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

9 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1360

Location

البجري, Al Barji and other areas, Raqqa, Syria
Summarising a 48 hour period, local sources said that 47 civilians were killed and 50 injured in alleged airstrikes on the city of Raqqa. Two of the eight sources specifically blamed the US-led Coalition for the civilian casualty incidents. Activists told Smart News that “the city had been hit by more than 43 airstrikes, in…

Summary

Published
9 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
47
Civilians reported injured
50
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 August 2017

Incident Code

CI825

Location

Etwiem, Nineveh, Iraq
According to multiple sources, member of Iraq’s parliament reported killed along with 3 of his family members followed an alleged Coalition strike. Abdul Rahman Ellewizi MP reported that his cousin was killed in a Coalition raid, also his wife, son and his daughter-in-law dead Hawas Al Gader also reported the deaths of Mr al-Nayef and his wife…

Summary

Published
9 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1361

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Orient news and Smart news reported the death of as many as ten civilians and wounding of others in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa’s Tawasu’iya, Fardous, and Bedo neighbourhoods. Amnesty has since conducted field research in Raqqa and we understand that this figure might possibly be lower than first reported.  There was, however, uncertainty over…

Summary

Published
9 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
6–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1355

Location

Centre, Raqqa, Syria
Local sources reported that 14 people were killed and 35 injured after alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on the city of Raqqa. Two children and two women were reportedly amongst those killed. In a report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights it was said that the civilians were killed whilst “clashes took place between the…

Summary

Published
8 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
13–14
Civilians reported injured
35
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1356

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two children were killed and up to 40 other civilians injured (mostly women and children) in airstrikes on the city of al Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, local media reported. The offensive struck the Fatima Al-Zahraa Women’s Hospital. It is not wholly clear at present who was responsible. Jisirtv news cited an A’amaq’s agency report which blamed…

Summary

Published
8 August 2017
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
25–40
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1356a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one civilian was 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. The report stated that "Kheder Ibrahim…

Summary

Published
8 August 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident