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

16 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1213

Location

الرقة‎, Al Hal market, Raqqa, Syria
Between seven and 12 members of the Salah Al-Mana family were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, all of whom were reportedly civilians. Syrian Network for Human Rights added that the victims were IDP's from Mehaimda village in Deir Ez-Zour and were killed by missiles fired on Raqqa city. Local sources identified seven…

Summary

Published
16 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
7–12
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

16 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1214

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Three civilian males were killed following alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, local sources reported. In a report which made no reference to civilian casualties, Mohab Nasser documented that Coalition airstrikes targeted the Al Hall Market, the Old Wall and the Abu al Hayes areas of Raqqa on 16 July, which could be linked with the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

16 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1215

Location

جديد عقيدات, Road near Jadid 'Uqaydat village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near the Jadid ‘Uqaydat village, Deir Ezzor. Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured." Coordinates supplied by officials to…

Summary

Published
16 July 2017
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

16 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1214a

Location

Ar Raqqah: Nazlet Al-Shehada, area of Dara’iya , Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", 12 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes 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. Field notes suggested that 11…

Summary

Published
16 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1207

Location

الدرعية, Al Dariya near Tariq Ibn Zaid school, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male was killed following alleged SDF mortar fire or Coalition artillery strikes into the Al Dariya neighbourhood of Raqqa, local sources reported. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and @Q_Alenezy reported that he was killed after shells hit his home behind the Tariq Ibn Ziyad school. Four of the five sources alleged that the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1208

Location

البدو, Ar Raqqah: Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported that 13 civilians, including two children, died and eight were wounded in Raqqa’s Al Badou neighbourhood. According to Smart, “13 civilians were killed, including two children, and eight others were wounded in the past 24 hours by an aerial bombardment that is likely to be the international coalition and SDF artillery on…

Summary

Published
15 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
13
Civilians reported injured
8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident