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

8,220 – 13,294

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
5,904
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
19,182 – 29,761
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,984 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,220 – 13,294
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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2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

4 January 2019

Incident Code

CS1882a

Location

near Ash Sha'fa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In an event previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of one civilian in an artillery strike near Ash Sha'fa, Syria. This was later confirmed by the Pentagon to be a US-only event. In its June 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: "Coalition artillery conducted a strike against a Daesh…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 January 2019

Incident Code

CS1882

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Alleged Coalition airstrike and artillery shelling targeted a residential area in Al Shaafa town, reportedly killing a total of six civilians. Among the declared victims were a family of four civilians that were killed when artillery shelling targeted their house. In addition, Sputnik reported the death of a Chechen civilian woman. Citing Khida Saratov, a member…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 January 2019

Incident Code

CS1880

Location

بادية 24 في الشعفة, Badia 24, 1km east of Al Shaafa town, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to local sources, an alleged Coalition airstrike struck a residential house near the town of Al-Shaafa on the afternoon of January the 3rd. Between 7 and 13 civilians were initially reported killed, including women and children. The UN later raised this tally to 16 fatalities and two injuries. The house owner Sulaiman Mohammed al-Ahdab…

Summary

Published
3 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
16
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3–4 January, 2019

Incident Code

CS1881

Location

الكشكية, Al Khishkiya or Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria
During an exchange of small arms fire, an alleged Coalition helicopter strike hit a civilian home in the town of Al-Kashkiya, east of Deir Al-Zour. Between six and ten civilians from the same family were reported killed, including women and children. In January 2020, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the deaths of nine civilians in…

Summary

Published
3 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
9–10
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

2 January 2019

Incident Code

CS1879

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to sources on the ground, alleged Coalition air and artillery fire targeted a house which ISIS was reportedly using, killing several ISIS members in addition to a number of civilians. According to the official Al Shaafa Facebook page, one of the shells landed on the house of Al-Hamad Al-Ali, killing both him and Ibrahim Al-Hasan. His…

Summary

Published
2 January 2019
Civilians reported killed
2–20
Civilians reported injured
3–70
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 December 2018

Incident Code

CS1878

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Ali Jassem Khudair al-Suwaiyi, a civilian non combatant male from the town of Al-Soussa, was alleged killed as a result of an airstrike and/ or shelling on civilian houses, according to sources on the ground.  Deir Ezzor 24 for example reported "The killing of Ali Jassem Khader al-Suwaiy as a result of the bombing of…

Summary

Published
26 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident