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

28 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1113

Location

كسرة عفنان, Kasrat Afnan, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilians, including a man and a woman, were reportedly killed by mortar fire in the village of Kasrat Afnan, south of Raqqa, however it was not clear who was responsible. Jisr TV, Shahba Press and the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that ISIL were responsible for the deaths whereas Al Hasaka Arabea stated…

Summary

Published
28 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1114

Location

كسرة عفنان, Kasrat Afnan, Raqqa, Syria
Three civilians were allegedly killed in Coalition airstrikes in the village of Kasrat Afnan, local sources reported. Sharqiya Voice and Al Hasaka Arabea reported that three males were killed as they returned from inspecting their property in Al Dahmoush village after they believed they may have been damaged in airstrikes there. Both sources also reported…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1115

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, according to local media. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported “The martyrdom of “Ali Abdul-Ali al-Jasha’am” after the coalition aircraft targeted his car while he was transporting wounded civilians following the bombardment of the city of Raqqa.” According to the Syrian Network for…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1116

Location

ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺍﻻﺩﺧﺎﺭ ﻭﺻﻮﺍﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺤﺒﻮﺏ, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
According to Al Hassaka Rasd, “The International Alliance Aviation targeted the area of al Idkhar and the grain silos with several air raids this morning. The death of a pharmacist was documented in the coalition raids on the city of Raqqa”. The Syrian Press Center and @Raqqa24 both also reported the incident and alleged that…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 June 2017

Incident Code

CI788

Location

خزرج, Mosul, Khazraj, Nineveh, Iraq
A local residents’ Facebook page and local press reported that Abdel Fattah Jassim Al-Sharifi died after a ‘random’ bombing on Khazraj district in Old Mosul. Al-Sharifi used to be the owner of the library Bassam in Najafi Street. No further details are presently known.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 June 2017

Incident Code

CI789

Location

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq
Several local sources reported that a family of five was killed and one of the sons – a 4-year-old boy – severely injured after alleged Coalition airstrikes on their house in West Mosul (exact location presently unknown). Iraqi Spring Media Center quoted MP Riabar Taha of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who reported the…

Summary

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