Research

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

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784 posts
6 Aug, 2018
Update

Military reports – August 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for August 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in June 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Monday for the previous […]
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 […]
25 Jul, 2018
Research

Airwars six monthly assessment: January-June 2018

Reported civilian deaths from Russian actions were up by a third in Syria during the first six months of 2018. While claims against the Coalition were sharply down, several hundred civilians were still likely killed by the US-led alliance.
25 Jul, 2018
Update

Airwars six monthly assessment: January-June 2018

Reported civilian deaths from Russian actions were up by a third in Syria during the first six months of 2018. While claims against the Coalition were sharply down, several hundred civilians were still likely killed by the US-led alliance.
12 Jul, 2018
Update

Airwars monthly assessment: May 2018

Coalition-attributed civilian casualties in Syria were up during May, while those blamed on Russia were sharply down.
12 Jul, 2018
Research

Airwars monthly assessment: May 2018

Coalition-attributed civilian casualties in Syria were up during May, while those blamed on Russia were sharply down.
5 Jul, 2018
Update

‘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.
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.
2 Jul, 2018
Update

Military reports – July 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for July 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in June 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Monday for the previous […]
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.
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.
20 Jun, 2018
Update
Libya

Libya’s lawless skies

A new study of the security situation in Libya between 2012 and 2018 by Airwars and the New America Foundation has identified hundreds of civilians credibly reported killed and injured by domestic and international airstrikes – but with no accountability for those deaths from any belligerent. In total at least 2,162 strikes were identified by […]
20 Jun, 2018
Update
Libya

US discloses more on previously secret Libya airstrikes

Airwars has obtained fresh details regarding four confirmed US airstrikes in Libya in recent months – actions which the US military command AFRICOM had originally chosen not to declare. The four airstrikes – three in late 2017 and one in January of this year – were first admitted in March by the US following queries […]
20 Jun, 2018
Update
Libya

AFRICOM response to reported civilian harm from US airstrikes in Libya

As part of our new Libya monitoring project, Airwars and New America reached out to AFRICOM, the US military command for Africa, highlighting all known alleged civilian casualty events in which US aircraft had been implicated. We also included a list of all reported airstrikes by unknown belligerents between 2012 and 2018, and asked whether […]
11 Jun, 2018
Update

Military reports – June 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for June 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in June 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Monday for the previous […]
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.
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.
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.
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.
24 May, 2018
Update

Airwars monthly assessment: April 2018

Civilian fatalities from international military actions in both Iraq and Syria were at record low levels during April.
24 May, 2018
Research

Airwars monthly assessment: April 2018

Civilian fatalities from international military actions in both Iraq and Syria were at record low levels during April.
4 May, 2018
Update

Military reports – May 2018

Monthly summary: Below are all known published daily Coalition military reports relating to the air war against so called Islamic State or Daesh in Iraq and Syria for May 2018. We have also included relevant video and photo releases. Beginning in January 2018, the Coalition began issuing once weekly reports, issued each Friday for the previous […]
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
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
2 May, 2018
Update
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

US mulls more secrecy on drones

The Trump administration is considering overturning a key Obama-era policy which sought to make counter-terrorism operations more transparent, even as it ramps them up. The announcement, given to the Bureau by the US National Security Council late on Tuesday night, offers one of the clearest indications yet of the administration’s differing stance of transparency in […]
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 […]
1 May, 2018
Report

Death in the City – High levels of civilian harm in modern urban warfare resulting from significant explosive weapons use

In response to requests for written submissions to an inquiry by the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Explosive Threats, this Airwars paper examined recent civilian harm reporting from Mosul, Raqqa, Aleppo and Ghouta – arguing that intensity of bombardment and population desnity were the primary drivers of negative outcomes for non combatants, rather than […]
23 Apr, 2018
Update

Airwars monthly assessment: March 2018

More than 1,200 civilians were alleged killed by Russian actions in Syria during March - setting a grim new record
23 Apr, 2018
Research

Airwars monthly assessment: March 2018

More than 1,200 civilians were alleged killed by Russian actions in Syria during March - setting a grim new record
16 Apr, 2018
Update
Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen

A battle for transparency: putting names and numbers to the US drone war

This is an extract from the Bureau’s report, Naming The Dead, published in April 2018, written by Jack Serle The phenomenal assassination tool that is the attack drone was born of frustration – the inability of the US to kill Osama bin Laden. The CIA and its Afghan militia allies were pretty sure they knew […]