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

5 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1448

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported on the death of a man following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa city. The two known sources said the US-led Coalition was responsible for the attack. At present there is limited information regarding the details of the incident. Airwars will add to the entry when new information arises.

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1449

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian was reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike in Raqqa City, according to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. There is no additional information known at present.

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1450

Location

Firdous, Raqqa, Syria
Step News Agency reported that 17 civilians died in a Coalition strike on a five-storey residential building in Al Firdous street. According to Nhadshmot and 24 Raqqa, the Coalition “targeted the National Hospital area”. No names have been linked to this event to date, and no addiitonal details are presently known.

Summary

Published
5 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
17
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1451

Location

الدرعية, Ar Raqqah: Dar’iya neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Eleven named civilians from two families died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah’s al Diri’ya neighbourhood, according to local media. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: “11 civilians, including 5 children and 3 women, IDPs from Deir Ez-Zour city, killed in International Coalition warplanes fired missiles on al Der’iya neighborhood west of Raqqa…

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1445a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", 15 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. Only five of the victims were…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1441

Location

Raqqa city: Traffic Park, Raqqa, Syria
At least one man was locally reported killed following alleged artillery shelling near the Traffic Park in Raqqa. Both the Coalition and the US individually later admitted responsibility According to local reports at the time, father of six Abdul Ghani Ahmed al-Yusuf al-Bashir was killed when a shell fell near Traffic Park. While some sources…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident