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
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

19 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1392

Location

Al Thakana, Raqqa, Syria
One person was killed in alleged US-Coalition airstrikes, al Thakana neighbourhood, Raqqa city. Reports of his death arose only twenty days after the incident. Dchrs said he died due to “indiscriminate shelling of coalition forces”, whilst Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently accused the Coalition of “bombing…on the barracks neighbourhood”. No additional details are available at…

Summary

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

Incident Date

19 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1393

Location

Al Sa'a, Raqqa, Syria
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) reported that two civilians died following airstrikes on Raqqa. Ibrahim Ali al-Bakar (born 1954) and his son Khalil Ibrahim al-Bakar (born 1985) were named as the victims. RBSS blamed the US-led Coalition for the incident. According to a Facebook post by Amer Alywy the father and son were killed…

Summary

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

Incident Date

19 August 2017

Incident Code

CI831

Location

تلعفر, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of five civilians in an event near Tal Afar, Iraq. Their October 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS headquarters structure, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed." In July 2019 the Coalition…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CI827

Location

Akashat, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local press and other sources reported on the death of three civilians, all from the same family, in airstrikes on Al Rutba, 420 km west of Baghdad. According to Amad Al-Dulaimi, the mayor of Ar Rutba, the family was killed following a bomb dropped by an unknown aircraft. Sahafaty News also quoted the mayor who…

Summary

Published
18 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1385

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media sources reported on the death of up to 46 civilians and 60 others wounded following suspected Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa over the previous 48 hours. According to a report by the Thiqa Agency the “shelling focused on civilian homes and residential neighbourhoods”. These are general numbers and it is likely that they will…

Summary

Published
18 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
39–46
Civilians reported injured
60
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1386

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Abdul Rahman Samer Akl (b.1997), a second year medical student from Deir ez-Zour, was killed whilst trying to aid the wounded in the city of Raqqa, local media reported. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, this was a result of “aerial bombardment by Coalition aircraft”, with the majority of other sources also blaming the…

Summary

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