Research

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

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25870
27 Jul, 2018
Update
Libya

Sirte: The last days of ISIS’s Libya stronghold

So-called Islamic State was ousted from the Libyan city of Sirte in late 2016 by joint US and Government of National Accord forces. Using materials uncovered as part of a major new project tracking airstrikes and civilian harm in Libya, Airwars recounts the rise and fall of the terror organization through the eyes of local […]
26142
29 Jun, 2018
Update

After more than a year of denials, Coalition admits killing 40 civilians in controversial strike

While credible reports of large numbers of civilians killed at al Mansoura emerged within hours, it has taken the Coalition 16 months to concede any harm.
25565
5 Jun, 2018
Update

Amnesty says US-led Coalition likely violated international law at Raqqa

Investigators traveled to Raqqa and spoke with more than 100 witnesses and victims, with their report highlighting the deaths of dozens of members of just four families.
25565
5 Jun, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Amnesty says US-led Coalition likely violated international law at Raqqa

Investigators traveled to Raqqa and spoke with more than 100 witnesses and victims, with their report highlighting the deaths of dozens of members of just four families.
24885
30 May, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

‘A city full of flies’: The crews digging out bodies in Raqqa

The Raqqa Reconstruction Committee is still recovering the dead from this shattered city - all the time at risk from unexploded ISIS munitions.
24885
30 May, 2018
Update

‘A city full of flies’: The crews digging out bodies in Raqqa

The Raqqa Reconstruction Committee is still recovering the dead from this shattered city - all the time at risk from unexploded ISIS munitions.
24429
3 May, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

UK admits an anti-ISIS civilian casualty for the first time

After nearly four years of strikes the UK has finally admitted to a single civilian casualty
24429
3 May, 2018
Update

UK admits an anti-ISIS civilian casualty for the first time

After nearly four years of strikes the UK has finally admitted to a single civilian casualty
24828
1 May, 2018
Report

Refusal by The Netherlands Defence Ministry to identify specific civilian harm events impedes natural justice, and runs counter to actions by other Coalition allies

Our third briefing paper for Dutch MPs was issued after the Netherlands conceded civilian harm in Iraq in up to three incidents between 2014 and 2016 – but refused to say where or when. The paper noted that without more detail, affected Iraqis would never know that Dutch aircraft were responsible for their loved ones being […]
23930
5 Apr, 2018
Update

Counting the dead in Mosul

Thousands of civilians were killed during the battle for Mosul, but there is no official death toll.
23930
5 Apr, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Counting the dead in Mosul

Thousands of civilians were killed during the battle for Mosul, but there is no official death toll.
23849
29 Mar, 2018
Update

Australia admits killing two civilians during battle for Mosul

Australia remains the only American ally to admit any civilian harm after almost four years of strikes
23849
29 Mar, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Australia admits killing two civilians during battle for Mosul

Australia remains the only American ally to admit any civilian harm after almost four years of strikes
23653
15 Mar, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Resumed Dutch air campaign against ISIS sees transparency improvements

The Netherlands - often criticized for being the least transparent member of the US-led Coalition - has improved its public reporting since strikes renewed in January
23653
15 Mar, 2018
Update

Resumed Dutch air campaign against ISIS sees transparency improvements

The Netherlands - often criticized for being the least transparent member of the US-led Coalition - has improved its public reporting since strikes renewed in January
23623
12 Mar, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Raqqa: a city destroyed then forgotten

Tens of thousands of US bombs and missiles helped drive Islamic State from Raqqa. But now the dead are being forgotten.
23623
12 Mar, 2018
Update

Raqqa: a city destroyed then forgotten

Tens of thousands of US bombs and missiles helped drive Islamic State from Raqqa. But now the dead are being forgotten.
22160
18 Jan, 2018
Research

Airwars annual assessment 2017: civilians paid a high price for major Coalition gains

Civilian deaths from Coalition actions were up by more than 200% in 2017, as the war against ISIS pushed deep into cities
22160
18 Jan, 2018
Update

Airwars annual assessment 2017: civilians paid a high price for major Coalition gains

Civilian deaths from Coalition actions were up by more than 200% in 2017, as the war against ISIS pushed deep into cities
22861
15 Jan, 2018
Update

Reported civilian and ‘friendly fire’ deaths from Coalition airstrikes 2018

Despite a significant decline in Coalition actions against ISIS, reported civilian harm continued into 2018.
22233
10 Jan, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Former RAF commander: British claims of zero civilian deaths ‘not credible’

'Stop treating the British people as mugs,' senior Labour politician tells MoD as it continues to insist no civilians harmed in 1,600 airstrikes
22233
10 Jan, 2018
Update

Former RAF commander: British claims of zero civilian deaths ‘not credible’

'Stop treating the British people as mugs,' senior Labour politician tells MoD as it continues to insist no civilians harmed in 1,600 airstrikes
21958
21 Dec, 2017
Research

International airstrikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria – November 2017

With ISIS mostly defeated, Airwars tracked a major fall in reported Coalition civilian casualties in November. Russia remains a problem.
21557
2 Dec, 2017
Update

Counting the Uncounted: Azmat Khan and Anand Gopal on their groundbreaking civilian casualty study

US-led alliance has still made no public comment on 18-month investigation, which found that deaths from Coalition airstrikes were up to 31 times higher than acknowledged.
20832
19 Oct, 2017
Update

More than 1,800 civilians killed overall in defeat of ISIS at Raqqa, say monitors

The former ISIS 'capital' has been captured from the terror group after months of hard fighting. But the cost to civilians - and for the city itself - has been high.
19005
15 Sep, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Former Coalition commander Lt Gen Townsend responds to Airwars article on Raqqa

Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, former commander of the US-led Coalition, takes issue with Airwars assessments of Raqqa civilian casualties
19450
11 Aug, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Despite public denials, Belgium linked to two confirmed civilian casualty events

Coalition declares as 'credible' two Belgian civilian casualty events - yet secrecy continues
16116
5 May, 2017
Update

1,000 days of war: the civilians missing in action

Among the dead in Iraq and Syria are more than 1,4000 named civilian victims of likely Coalition airstrikes. Airwars looks at the stories of some of those individuals
11178
4 May, 2017
Update

1,000 days of war: A tale of two bombed cities

Both Aleppo and Raqqa have seen heavy assaults backed by international airpower in recent months. So why is media coverage so different for these two bombed cities?
15910
4 May, 2017
Update

1,000 days of war: What went wrong at Mosul?

The bloody battle to capture West Mosul has reportedly cost thousands of civilian lives. Airwars researcher Latif Habib asks: what went wrong?