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
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

14 June 2017

Incident Code

CS991

Location

سوق الهال القديم في شارع ٢٣ شباط, Next to Salam Hospital on February 23 Street (at the corner Mansour Street), Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male was reportedly killed following artillery strikes on February 23 Street, Raqqa, likely carried out by US forces. A number of local sources named the victim as Ahmad Tarad al Khalifa al Haj. Abdulsalam Farij, a relative of the deceased, said via Facebook that the man died as a result of being wounded…

Summary

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

Incident Date

Incident Code

CS992

Location

near Kashrat Sheiykh al Juma’a (Raqqah), Syria, Raqqa, Syria

Summary

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

Incident Date

Incident Code

CS993

Location

near Raqqah, Syria, Raqqa, Syria

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 June 2017

Incident Code

CS981a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one civilian was 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 the report "Fadi Qahir…

Summary

Published
13 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2017

Incident Code

CS973

Location

البرك, Raqqa, Burak area (location unknown), Raqqa, Syria
One civilian, named as Mohammad Qassem al Kibba, was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, according to local sources. Ahmad al Shibli, Q_Alenzy, 24Raqqa and Hammadi Al Hammadi all blamed the Coalition. Hammadi Al Hammadi said that the victim died in the Burak area.

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 June 2017

Incident Code

CS974

Location

كسرة شيخ (جمعة), Kasrat Sheikh (Juma'a), Raqqa, Syria
A civilian family of five was killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Kasrat Sheikh Juma’a village in Raqqa. Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah, his wife and their three daughters were the victims of the strikes, according to a number of local sources. The family’s son Zakaria Habib al Abed Lillah also reported the deaths via Facebook,…

Summary

Published
13 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident