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

18–24 August, 2017

Incident Code

CS1413a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", two civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition mortar attack 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. The report states that "Mohamed…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1384

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
The death of Ayman Abdul Razzaq al-Suwaif and five members of his family, was reported by multiple local media sources. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition for the attack. No additional details including the neighbourhood location are presently known.  

Summary

Published
18 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1380

Location

Mu'awiya school/Mal'ab Al-Aswad area, Raqqa, Syria
Thirty civilians including up to 13 children and three women from three families died and dozens more were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes and artillery shelling on Raqqa, according to local sources. Reports said that the entire Al-Sayer Al-Enezi family died in the strike – along with multiple members of other families. There was, however,…

Summary

Published
17 August 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
30
Civilians reported injured
12–36
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1381

Location

الجميلي, Jamili Street, Raqqa, Syria
One man, identified by the Syrian Human Rights Committee as Saeed Mohammad Nashif was killed in alleged air or artillery strikes on the Jamili District of Raqqa, according to local sources. Activists who spoke to Smart News said that a civilian was killed by “artillery shelling of the Syrian Democratic Forces on the city’s Jumaili…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1382

Location

الملاهي, Malahi, Raqqa, Syria
In a major civilian casualty incident, up to 20 civilians reportedly died following alleged US-led Coalition attacks on the Malahi area in Raqqa. The Coalition later confirmed having unintentionally killed three and injured nine in this strike. Local media reported on the death of 15 or more civilians after “Muawiya bin Abi Sufian” school was…

Summary

Published
17 August 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
15–20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 August 2017

Incident Codes

CS1383 ISSY001

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajra, Daraa, Syria
Up to 27 civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on the town of Al Shajra in western Daraa. According to Daraa Martyrs Documentation Center, 32 “mostly civilians” were killed when positions of Jaish Khalid bin Walid, a Salafi jihadist group, were targeted. The report claimed that the Coalition launched a long-range missile, which “targeted the…

Summary

Published
17 August 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
17–27
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Israeli Military
View Incident