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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8863 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

25 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4355

Location

البرقوم, Al Barqoum, Aleppo, Syria
At least one woman was wounded in an alleged Russian air or artillery strike on Al Barqoum, according to sources on the ground. The Step News Agency reported: "the village of Al-Barqum, Khulsa, Barnah and the vicinity of Al-Kamari village, and the Khan Toman area were subjected to air strikes from the Russian warplanes, which…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4357

Location

تل منس, Tal Menas, Idlib, Syria
Three or four Syrian Civil Defense ‘White Helmets’ volunteers were reported lightly wounded when Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes targeted their center in Tal Menas in Idlib, Syria on January 25th, 2020, according to local sources. Syrian Civil Defense said in a FB post that “Saleh Ihrahim, Ihab Hashash, and Abdul Qadir Al-Sulaiman, three volunteers…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4352

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria
Eight people, including six children, were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime double raid on the city of Ariha, Idlib governorate, on January 23rd, 2020, according to local sources. In addition, a Syrian Civil Defence ambulance was burned. Step News reported five wounded. @Ahmad_1alshble tweeted that the injured were identified as: Falak Talal…

Summary

Published
23 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
5–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4353

Location

بلدات متعددة, several towns, Aleppo, Syria
An unknown number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian and Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on several cities and towns in Aleppo governorate on January 23rd, 2020, according to local sources. Shaam News Network reported that the Kafar Hamra, Khan Al Asal, Khalsa, Khan Toman, Al Zorba, Zaitan, Al Hamira, Shwayneh, Lirmoun, Kafar…

Summary

Published
23 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4354

Location

دار عزة, Dar Ezza, Aleppo, Syria
Six children and a man were reported injured as a result of the explosion of a cluster bomb remnant of an alleged previous Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Dar Ezza in Aleppo, Syria, on January 23rd 2020. SMART said: “Six children and a young man were injured Thursday, as a result of the explosion…

Summary

Published
23 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4350

Location

ارنبة, Arinba, Idlib, Syria
Three civilians, a mother and her two children were killed and another child was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Arinba, Idlib governorate, in the night between January 22nd 2020 and January 23rd 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had "documented the death of…

Summary

Published
23 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident