major military developments November 2015 saw the greatest number of Coalition actions yet reported in the 16-month war, with 529 airstrikes in Iraq and 232 in Syria. Overall, a total of 5,638 air strikes had been carried out in Iraq, and 2,944 in Syria to the end […]
21 Dec, 2015
Research

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: November 2015

Major military developments November 2015 saw the greatest number of Coalition actions yet reported in the 16-month war, with 529 airstrikes in Iraq and 232 in Syria. Overall, a total of 5,638 air strikes had been carried out in Iraq, and 2,944 in Syria to the end of the month. The 13 allies had between […]
2 Dec, 2015
Update

Military reports – December 2015

Monthly summary: Below are all known daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for December 2015. 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. December 1st-2nd 2015 Iraq […]
1 Dec, 2015
Update
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

US drone war, November 2015: American troops in Afghanistan and Somalia supported by new strikes

Gen John Campbell, top US military officer in Afghanistan, admits human error behind the destruction of a hospital on October 3. US strikes continued in Afghanistan and Somalia last month. Strikes in both countries were carried out to counter a threat to US forces on the ground. There were no attacks reported in Pakistan, where the Pakistan […]
23 Nov, 2015
Update

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: October 2015

Additional reporting by Latif Habib, Kinda Haddad and Basile Simon Major developments The US-led Coalition ended October 2015 having carried out 5,107 airstrikes in Iraq and 2,712 in Syria so far in its 14-month air war against Daesh. Some 28,578 bombs and missiles had been dropped by 13 allies. There were 22 reported incidents of […]
23 Nov, 2015
Research

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: October 2015

Major developments The US-led Coalition ended October 2015 having carried out 5,107 airstrikes in Iraq and 2,712 in Syria so far in its 14-month air war against Daesh. Some 28,578 bombs and missiles had been dropped by 13 allies. There were 22 reported incidents of concern in October 2015 – ten in Syria and 13 […]
21 Nov, 2015
Update

After 15 months of Iraq airstrikes, Coalition admits to killing civilians

Centcom has finally confirmed that US-led Coalition operations against Daesh in Iraq have ‘likely’ killed civilians on the ground. The November 20th admission comes some 468 days into a bombing campaign which has seen more than 5,400 airstrikes in Iraq alone, with hundreds of civilians so far alleged killed. According to a newly declassified Pentagon […]
21 Nov, 2015
Update

After 15 months of Iraq airstrikes, Coalition admits to killing civilians

Centcom has finally confirmed that US-led Coalition operations against Daesh in Iraq have ‘likely’ killed civilians on the ground. The November 20th admission comes some 468 days into a bombing campaign which has seen more than 5,400 airstrikes in Iraq alone, with hundreds of civilians so far alleged killed. According to a newly declassified Pentagon […]
2 Nov, 2015
Update

Military reports – November 2015

Monthly summary: Below are all known daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against Islamic State/ Daesh in Iraq and Syria for November 2015. 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. November 1st-2nd 2015 2015 […]
2 Nov, 2015
Update
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

At least 80 US airstrikes hit Afghanistan in October: The White House’s covert drone and air war – monthly update

On October 3 a US airstrike destroyed MSF’s hospital in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan (Photo: Victor Blue/MSF)   Scores of US air and drone strikes hit Afghanistan in October as the country’s military and police continued struggling to control the resurgent Taliban. While at least 80 strikes reportedly hit Afghanistan, the CIA’s drone strikes stopped at […]
19 Oct, 2015
Update

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: September 2015

Casualty research by Latif Habib and Kinda Haddad Major developments US-led Coalition strikes allegedly killed as many as 276 civilians in up to 25 problem events in Iraq and Syria in September 2015 In twelve of these events, there appears enough credible evidence  – coupled with confirmation of allied airstrikes in the vicinity – to […]
19 Oct, 2015
Research

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: September 2015

Major developments US-led Coalition strikes allegedly killed as many as 276 civilians in up to 25 problem events in Iraq and Syria in September 2015 In twelve of these events, there appears enough credible evidence  – coupled with confirmation of allied airstrikes in the vicinity – to suggest that a minimum of 86 civilians were […]
15 Oct, 2015
Update
Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

Podcast: US whistleblower Brandon Bryant on Germany’s role in America’s drone wars

Former US drone operator Brandon Bryant (photo: Democracy Now!/You Tube) As a parliamentary inquiry in Berlin explores Germany’s role in America’s drone wars, former drone operator Brandon Bryant tells the Bureau about what he saw of it during his time with the Air Force. Bryant, who himself gave testimony to the inquiry today, said that […]
6 Oct, 2015
Update

Denmark brings F-16s home on first anniversary of anti-Daesh mission

Denmark was one of the last international allies to join Coalition strikes against Islamic State in Iraq. Even so, the past year has seen such a heavy workload that Danish personnel went public with their complaints of fatigue. With all seven F-16s now safely home, guest reporter Rasmus Raun Westh looks at a year of […]
6 Oct, 2015
Update

Denmark brings F-16s home on first anniversary of anti-Daesh mission

Denmark was one of the last international allies to join Coalition strikes against Islamic State in Iraq. Even so, the past year has seen such a heavy workload that Danish personnel went public with their complaints of fatigue. With all seven F-16s now safely home, guest reporter Rasmus Raun Westh looks at a year of […]
5 Oct, 2015
Update
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

Monthly drone report: Total drone strikes under Obama in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen now 491 after September attacks

A US Air Force Reaper in Afghanistan (Photo: US Air Force) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i. Key points: CIA and Pakistan Air Force drones hit Pakistan’s tribal areas US strikes continue in Yemen as the civil war rages Al Shabaab continue to kill peacekeepers and civilians in Somalia The three drone strikes in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen in […]