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

22 November 2022

Incident Code

CS1988

Location

الزر, Al Zar, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A young man was either injured or killed during a raid allegedly carried out by the Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of al-Zar the evening/morning of November 22, 2022. According to @euphratspost, a young man named Ahmed Hussein Ali al-Qubbah was severely injured and a 13 year old named Ahmad Mahmoud al-Hilu…

Summary

Published
22 November 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 November 2022

Incident Code

CS1987

Location

جديد بكارة, Jedid Bakara, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One young man was killed when he was run over by a vehicle allegedly belonging to the Coalition in the village of Jedid Bakara on November 14, 2022. Euphrates Post reported that a young man named Salam Hussein Al-Arif was killed when he was run over by a vehicle belonging to the Coalition. Multiple other…

Summary

Published
14 November 2022
Strike Type
Ground operation
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2022

Incident Code

CS1986

Location

رويشد, Ruwaished, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A young man was killed during an airdrop operation allegedly carried out by the Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of Al Ruwaished on November 3, 2022. Euphrates Post reported that a young man named Muhannad Ibrahim al-Khalaf was killed during a raid carried out by the SDF at dawn in the village of…

Summary

Published
3 November 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 October 2022

Incident Code

CS1985

Location

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A woman was killed and two others, including a minor, were injured in an alleged airdrop operation carried out by the Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Hawija neighborhood of Thiban town, east of Deir Ezzor, on October 28, 2022. Nahr Media reported that a woman named Nadia Mustafa al-Ali was killed and…

Summary

Published
28 October 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2022

Incident Code

CS1983

Location

قرية البيدر, Al Baydar in Al Karama village, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilians, a man and his minor son, were killed and another man, who is alleged to be a civilian or a member of ISIS, was injured during an airdrop operation carried out by the Coalition and the SDF in the village of Al Baydar on September 20, 2022. According to the Euphrates Post, Muhammad…

Summary

Published
20 September 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2022

Incident Code

CS1982

Location

الزر, Al Zer, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two children under the age of 18 were killed during a joint Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces airdrop operation in the village of Al Zer on July 4th, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether the two killed were civilians or members of ISIS. Al Khabour posted on Facebook that a young man named "Muhammad Fateh Khalaf…

Summary

Published
4 July 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident