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

26 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1098

Location

عياش, Ayyash, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A civilian male was identified as killed and two others were injured in “cluster bombs” on the town of Ayyash, local sources reported, however it was not clear who was responsible. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and Free Deir Ezzor both reported that the strikes consisted of four raids. None of the four sources…

Summary

Published
26 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1099

Location

السخاني, Ar Raqqah: Sukhani neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Two named men identified to be from Al Sukhani, were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, local sources reported. All four sources who reported the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible. No further details were available.

Summary

Published
26 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26–30 June, 2017

Incident Code

CS1130a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", three 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 stated that "Three members of…

Summary

Published
30 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1100

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male identified as originally from Bokros, was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, local sources reported. Seven of the eight sources which reported the death alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1101

Location

Near Old bridge, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injuries of two civilians in an event near Raqqa. Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a strike on an ISIS headquarters structure, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally injured.” The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this…

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1102

Location

near Raqqah, Syria, Raqqa, Syria
In October 2017, the Coalition reported it had unintentionally injured two civilians: “(6.) June 26, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via media report. During a Coalition strike that engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally injured.” It is possible that this incident matches with one of…

Summary

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