Research

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

Suggested Searches
Policy
All maps
Research on Syria
Research on U.S. forces
Research on the Gaza Strip
Collections
162 posts Clear all filters
Quick Links

country

Iraq
→

country

Syria
→

Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria
→

Conflict

Russian Military in Syria
→

Conflict

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria
→
24 Dec, 2019
Update
Syria

More than 220 civilians likely killed in Turkish invasion of northern Syria

Eleven weeks on from the October 9th launch of a Turkish-led offensive against Kurds in northern Syria, known as ‘Operation Peace Spring’, fighting continues to rage with civilians still encountering significant violence. Since the beginning of the latest clashes, Airwars researchers have overall monitored between 244 and 312 reported civilian deaths resulting from air, artillery […]
19 Dec, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

Dutch defence ministry publishes incorrect statement on civilian deaths, hours before key parliamentary debate

The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (Defensie) has provided an inaccurate statement to both MPs and the media, Airwars analysis indicates – on the eve of a critical parliamentary debate on the deaths of scores of civilians in Iraq which had resulted from a Dutch airstrike in 2015. Credible reports at the time had indicated that […]
29 Nov, 2019
Policy
Iraq

Dutch Ministry of Defence promises significant transparency changes

The Dutch government is promising to introduce transparency improvements for conflict-related civilian harm resulting from its military actions. The announcement came on November 25th, in the wake of an ongoing national scandal, following the withholding for more than four years of details of Dutch involvement in an airstrike on Hawijah, Iraq, on the night of […]
22 Oct, 2019
Update
Iraq

Investigation accuses Dutch military of involvement in 2015 Iraq airstrike which led to deaths of 70 civilians

On Friday October 18th, Dutch news organisations NRC and NOS published a story in which they accused the Dutch military of being responsible for a 2015 airstrike on an ISIS weapon storage facility in the city of Hawijah, Iraq, that led to the deaths of at least 70 civilians. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has […]
18 Oct, 2019
Update
Syria, Türkiye

Civilians severely at risk from Turkish invasion of Northern Syria

Airwars monitors locally reported civilian harm from all Turkish air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria, as well as from Kurdish counterfire actions. Our database can be found here. More than 120 civilian deaths have been locally alleged in eight days of fighting in northern Syria to October 16th, following a Turkish-led offensive, ‘Operation […]
7 Aug, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

Five years of war and ISIS is defeated as a territorial entity – but civilian deaths remain largely uncounted

The fifth anniversary of the international war against so-called Islamic State has seen the total defeat of the terrorist group as a territorial entity in both Iraq and Syria. Now degraded to insurgency, the US and its allies try to contain the jihadist organisation. However, after five years of fighting the cost to civilians on […]
16 Jul, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

New Airwars study finds major challenges in US media coverage of civilian harm

Despite a significant majority of almost 100 surveyed journalists believing that the reporting of civilian casualties remains critical to broader war coverage, major US news organisations have too often failed properly to report on the issue during the five year conflict against so-called Islamic State. That’s the key finding of a major new Airwars study […]
1 May, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

France’s war without accountability

On May 16th 2017, Sajid Ahmed Sajid and his brother Amer Ahmad Sajid, two men in their fifties and each with a salt and pepper beard, were killed by a bomb that struck their house in the well-to-do neighbourhood of Al-Najjar in West Mosul, according to locals and local media. The Coalition’s public account of […]
25 Apr, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

At least 1,600 civilians died in US-led Coalition actions at Raqqa, major new study finds

A major new study by Amnesty International and Airwars has concluded that at least 1,600 civilians died in Coalition strikes on the city of Raqqa in 2017 during the battle to evict so-called Islamic State – ten times the number of fatalities so far conceded by the US-led alliance, which had admitted 159 deaths to […]
10 Apr, 2019
Update
Iraq, Libya, Syria

Airwars expands monitoring to include secretive US campaigns in Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan

Airwars has announced that in partnership with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, it will also now be monitoring airstrikes and reported civilian harm from secretive US campaigns in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, in addition to its current portfolio of major conflicts. The US counter terrorism campaigns – conducted by the CIA and US Special Forces […]
5 Feb, 2019
Update
Iraq, Syria

New Airwars project to examine US media coverage of civilian harm in war against ISIS

Hundreds of journalists will be canvassed for their views on recent conflict casualty reporting by the US media as part of a major new project by Airwars. The six month study—funded by the Reva and David Logan Foundation in the US, and the J Leon Philanthropy Council in the UK—aims to help assess and improve […]
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 […]
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.
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. […]
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.
8 Aug, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Four years of war and ISIS is almost defeated – but at what cost?

The fourth anniversary of the international war against ISIS sees the terror group almost defeated - though many thousands of civilians have died in the heavy fighting.
5 Jul, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

‘That’s just how we do it.’ Minister upholds court’s decision not to identify Dutch civilian harm events

Despite cross party calls for greater disclosure, the Defence Minister confirmed that no further details of four events will be released.
29 Jun, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

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.
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.
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.
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
13 Apr, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

Netherlands admits civilian harm in Iraqi airstrikes – but won’t say where or when

Dutch military still refuses to say where or when civilians were killed or injured in Iraqi strikes - or how many casualties.
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.
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
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
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.
7 Mar, 2018
Update
Iraq, Syria

UN investigators accuse the US-led Coalition and Russia of likely violating laws of war in Syria

In 2015, the UN Commission said it wouldn't investigate foreign airstrikes in Syria. Now it is citing Security Council members for unlawful strikes.
2 Mar, 2018
Update
Syria

Civilian casualties from alleged Russian airstrikes reach record levels

Thirty months into its Syria campaign, Russia is reportedly killing more civilians than ever
29 Jan, 2018
Update
Syria

Turkish assault on Syria’s Afrin imperils civilians

Several dozen civilians have already been killed in fierce fighting at Afrin - with fears of a heavier toll ahead.
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