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

Search

2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

21 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1403

Location

البدو, Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
In a major casualty event, between 18 and 50 civilians reportedly died and up to 56 more were wounded – many of them women and children – as a result of alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa’s Bedo neighbourhood, local media reported. According to Baladi, “20 civilians, including women and children, were killed and dozens of…

Summary

Published
21 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
18–50
Civilians reported injured
12–56
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1404

Location

الحديقة البيضا,البدو , Ar Raqqah: Hadika Al Bayda (White Garden), Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
A whole family of eight people was reported killed in Raqqa as a result of alleged US-led Coalition strikes. The family were displaced persons from the city of Palmyra. Other civilians were suspected injured following the attack. All sources tracked held the US-led Coalition responsible for the incident. Syrian Press Center said it was “a…

Summary

Published
21 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1396

Location

دوار النعيم, Naim roundabout, Raqqa, Syria
In a major civilian casualty event, between 23 and 50 civilians were reported killed and dozens injured in the Bedo neighborhood of Raqqa, local media reported. However, in May 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed the civilian harm allegations as non-credible, noting "after a review of all available strike records it was determined…

Summary

Published
20 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
23–50
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1397

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between 50 and 118 civilians were killed, including many women and children, in the city of Raqqa in the last 48-72 hours. The sources blamed US-led Coalition airstrikes for the significant number of life lost over the short period. According to @AhmadShbli, seven whole families were part of those killed. Smart news agency reported “in…

Summary

Published
20 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
50–118
Civilians reported injured
60
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1399

Location

السخاني, Ar Raqqah: Sukhani neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
On January 31st, several local sources reported on the exhumation of the bodies of Mahmoud al-Dalli Abu Riyad (nicknamed Mahmoud al-Iraqi), his wife Suad al-Bayati and his daughter Mariam al-Dalli. According to most reports, the family was killed in a bombing by the “international Coalition”. It is currently unclear at what specific date during the…

Summary

Published
20 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1400

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian near Raqqa, Syria. Their October 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS weapons cache, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.” In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the…

Summary

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