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

8 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1176

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported the death of one named civilian in artillery shelling on Raqqa. Sources blamed the SDF, but Airwars understands that only the Coalition has fired artillery on Raqqa.

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1177

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria
One named male civilian died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Ma’adan, Raqqa, according to local sources. @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH and @Q_Alenezy blamed the Coalition for his death. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “the International Coalition warplanes carried out after midnight a raid on areas in Ma’daan town in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1178

Location

شارع 23 شباط, Shubat 23 Street, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male was initially reported as killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes Shubat 23 Street in Raqqa by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS). However later reports confirmed that he was still alive. RBSS was the only source to report the death but subsequently deleted its Facebook post – an unusual move for the monitor…

Summary

Published
8 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1179

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, according to local media. On July 9th, Palmyra Media Centre reported “The death of a young man, Mohammed Ibrahim Ali al-Qashim, displaced from the city of Palmyra, as a result of his wounds as a result of the raids of the international Coalition on…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 July 2017

Incident Code

CI803

Location

عنة الجديدة والريحانة, New Anah and Al Rayhana, Al Anbar, Iraq
Seven civilians were reportedly killed and several others were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on New Anah in western Anbar Province, two local sources reported. Noor al Mustafa Hayder Dawoud, one of the sources, also reported that the house of Ossman Azzawi, the al Sayed household, Hajji Sayf’s household, Sheikh Nayef’s household, Al Maher Radi’s…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 July 2017

Incident Code

CI804

Location

مكاوي, Makkawai, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq
A father and son died as a result of being buried under the rubble in Makkawi, Old Mosul, reported Nineveh Media Center, following likely Coalition airstrikes. Four families in total were trapped under the rubble, but Iraqyoon News Agency reported that most were still alive. The families were believed to be trapped in the basement…

Summary

Published
7 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
16–36
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident