Research

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

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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
30 Sep, 2015
Update

‘Not one civilian killed’: UK insists Iraq airstrikes are perfect after first year of bombing

British manned and unmanned aicraft have carried out at least 324 airstrikes against Islamic State in their first year of operations, according to an Airwars assessment of Ministry of Defence reports. The attacks – second only to the United States in number – have killed hundreds of Daesh fighters, the MoD says. Officials also insist […]
30 Sep, 2015
Update

‘Not one civilian killed’: UK insists Iraq airstrikes are perfect after first year of bombing

British manned and unmanned aicraft have carried out at least 324 airstrikes against Islamic State in their first year of operations, according to an Airwars assessment of Ministry of Defence reports. The attacks – second only to the United States in number – have killed hundreds of Daesh fighters, the MoD says. Officials also insist […]
3 Sep, 2015
Update

Canadian, Australian, Dutch and French aircraft linked to possible civilian casualties, CENTCOM file reveals

Additional reporting by Kinda Haddad and Latif Habib A newly-declassified CENTCOM document – published by Airwars and international media partners for the first time today –  reveals that by early May of this year, the anti-ISIL Coalition had already internally investigated dozens of events involving at least 325 possible civilian deaths from airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Yet despite often significant published evidence of civilians […]
3 Sep, 2015
Update

Canadian, Australian, Dutch and French aircraft linked to possible civilian casualties, CENTCOM file reveals

Additional reporting by Kinda Haddad and Latif Habib A newly-declassified CENTCOM document – published by Airwars and international media partners for the first time today –  reveals that by early May of this year, the anti-ISIL Coalition had already internally investigated dozens of events involving at least 325 possible civilian deaths from airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Yet despite often significant published evidence of civilians […]
10 Aug, 2015
Update

First year of Coalition airstrikes helped stall Islamic State – but at a cost

IMAGE: An F/A-18 Super Hornet launches from USS Carl Vinson, October 2014 (US Navy/ Alex King) At 1.45pm local time on August 8th 2014, the United States began airstrikes against Islamic State (Daesh), after the terror group had overrun much of northern Iraq and begun massacring non-Sunnis. Six weeks later that air war was expanded to Syria, […]
10 Aug, 2015
Update

First year of Coalition airstrikes helped stall Islamic State – but at a cost

IMAGE: An F/A-18 Super Hornet launches from USS Carl Vinson, October 2014 (US Navy/ Alex King) At 1.45pm local time on August 8th 2014, the United States began airstrikes against Islamic State (Daesh), after the terror group had overrun much of northern Iraq and begun massacring non-Sunnis. Six weeks later that air war was expanded to Syria, […]
3 Aug, 2015
Update

Hundreds of civilians credibly reported killed in first year of Coalition airstrikes, Airwars study finds

ABOVE: Scene of a devastating Coalition strike at Hawijah, Iraq on June 3rd 2015 which reportedly killed up to 70 civilians (via Iraqi Spring) A six-month investigation into alleged civilian and ‘friendly fire’ deaths from Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria has identified more than 120 incidents of concern to June 30th according to an Airwars report published […]
3 Aug, 2015
Update

Hundreds of civilians credibly reported killed in first year of Coalition airstrikes, Airwars study finds

ABOVE: Scene of a devastating Coalition strike at Hawijah, Iraq on June 3rd 2015 which reportedly killed up to 70 civilians (via Iraqi Spring) A six-month investigation into alleged civilian and ‘friendly fire’ deaths from Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria has identified more than 120 incidents of concern to June 30th according to an Airwars report published […]
10 Jul, 2015
Research

Coalition strikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: July 3rd-10th 2015

ABOVE: Burnt out wreckage of a car carrying seven alleged Al Nusra Front members, destroyed in a US targeted strike in Syria July 8 2015 (via SNN) Additional reporting by Basile Simon, Kinda Haddad and Latif Habib. Major Developments Casualty recorders publish the name of a 200th alleged victim of coalition airstrikes in Syria. In Iraq, […]
10 Jul, 2015
Update

Coalition strikes and civilian casualty claims in Iraq and Syria: July 3rd-10th 2015

ABOVE: Burnt out wreckage of a car carrying seven alleged Al Nusra Front members, destroyed in a US targeted strike in Syria July 8 2015 (via SNN) Additional reporting by Basile Simon, Kinda Haddad and Latif Habib. Major Developments Casualty recorders publish the name of a 200th alleged victim of coalition airstrikes in Syria. In Iraq, […]
4 Jul, 2015
Research

Coalition airstrikes and reported casualties in Iraq and Syria: June 26th – July 3rd 2015

ABOVE: A bomb-laden Belgian F-16 prepares for a mission in Iraq, December 2014 (Belgian MoD)   Major Developments Belgium announces it has ended its military role in the coalition, withdrawing its F-16s after approximately 41 airstrikes 13 fresh problem events are reported for June in both Iraq and Syria, involving multiple civilian deaths allegedly caused by […]
4 Jul, 2015
Update

Coalition airstrikes and reported casualties in Iraq and Syria: June 26th – July 3rd 2015

ABOVE: A bomb-laden Belgian F-16 prepares for a mission in Iraq, December 2014 (Belgian MoD)   Major Developments Belgium announces it has ended its military role in the coalition, withdrawing its F-16s after approximately 41 airstrikes 13 fresh problem events are reported for June in both Iraq and Syria, involving multiple civilian deaths allegedly caused by […]
21 Jun, 2015
Research

Coalition airstrikes and reported casualties in Iraq and Syria: June 12th-19th 2015

ABOVE: Residents of Tal Abyad region flee the fighting between Islamic State and YPG Kurds, June  2015 (SNN) Major Developments Coalition ends 45th week of bombings having carried out 4,673 airstrikes on Islamic State At least 6 and as many as 20 civilians were reported killed in a series of coalition airstrikes on June 13th, in support of […]