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

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1331

Location

ﻗﺮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﻤﺎﺩﻱ , Al Hammadi, Al Hassakah, Syria
Two named children died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a school in the village of al Hammadi in the al Shadadi countryside, according to local media. Multiple sources reported that the Haddaj Sharqi school was struck by the Coalition, killing two children.

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1332

Location

شارع النور, Al Noor street, Raqqa, Syria
One female civilian was named as killed in a “bombardment” on Al Noor street, according to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. In December 2018, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: "Aug. 4, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1326

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian was killed in shelling in Raqqa, according to local media. Only one source – Usama Al Taleb – directly blamed the Coalition, and therefore an SDF mortar/rocket attack cannot be ruled out for causing the man’s death. As reporting deteriorated within the city the date of death was vaguely reported, falling within a…

Summary

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

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1326a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strike 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 "Mohammed…

Summary

Published
3 August 2017
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1323

Location

حارة البد, al Badou and al Thakana neighbourhoods, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 20 civilians including seven children and their mother died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the al Badou and al Takana neighbourhoods in Raqqa, according to local media. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition, and put the minimum death toll at eight. According to Sound and Picture and Raqqa18, 10 people from the…

Summary

Published
3 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
8–20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1324

Location

معيزيلة, Maizeela, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local media reported that an airstrike on an oil tanker killed the driver and “lightly” wounded two other civilians near Maizeela in the southern countryside of Abu Kamal. Only one source, Al Natek Network, said that the Coalition carried out the strike. Other reports didn’t apportion blame.

Summary

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