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

8,221 – 13,295

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
5,905
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
19,183 – 29,762
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,984 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,221 – 13,295
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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8863 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date
4 November 2014

Incident Code

CI014

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq
An alleged coalition airstrike reportedly hit a market at Al Qaim in western Anbar, killing at least 3 people and injuring up to 35. Two of the victims were named as as Mohamed Ahmed and Ahmed Munir Khitab. Significant damage was reported at the scene. However, the coalition denies carrying out any airstrike in the…

Summary

Published
4 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
3–15
Civilians reported injured
14–35
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
28 October 2014

Incident Code

CS017

Location

سلوك, Suluk, Raqqa, Syria
An internal Coalition report, citing web sources, noted claims that civilian casualties had been alleged at Slouk “on a strike on some grain silos.” The aircraft was likely to have been a US armed drone, due to the Hellfire missile used. An initial investigation concluded that there had been no civilians injured: “The only strike…

Summary

Published
28 October 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
26 October 2014

Incident Code

CI013

Location

عوينات, Uwaynat, Nineveh, Iraq
There were claims that coalition air raids resulted in the deaths of between 10 and 20 civilians in a village 110km northwest of Mosul called Aouinat. Al Rafidain reported: "Press sources in Mosul confirmed that the bombing, which targeted the village of Aouinat killed ten civilians and destroyed at least two houses. The forensic medicine…

Summary

Published
26 October 2014
Civilians reported killed
10–20
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
25 October 2014

Incident Code

CI012

Location

حاج علي, Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq
Two civilians were reported by medical sources in the city to have been “accidentally killed” in an airstrike on a “Daesh stronghold in Qayyarah, Mosul“. However the Wameedh Sabah blog reported a security source as saying that the casualties were inflicted by an Iraq Army airstrike. Up to 81 alleged militants were also reported killed…

Summary

Published
25 October 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
18 October 2014

Incident Code

CS015

Location

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria
A single source, the Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies, claims that one civilian, from Al Shadadi, Hasaka, in a coalition airstrike.

Summary

Published
18 October 2014
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
18 October 2014

Incident Code

CS016

Location

المريعية, Mrey'iya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to the Damascus Centre for Human Rights two civilian males – both members of the same family – died in an airstrike on the village of Al Maya’iya. Syrian Martyrs also named the two victims, while the DinSyr twitter feed reported "Hamza Ahmad al-Abd Al Jalil Mahmoud Ahmad Al-Jalil. Their bodies were identified among…

Summary

Published
18 October 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident