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

3 September 2019

Incident Code

CS1929

Location

العزبة, Al Ezba, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local sources reported that 15-year old Alloush Suleiman Al-Subhi was killed during a raid on Al-Ezba in the evening on September 3rd. Several sources claimed that Coalition forces and Kurdish militias conducted an airdrop in the area. The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) reported that Alloush was shot by SDF forces, with air support from…

Summary

Published
3 September 2019
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

31 August 2019

Incident Code

CS1928

Location

كفرجالس, Kafr Jalis, Idlib, Syria
In an airstrike confirmed by CENTCOM, US forces struck what it reported to be an Al-Qaeda command center in northern Idlib. Local sources reported that the US strike struck a military headquarters belonging to "Ansar Al-Tawhid" in the town of Kafr Nabil, but added that civilian houses were struck nearby as well, resulting in a…

Summary

Published
31 August 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
22–29
Civilians reported injured
22
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

16 August 2019

Incident Code

CS1927

Location

المانعية, Al Man’iya, Raqqa, Syria
"Two unidentified men" were reported killed in a Coalition ground operation in Al-Mananiya, east of Raqqa, on August 16th. Suriye.u.a.d stated that "two unidentified men [were] killed after being shot by Coalition forces that carried out an airstrike on the village of Al-Mananiya east of Raqqa." Meanwhile, Shaam News stated that "Coalition Forces conducted an…

Summary

Published
16 August 2019
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

2 August 2019

Incident Code

CS1317a

Location

الفردوس, near Raqqa, Syria, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian near Raqqa. In its February 2019 report, the Coalition noted the following: “Coalition aircraft conducted two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 August 2019

Incident Code

CS1926

Location

قرية بكعة في تل حميس, Baka`a Village in the area of Tal Hamis, Al Hassakah, Syria
Six civilians were reported killed by an alleged Coalition action in Baka`a Village, Al Hasaka, on August 1st. Al Khabour News reported that: "The International Coalition forces, backed by elements of the Democratic Unionist Party (BYD), committed a massacre in which six people, including children and women, were killed in the village of Beka`a in…

Summary

Published
1 August 2019
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 July 2019

Incident Code

CS1925

Location

الزر, Al Zer, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Zer killed claimed the lives of a number of people and injured others, although it is unclear whether they were combatants or non-combatants. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it "learned from a number of reliable sources that helicopters affiliated to the International Coalition targeted a cell of…

Summary

Published
29 July 2019
Civilians reported killed
0–5
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident