U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

In 2014 a U.S.-led coalition began a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria – officially known as Operation Inherent Resolve – following the capture of large swathes of the countries by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). An intense air and ground campaign drove ISIS out of almost all territory by 2018 but resulted in significant destruction and loss of life.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from U.S.-led Coalition strikes and has conducted numerous major investigations and research papers on the topic.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

8,220 – 13,294

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S.-led Coalition. These originate from 2,984 separate alleged incidents.

1,725 – 2,367
children likely killed
1,123 – 1,464
women likely killed
5,904
likely injured
3,757
named victims

U.S.-led Coalition estimate of civilian deaths

1,454

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 360 separate incidents of civilian harm.

402
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
19,182 – 29,761
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,984 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,220 – 13,294
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,538 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
2,391 – 2,815
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
434 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
7,870 – 12,564
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
778 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
696 – 1,083
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
233 seperate alleged incidents

Civilian Casualty Incidents — U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Start Date

End Date

Strike Type

Causes of Death / Injury

Strike Status

Civilian Harm Status

Belligerent Assessment

Casualty

Infrastructure

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2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

11 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1469

Location

Al Ferdos, Raqqa, Syria
Several civilians died and were wounded in alleged Coaltion airstrikes on Raqqa’s Al Ferdous neighbourhood, according to local media. Sources reported that a mosque was also destroyed in a strike. According to the Syrian Press Center, there was “an aerial bombardment and artillery shelling of residential buildings in Al Ferdous, Al Jamili and Al Naeem…

Summary

Published
11 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1470

Location

Abu Khashab junction, Deir Ezzor, Syria
News of dead and wounded civilians at the Abu Kashab junction, Deir Ezzor countryside, was reported by a single source. Al Natek Network did not specify an actor, the report referring only to “airstrikes”. Airwars researchers tracked claims of both the Coalition and the SDF near the location at the time.

Summary

Published
11 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1471

Location

Al Ferdos, Raqqa, Syria
Raqqa is being Slaughtered Silently named one civilian as killed “as a result of the shelling” of Raqqa. However, there is the possibility that this may be the same incident as CS1469, in the neighbourhood of Al Ferdous, on September 11th.

Summary

Published
11 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1472

Location

Al Dasheisha, Al Hassakah, Syria
Three civilians were reported “seriously wounded” following an “aerial bombardment” by the US-led Coalition, local sources alleged. The raid reportedly took place at Al Dashisha village 35km southeast of al Shaddadi. According to Baladi, “shelling that targeted the village, caused the destruction of shops” and “other rockets targets the warehouses of grain causing an outbreak…

Summary

Published
11 September 2017
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1464

Location

فردوس, Ar Raqqah: west of Fardous mosque, Raqqa, Syria
In September 2017, it was reported that 7 civilians were killed in the Al Fardous neighbourhood in Raqqa, following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes. Alraqqa Ahlna identified three of the victims and said that an additional “three young men and one woman” were killed but they remained unidentified as the bodies were still under rubble. A…

Summary

Published
10 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
5–7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1465

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilians, a wife and husband were reported killed following airstrikes on the city of Raqqa. The exact location within the city is currently unknown. Three out of five sources blamed the Coalition, the other two referred to an “aerial bombardment”, without identifying the culprit. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights commented that the incident…

Summary

Published
10 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident