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

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2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

21 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1054

Location

فرن الريان في حي امن الدولة, Ar Raqqah: Near the Al Rayan bakery, Raqqa, Syria
At least ten civilians – with many from one family, including women and children – were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike near the Al Rayan Bakery in the Amn al Dawla neighbourhood of Raqqa, local monitors reported. Photos of a number of those killed in the alleged airstrike were also provided. Both sources alleged…

Summary

Published
21 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
10–20
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1054a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", six 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. According to Amnesty, the strike occurred…

Summary

Published
21 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1054b

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
Eleven civilians from one family were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Originally the names of the victims were published under incident number CS1054, however Amnesty research assessed that there were two separate strikes, this one occurring at 11pm, while the other occurred at 6pm. Amnesty has placed the strike on the 21st despite…

Summary

Published
21 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
11
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1049

Location

مساكن الادخار, al Idkhar residences, Raqqa, Syria
Six civilians were killed and several others were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes or guided missile strikes on residences in Al Idkhar in west Raqqa, local sources reported. The attack was said to have taken place after midnight. Six of the nine sources which reported the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible. In February…

Summary

Published
21 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 June 2017

Incident Code

CI776

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq
Residents said that one civilian was killed and several wounded in an airstrike in the Rutba area. Yaqein reported that one civilian was killed and several wounded in a suspected Coalition attack. Iraqi Spring Media Center said that civilians were killed and wounded, but offered no numbers and did not assign blame.

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1044a

Location

المصرف التجاري, Commercial Bank, Al Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
After midnight, alleged Coalition airplanes carried out a number of strikes on areas in Al-Mayadeen city which was under ISIS control at the time of the attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrikes targeted the area where the Commercial Bank is located and struck a house in which an Iraqi family…

Summary

Published
20 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident