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

8,221 – 13,295

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
5,905
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
19,183 – 29,762
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,984 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,221 – 13,295
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

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1030

Location

الحديقة البيضا, Al Hadika al Bayda, Raqqa, Syria
Local sources reported that two civilians were allegedly killed by SDF artillery fire or ‘missiles’ in the Al Hadaika al Baytha neighbourhood of Raqqa. Ahmad al Hasan reported that two young men were killed near the barbershop in the area, including the barber named Hamid Abu Aziz. All five sources alleged that the US-backed SDF militia…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1031

Location

حي الدرعية, Al Diriya, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male was reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Al Dir’iya neighbourhood of Raqqa. He was identified as Issa Ramadan al Muhammed by both sources who reported the incident. Q_Alenezy reported that the Coalition was responsible via Twitter whereas the only other source, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, did not apportion…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI769

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq
Fifteen people were reported killed and five more injured in heavy air and artillery strikes on Old Mosul, as Iraqi forces supported by the Coalition continued their push to capture the last ISIL-held neighbourhoods of Mosul. Yaqein – which also reported 10 ISIL carbombs – said that “an aerial and artillery bombardment coincided with the…

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
15
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI770

Location

المشاهدة, Mosul, Meshada, Nineveh, Iraq
A field report by PBS Newshour found that 12 civilians – all members of one family – had died in a likely Coalition airstrike on Meshada. In August 2019 the Coalition announced that they had assessed this allegation of civilian to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: "After a review of all available…

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
18
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI771

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local media reported that an unknown airstrike killed eight civilians and injured a further 20 at Al Qaim. Iraqi Spring Media Centre reported the death of 8 people and 20 additional injuries resulting from an airstrike near a mosque in Al Qaim. Iraqi News Center reported the same figures.

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI772

Location

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West (Shifa and Zanjili), Nineveh, Iraq
Colonel Talal Najm al-Hamdani, from the Directorate of Civil Defense of Nineveh, said that about 200 bodies had been recovered over a 48 hour period in different parts of West Mosul. In an interview with Al Araby al Jadeeda, Colonerl al-Hamdani estimated that as many as 4,000 bodies remained under the rubble of West Mosul…

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
200
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident