The number of Iraqi and Afghan civilians who are killed or wounded in air raids conducted by the U.S. and its coalition allies is falling – but nevertheless exacting a terrible toll upon them, according to Airwars.org, an independent watchdog group. According to a May 23 report by Airwars, April was a particularly deadly month in the western Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria – the sites of aggressive campaigns to eliminate Islamic State presence in the areas. In Iraq and Syria, 159 civilians became casualties in April, according to the organization – 46 percent fewer than those reported in March. “Nevertheless, between 283 and 366 civilians likely died across Iraq and Syria … making April the second-worst month for civilian fatalities since Coalition actions began in August 2014,” Airwars reported.