RAF ‘killed 4,000 enemies and only one civilian’ in Iraq and Syria

Action on Armed Violence campaigners greeted the figures with scepticism, calling for the UK to improve transparency around civilian casualties.

RAF strikes in Iraq and Syria killed and injured an estimated 4,315 enemies with just one civilian fatality, according to estimated figures released by the Ministry of Defence.

The figures, covering a period from September 2014 to January this year, were released following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the campaign group Action on Armed Violence (A0AV).

Enemies killed and injured by the RAF in Iraq and Syria — (PA Graphics)

In total, 75% of those estimated to have been killed or injured were in Iraq with 25% in Syria.

An RAF Typhoon at RAF Akrotiri — Of all enemies estimated killed and wounded by the RAF, 37% were by Typhoons (pictured), 31% by Tornados and 32% by Reapers (Sergeant Emily Burns/MoD/PA)

AOAV executive director Iain Overton greeted the figures with scepticism, saying: “The RAF’s claim of a ratio of one civilian casualty against 4,315 enemies must be a world record in modern conflict. Yet few conflict experts believe this to be true.”

“To them, it is clear that far more needs to be done by the UK to improve transparency surrounding civilian casualties from airstrikes. Its coalition partner the US has committed to such, so why not the UK?”

Syria conflict — Three buildings used by Islamic State in eastern Syria being hit in air strikes by Royal Air Force fighter jets (MoD/PA)

Three IS fighters, who were driving in the Syrian Euphrates valley at the time, were also killed by the precision Hellfire missile.

Of all enemies estimated killed and wounded by the RAF, 37% were by Typhoons, 31% by Tornados and 32% by Reapers.

Enemies killed and injured by the RAF Sep 2014 to Jan 2019 — (PA Graphics)

“This assessment also looks very carefully at whether or not there has been any civilian casualty or damage to civilian infrastructure.”