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 August 2017

Incident Code

CI823

Location

الكرابلة, Al Karabila, Al Anbar, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of one civilian in an event near Karabilah, Iraq. Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS vehicle, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured." In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars…

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1327

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 17 civilians including women and children died and 10 more were wounded in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, according to local media. Most sources put the death toll at six with 10 more injured and blamed a “US bombing” of Raqqa neighbourhoods. However, on August 5th the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “documented…

Summary

Published
4 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
6–17
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1328

Location

منطقة جمعية المهندسين, Jamiat al Muhandissen area in Orme al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Multiple local sources reported the explosion of a car bomb in “the second village of engineers” killing members of Haiat Tahrir al Sham [formerly Al Qaeda/ Al Nusra] and up to four civilians, as well as wounding others. According to @Elghad , “The Syrian Observatory, based in Britain, said that a car bomb exploded near…

Summary

Published
4 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CI822

Location

العباسية, Al Abbasiyah, Kirkuk, Iraq
According to a local report, civilians were killed followed airstrikes on Salah ad Din Province. Yaqein reported that a number of civilians were killed as a result of ongoing attacks by government forces and international coalition aircraft. The report also cited militias fighting in the area and said that indiscriminate and heavy shelling had killed…

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1329

Location

حمرة بويتية, Hamra Buweitiya, Raqqa, Syria
Local sources have reported that on August 4, 2017, between three and six civilians were reportedly killed in an aerial bombardment on Al-Buweitaya in the western suburb of Deir Ezzor. Some sources have alleged that the US-led Coalition was responsible, however, other sources attributed the attack to the regime, and some to Russia. According to…

Summary

Published
4 August 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–6
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1330

Location

منطقة المنجم, Al Munjem area, Al Tabani, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Multiple local sources reported that a minimum of four people were killed in an air raid in al Tabani. One report from Smart totalled the number of victims at seven. The majority of sources asserted that the strikes were carried out by Russian forces, or as reported by Step news agency, ‘#russian-owned’ aircraft. According to…

Summary

Published
4 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
4–7
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident