Airwars: Lessons Learned from Civilian Harm Monitoring During the US-led Military Campaign Against the So-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria

Civilian harm claims against the US-led Coalition averaged nearly 16 alleged deaths per day over the four-and-a-half-year war against the so-called Islamic State. Yet it would be over two years before a standardised procedure for submission, assessment and publication emerged.

Co-authored with Airwars’ director, Chris Woods, this report provides an initial evaluation of the US-led Coalition’s public reporting of civilian harm throughout its territorial war against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The report’s 25 interim recommendations are drawn from Airwars’ work with Operation Inherent Resolve’s Civilian Harm Team between March 2019 and December 2016, and prior to that with CENTCOM. During this time, Airwars became the Civilian Harm Team’s primary external source, accounting for over two-thirds of allegations and one-fifth of “Credible” assessments.