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

Search

2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1020

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah [887a], Raqqa, Syria
Local sources reported the death of one named civilian displaced from Sukhna, in an alleged Coalition airstrike. According to Al Raqqa Truth she died three days after her initial injuries.

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1021

Location

القورية, Al Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One little girl was reportedly killed, according to the Syrian Press Center, and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Quoriya in Deir Ezzor. While that source was the only one to report a civilian fatality, all others reported that a number of civilians were wounded in the airstrikes. Syrian…

Summary

Published
17 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1022

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, al Takiya Street, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One or two civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Takkiya street in Al Mayadin, according to local sources. RFS reported that two civilians died when a warplane “targeted at dawn today a gathering of residential buildings and shops in the street of Takkiya”. It added that there was “massive destruction in the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1023

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Abdel Jabbar school, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Four or five civilians including four members of the same family died and up to eight others were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Abdel Jabbar school in Al Mayadin which was housing displaced people, according to local media. One male victim was identified by name. Ahmad al Shibli said that four members from…

Summary

Published
17 June 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1024

Location

حي الرميلة, Al Rumaila, Raqqa, Syria
Three civilian males were reportedly killed in the Al Rumeila neighbourhood of Raqqa following Coalition artillery shelling, or a rocket attack allegedly carried out by the US-backed SDF militia. The three victims were identified by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Raqqa RWB. Four of the five sources who reported the incident alleged that the SDF…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CI766

Location

Mosul, Al Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th, 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “112. June 17, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location…

Summary

Published
17 June 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident