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

6 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1166

Location

الفردوس, Fardous, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians from one family, including three children and their mother, were killed and two further members of the family were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on the Al Ferdos neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources. The source also reported that Mounir al Hariri and Taher al Hariri were injured in the strikes and…

Summary

Published
6 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1167

Location

بين بلدة معدان وقرية العكيرشي, Madan - Al Akershi road, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike as they traveled in a car between the villages of Ma’adan and Al A’keirshi, local sources reported. Al;Araby was among a number of sources which noted: “Four civilians were killed by an air strike targeting a vehicle they were traveling on Al-Akirishi-Madan road.” Three of…

Summary

Published
6 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1163a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’ joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", 11 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes 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. The report by Amnesty/Airwars stated that…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1159

Location

البوحمد, Al Bouhamad, Raqqa, Syria
Three civilian males, described as “youths” were reportedly killed – and more than 20 people were wounded – in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Al Bouhamad village, local sources reported. Aleqirshi Alfuratiya reported that the deaths occurred as a result of strikes that were targeting an ISIL vehicle which was traveling on “Downtown Middle Street” to…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1160

Location

شارع المنصور, Al Mansour Street, Raqqa, Syria
An elderly civilian male was killed in an alleged Coalition bombardment, local sources reported. There are no other details at this time. In April 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting: "After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1161

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah: multiple locations, Raqqa, Syria
Five civilians were killed and 14 more were injured, including women and children, in alleged Coalition air and/or artillery strikes on the Old Raqqa, Al Nahda and al Yarmouk neighbourhoods of Raqqa, local sources reported. According to Smart News, “One of the sources said that warplanes likely to be the coalition, bombed neighborhoods of the…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
14
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident