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

8,224 – 13,303

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 2,988 separate alleged incidents.

1,725 – 2,368
children likely killed
1,123 – 1,464
women likely killed
5,907
likely injured
3,763
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
19,187 – 29,772
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,988 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,224 – 13,303
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,541 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
7,871 – 12,566
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
779 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

Declassified Document

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2987 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date
8 May 2017

Incident Code

CI698

Location

Mosul, Al Hermat (nr al Haque mosque), Nineveh, Iraq
Three civilians were killed and three injured in a mortar strike by an unknown party during the battle for control of al Hermat, according to an Amnesty International field investigation. Amnesty shared the following eyewitness report with Airwars: “On 8 May, a mortar shell fell on my neighbour’s house, in Hermat 5, right next to…

Summary

Published
8 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
8 May 2017

Incident Code

CS788

Location

near Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on August 4th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Raqqah, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report,”102. May 8, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that…

Summary

Published
8 May 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
8 May 2017

Incident Code

CI695

Location

الإصلاح الزراعي, Mosul, Islah al Zirai, Nineveh, Iraq
Two local sources reported that three children and their mother were killed after a either an airstrike or rocket attack hit their house in Islah Al Zerae neighborhood, in West Mosul. The Nineveh Media Centre reported that “Local source confirmed the martyrdom of three children and their mother when a rocket attack targeted their house.”…

Summary

Published
8 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
8 May 2017

Incident Code

CI696

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, Tammuz / July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq
In its July 2017 monthly casualty report, the Coalition said it had killed a civilian in the Tammuz 17 area of Mosul. The man’s family reported his name as Laith Azhar Saadallah al-Obeidi. According to the report, “during a strike on an ISIS command and control node, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally…

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS780

Location

حي الوهب, Tabaqah, Al Wahab (First Neighbourhood), Raqqa, Syria
According to the Smart News Network two civilians died and seven were injured – in addition to the death of one member of IS and the wounding of two more – in an alleged Coalition airstrike or artillery strike on Tabaqa. Other reports gave some context, with RFS noting that “Syrian Democratic Forces managed to…

Summary

Published
8 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
8 May 2017

Incident Code

CS781

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between seven and ten civilians died and dozens more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a vehicle carrying displaced civilians at the outskirts of Raqqa, according to local media. The Step News Agency reported: “On Monday, May 8, the International coalition committed a new massacre in Raqqa province after it targeted a convoy…

Summary

Published
8 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
7–10
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident