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

Search

8863 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date
24–29 September, 2014

Incident Code

CS009

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A number of sources including the Syrian Martyrs website reported that a woman was killed in a Coalition airstrike on Ar Raqqah. She was reported as being a resident of the city. The3 Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also reported her death fropm Coalition actions - though said this occured on September 24th: " Fawzia…

Summary

Published
29 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
23 September 2014

Incident Code

CS001

Location

كفردريان, Kafr Daryan, Idlib, Syria
On the first night of US airstrikes in Syria, the United States carried out a sequence of attacks on the Al Qaeda-affiliated Khorasan Group (part of the al-Nusra Front.) For the only recorded occasion during the allied air war, the US deployed Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike targets in the vicinity of Aleppo. Locals also…

Summary

Published
23 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
13–18
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
14 September 2014

Incident Code

CI005

Location

سنجار, Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq
An internal CENTCOM review identified potential civilian casualties from a Coalition airstrike in “northern Iraq.” The only location for this date which matches is Sinjar. The incident was not previously tracked by Airwars. According to a declassified CENTCOM document, “A review of FMV from a RECOIL feed revealed unknown individuals moving into a target area…

Summary

Published
14 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
5 September 2014

Incident Code

CI004

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Houses neighboring the Turkish Consulate, Nineveh, Iraq
Sources in the city claimed that an airstrike carried out at approximately 10pm in the vicinity of the Turkish consulate in Mosul had killed Ridwan Akram, his wife and their child. According to a commemorative Facebook page, the family had only recently returned after three months in Turkey when they died. While a number of…

Summary

Published
5 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
3 September 2014

Incident Code

CI003

Location

الوحدة, Mosul, Al Wahda, Nineveh, Iraq
A reported aerial bombardment (at 2200hrs local time) near an ISIL HQ east of Mosul, allegedly left up to seven members of the same family dead and injured in the al-Wadha Street area. At least three women were reported killed and a man and child injured. While Baghdad TV attributed the strike to US aircraft,…

Summary

Published
3 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
24 August 2014

Incident Code

CI002

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Al Shuhadaa, Nineveh, Iraq
Local news service Al Sumaria claimed that “11 civilians from one family” died after coalition airstrikes hit the village of al Qayyarah south of Mosul on the morning of August 24th. Other sources, placing the death count slightly lower at 8-9 killed, reported that the attack had been carried out by a helicopter, possibly a…

Summary

Published
24 August 2014
Civilians reported killed
8–11
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident