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
5 January 2020

Incident Code

RS4299

Location

دير الشرقي, Deir Al Sharqi, Idlib, Syria
Civilians were reportedly wounded by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Deir Al Sharqi, Idlib governorate, on January 5th, 2020. Various local sources, including @MolhamKaied, reported that "injuries" resulted from airstrikes on Deir Al Sharqi but did not mention how many were injured. The majority of sources attributed airstrikes and the resulting injuries in…

Summary

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

Incident Code

CI879

Location

مطار بغداد الدولي‎, Baghdad International Aiport, Baghdad, Iraq
Possibly one civilian was killed and an unknown number of civilians injured in a confirmed U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian national Qassam Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, on Baghdad International Airport at January 3rd, 2020. The New York Times reported that an "American MQ-9 Reaper drone fired missiles into a convoy that was leaving…

Summary

Published
3 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
11–13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
1 January 2020

Incident Code

TS404

Location

تل أبيض, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian, named as Ammar Alhaji, was reportedly shot dead by members of the al Majd Brigade of the Syrian National Army. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, the man was "shot dead while he was trying to prevent fighters of Turkish-backed Al-Majd Legion from stealing his car.". Euphrates Post reported that the victim was…

Summary

Published
1 January 2020
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident
1 January 2020

Incident Codes

RS4294 IRS004

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria
Up to 11 civilians including seven children and two women were reported killed, and 16 others including three children and three women - one of whom was pregnant - were injured in an alleged Russian, Iranian forces or Syrian regime shelling with a cluster missile or a rocket carrying cluster bombs on 'Martyr Abdou al…

Summary

Published
1 January 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
7–11
Civilians reported injured
15–16
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Iranian Military
View Incident
30 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4292

Location

قرية الشيخ أحمد, Sheikh Ahmed village, Aleppo, Syria
On December 30th, between four and five civilians, including up to two women and two children, were wounded by Russian or regime air strikes, with ten vacuum missiles and two cluster bombs, launched upon the village of Sheikh Ahmed in the southern countryside of Aleppo. Local sources initially reported four wounded civilians and Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
30 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident
28 December 2019

Incident Code

RS4290

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib, Syria
Local sources reported that at least three civilians were wounded as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime forces artillery and missile attack on Mhambel in Idlib, Syria on December 28th, 2019. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that a cluster missile fell near Al Kabir mosque in Mhambel town in the western…

Summary

Published
28 December 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident