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

15 April 2019

Incident Code

CS1918

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Ali al-Muhammed al-Furaiji and his two wives were killed in the morning of April 15th, when their house was hit by an alleged Coalition airstrike, multiple local sources reported - though there was also a claim that the deaths had been caused by an explosion of an ISIS-planted mine. @alhasensaleem tweeted that "a whole family"…

Summary

Published
15 April 2019
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 April 2019

Incident Code

CS1917

Location

الطكيحي, Al Takihi, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between midnight and 5 am on the morning of April 13th five people were reportedly killed in what was described as a "landing operation" by the US-led Coalition in Al-Takihi village. According to Jisir TV, the operation was carried out by several Apache helicopters and Hummer vehicles. It was, however, unclear who killed the victims (whose…

Summary

Published
13 April 2019
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2019

Incident Code

CI878

Location

الرطبة, Rutba, Al Anbar, Iraq
A girl was reported killed and a man injured when an airstrike was carried on a house in Al-Oudan district, north of Rutba, Anbar province, Iraq. The airstrikes were believed to be carried out by American forces. The other members of the family were reportedly arrested but the reason remains unknown. In July 2019 the…

Summary

Published
24 March 2019
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 March 2019

Incident Code

CS1914

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz , Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local sources reported the death of the young woman "Alaa Mahmoud Al-Shakran" displaced from the city of Palmyra, as a result of alleged Coalition on the town of Al-Baghouz on March 20th. According to a post by Revo.palmyra3, this brings the number of fatalities to four civilians displaced from Palmyra including two women and one…

Summary

Published
20 March 2019
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 March 2019

Incident Code

CI878a

Location

Anbar, Al Anbar, Iraq
In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian and the injury of another near Anbar, Iraq. This was later confirmed to be a US action. As CJTFOIR's June 2019 civilian casualty report noted: "Coalition forces engaged in a small arms fire event. Regrettably, one civilian was…

Summary

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

Incident Date

19 March 2019

Incident Code

CS1916

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two local sources reported that two named civilians - Shaimaa Walid Al Turki  and Rahaf Darwish - died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Baghouz camp. According to revo.palmyra3, the two victimns were displaced from Palmyra and died "as a result of the daily bombardment of aircraft". Palmyra and Al Sukhna group noted that…

Summary

Published
19 March 2019
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident