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
16 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4309

Location

قرية الزربة, Zorba village, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians, one young girl and her mother, were injured due to airstrikes by Russian forces on the outskirts of the town of Zorba on January 16, 2021. The Syrian Civil Defence tweeted that "a child and a woman were injured by air strikes on the outskirts of the town of Zerba" and that their team…

Summary

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

Incident Code

YS083

Location

اعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria
Up to ten civilians were injured in alleged SDF or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the city of Azaz, Aleppo governorate, on January 16th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored “a missile strike carried out by the 'Kurdish forces' stationed in Maranaz within the northern sector of Aleppo countryside,…

Summary

Published
16 January 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
8–10
Military Actor
YPG
View Incident
15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4306

Location

حاس, Hass, Idlib, Syria
A young man was killed and at least one other civilian was wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Hass, Idlib governorate, on January 15th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the 22-year-old Muhammad Hasan al Da’if was killed in "a strike carried…

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS4307

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer was wounded and an unknown number of people were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Bara, Idlib governorate, in the evening of January 15th, 2020, according to local sources. Ismail al-Hamada, a civil defense volunteer, was injured, during inspection of a bombing site of…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident
15 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4308

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria
According to Shaam Network, Russian and Syrian regime forces targeted many towns in Idlib with airstrikes, injuring civilians. The news read: "The raids also led to the fall of many wounded people in the cities of Ma`rat al-Nu`man, Ariha, and Kafr Nabl, and the towns and villages of Talatah, al-Barah, Ma`saran, al-Hartamiyah, al-Ghadfa, Shanan, Abu Jarif,…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident
15 January 2020

Incident Code

TI032

Location

دوكوري, Dugure, Nineveh, Iraq
Between four and eleven people were killed and up to five people, including one civilian, were reported injured in an alleged Turkish strike on a YBS base in the town of Dugure, Sinjar governorate, on January 15th, 2020, according to local sources. Ekurd reported that Turkish warplanes had "bombed targets in the Dugure community in…

Summary

Published
15 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Military actors reported killed
4–11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident