Research

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

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26240
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.
26142
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.
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.
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
24115
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.
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
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
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.
23494
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.
23430
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
22706
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.
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
21775
16 Dec, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Measuring the cost of Iraq’s victory over ISIS

Iraqi forces supported by the international Coalition have driven so-called Islamic State from the nation's cities and towns. The cost in lives has been significant.
21557
2 Dec, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

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.
21608
1 Dec, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Airwars meets with MPs as the Netherlands prepares to resume mission against Islamic State

Parliamentary hearing is told that Dutch military transparency is the weakest among all allies in the international Coalition.
20832
19 Oct, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

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.
20333
23 Sep, 2017
Update
Syria

Russia blamed for sharp rise in civilian deaths during battle for Deir Ezzor

In the race to capture ISIS territory, hundreds of civilians have been reported killed by airstrikes in Deir Ezzor governorate in the past two weeks. Russia, the regime and Coalition are all active in the area.
19761
20 Sep, 2017
Update
Syria

Intensity of Coalition’s Raqqa bombardment greater than for all of Afghanistan, official data shows

On average one Coalition bomb, missile or artillery shell struck Raqqa every eight minutes in August - with local monitors reporting a devastating toll on civilians
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
19991
6 Sep, 2017
Update
Syria

UN Inquiry ‘gravely concerned’ about Syrian civilians killed by Coalition

The Commission also accused the US of violating international humanitarian law when it bombed a mosque in March.
19836
29 Aug, 2017
Update
Syria

Civilian deaths mount in Raqqa amid Coalition denials

The Coalition's top commander has repeatedly questioned whether large numbers of civilians are dying, even as international investigations are released.
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
18998
28 Jul, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Children pay high price in fight to take Raqqa from ISIS

Coalition commander plays down high civilian toll in Syria, despite findings of monitors and investigators
17791
17 Jul, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Coalition civilian casualty claims double under Donald Trump

Our investigation for the Daily Beast examines why likely civilian deaths in the war against ISIS have doubled under Donald Trump
14973
27 Jun, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

Transcript of Pentagon’s Al Jinah Investigation media briefing

Complete transcript of Pentagon media briefing provided to US reporters on the Al Jinah Mosque investigation
17420
9 Jun, 2017
Update
Syria

Civilians face conflicting instructions as Coalition and SDF assault Raqqa

Differing advice to civilians at Raqqa sows confusion warn experts - as UN calls on Coalition to improve protections for non-combatants
14338
7 Jun, 2017
Update
Syria

US insists it did hit Syrian ‘Al Qaeda meeting’ despite local accounts

US admits 'preventable error' in attack which struck Syrian mosque complex
16266
9 May, 2017
Update
Iraq, Syria

In third year of strikes, Australia begins releasing regular reports

In its third year as part of the Coalition bombing campaign, Australia is finally releasing regular logs of its airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.